Page 121 of Gift from the Nexus

His face crumbles with the realization that I mean every word. I wholeheartedly believe every word. And that hits him exactly where I intended it to. Square in his fragile ego that’s only as large as it is because he’s always been able to bring people to their knees with pain. The only thing he’s ever cared about is the power and position he holds. He’s worked for hundreds and hundreds of years to build up this empire of his and now, I’m going to ruin it.

Facing my palm out, I call forth my flame and my dragon stands in my chest with her head tilted upward. She spreads her wings like a general giving her warriors their cue to charge and she sends me a burst of pride.

Before I can release my power, shadows shoot out in front of me, blocking Franklin off from me. I whip my head over to Caspian in shock because out of everyone, I figured he’d be the one completely on board.

“This is too easy of a death, Primary,” he says coldly.

That explains his interference.

Shaking my head, I let a small smile cross my lips. “The damage is done, Cas. He doesn’t feel pain the way we do. Yes,we could torture him for hours on end, and it would mangle his body, but he’d never feel it. His gift would absorb it and replenish his strength just as fast. What he cares about has already been taken from him. He will have no throne, no legacy, no name to strike fear into anyone. He’s nothing. That has done more damage than anything else ever will. He’ll die a nobody and he knows that.”

He stares at me for a tense moment, and I can tell he still wants to cut a few pounds of flesh out of him for what he’s done, but he knows I’m right. Torturing him would only be a waste of time, and maybe he and Draken would still get some satisfaction out of it, but I wouldn’t. He always hit me where it hurt, both mentally and physically because he could. I can’t hurt him physically, not truly anyway, but mentally? Yeah, I just ripped away every one of his hopes and dreams.

With a small nod, Caspian pulls his shadows back some and gives me a shrug when I side-eye him because Franklin’s currently stripped of his shirt and bleeding from multiple lacerations on his chest. But like I just said, there’s no screaming, no pleading for mercy. He doesn’t even feel it.

His shadows continue to surround Franklin in fierce spirals and soon, they’re joined by Tillman’s, Ry’s, and Lyker’s earth elements. Then Corentin’s air has the table and chairs separating us slung out of the way as he brings Franklin down to his knees in front of us. When Draken’s fingers interlace with mine, I take a deep breath.

“I’ll follow you anywhere, little wanderer.”

Raising my hand once again, this time, I’m not doing it alone. I have the strength of my Nexus and family at my side. My shoulder brushes across Lyker’s arm and I know, this isn’t just for me. This is for him too. My brother who lost his whole family because of this man. Ry, my bonus brother who comes from a bond rather than blood, isn’t hesitant at all to show hislove and support for not only me, but my men in this moment. The rest of my family…they’re right outside the door. They have no clue what’s going on in here yet, but nonetheless, I feel their unwavering love for me through the stone wall separating us.

I don’t close my eyes or cower away from the look in Franklin’s.

I don’t flinch or hesitate.

I just exhale.

Purple and blue flames ignite together and combine with the shadowy earth, creating a vortex of cosmic-colored lava that grows from the ground to the ceiling. There’s no part of Franklin left to see and it squeezes tighter and tighter until it implodes.

There’s no sound. No screaming. No threats.

Nothing but silence as our elements and gifts return to us.

Leaving just a pile of ash in his place.

Five…four…three…two…

My countdown doesn’t make it to one as I hit my knees and sob, clutching my heart as it physically feels like it’s doubled in size. The shackle that for so long seemed permanent around my ankle disintegrates into nothing right along with Franklin.

My body shakes and tears flow from my eyes in floods as my relief is overwhelming. I knew I’d feel something with his death, but I never would’ve expected to feel so light, so peaceful, so free.

The horrible effects he’s had on me my entire life seemed so small because as the years went on, I had to grow used to it. I had to compartmentalize all my trauma and shove it to the back of my mind so I could carry on. Now it feels like it’s been wiped from my soul where it was starting to rot.

My Nexus surrounds me on the floor and holds me while I continue to pour out years and years of pent-up trauma. I let it flow freely. Never blocking the tap or trying to compose myself so we can leave.

No, I let it all fall out because this room is where it will die.

Right here with him.

Nineteen

Draken

“Did you hear anything I just said?” Corentin asks me.

Nope. Sure didn’t.

It’s hard to focus on anything right now but my little wanderer. I can’t take my eyes off where she’s sitting on the edge of the pool by herself, dangling her feet. When we first left the Castle, she was so quiet, sitting in her silent relief. Then we got home and she said she just needed a little while to processeverything. She’s so, so strong. Stronger than I ever could’ve dreamed of being.

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