Page 123 of Gift from the Nexus

“You haven’t talked to any of us about this,” she says gently.

“No, I haven’t. I didn’t want to burden anyone with this. I’ve been trying to find a way to process it on my own or at least get to a point where I thought I could explain it properly. You saying what you said snapped something inside of me that first night we shared together, little wanderer. Yeah, I enjoy being the funny one, the happy one, the one who’s more obsessed with you than the rest—”

“Draken.” She snorts and I tug her closer to me so I can give her a kiss on her forehead, then continue.

“You basically told me it’s okay to be myself. You set me free from the shackles I placed on myself. The ones I let the realm convince me I needed. Now I don’t have to constantly put on a charade. I can be funny, over the top, whatever because I want to be like that, not because I still have something to prove to everyone. Rodrick deserved what he got, and I realized that and accepted that because of you. I wasn’t a monster for killing himthe way I did. I was just a child,” I say, choking up there at the end.

“You were. You were just a child, Draken,” she says as tears break free. I reach out gently with my fingers and wipe them away before cupping her cheeks.

“You were as well. I know the situation is different, and I can only compare mine to yours within means, but for what it’s worth, you freed the realm of a real-life monster, little wanderer. He wasn’t a wild animal that functions off instincts. He was a monster through and through. One that made conscious decisions to hurt innocent kids and people. You are not a monster, and it’s okay that you don’t feel guilty about what you did. There’s nothing to feel guilty about and I won’t allow you to sit around for years, suffocating in feelings that shouldn’t be haunting you. I’m so proud of you for making such a tough decision.”

It takes a while for the light to enter her eyes, but eventually, it does, and it’s like staring into a river of rhinestones. Her gratitude pours off her in waves, and for the life of me, I wish she knew how much she’s changed us, done for us, since she’s been here. It’s so far from one-sided, it’s unbelievable.

“Maybe I should’ve eaten him. It would’ve been more dramatic.” She sighs with a small smile.

“Nah, you handled it perfectly. Plus, that first time gives you quite a tummy ache. No sense in being miserable for a couple hours over digesting him.”

She stares at me with a horror-stricken look on her face before we both fall apart laughing.

I’m being serious, though. The first time you eat someone sucks. It gets easier after the third or so.

“Thank you, Draken,” she whispers after her laughter trickles off.

“Thank you, little wanderer.”

Leaning my head down, I kiss her softly and let my love for her flood through our bond. I want her to know I didn’t just say any of that just to say it. I meant every word wholeheartedly.

I get that it’s a little ironic. A dragon that has a soft heart, humor for days, and more love to give than multiple people combined have for only one person, but that’s the side of me I want to embrace willingly. I didn’t get to have or express that growing up.

Those ten years working as a slave were lonely and…awful, to put it mildly. I got beat for crying, got beat for wanting a hug, got beat for asking for my mom. Talking eventually became a privilege I wasn’t afforded. Yes and no sir were the extent of my allowed speech. Any form of comfort or affection was turned down and reciprocated in the form of punishment. I had to unteach myself all of that on my own when I met the guys and their family. I was too ashamed to admit everything I’d been through at first, and they talked to me so freely from the jump, I didn’t want to seem like even more of a freak.

Willow has pretty much from the start been receptive to my touchy-feely tendencies and she has no clue the amount of healing that’s brought me. With the guys, they were rarely okay with hugs, but letting the more playful, carefree side of me out with them was easier because our bond told me I’d always be safe, and I just wanted to feel accepted. And they accepted me fully.

So my personality isn’t completely fake. It’s definitely been exaggerated in order to fit in better, make people like me more, but I really do enjoy making people laugh, making my little wanderer blush, joking and making the guys uncomfortable from time to time. Now, though, if I don’t want to act a certain way, I don’t have to. Fuck the elite, the upper families, and their spoiled-ass kids. My brothers’ and Willow’s opinions are the only ones I care about now.

“Will you do something with me?” she asks quietly.

“Anything.”

“Will you swim with me?”

My eyes widen slightly as I glance at the pool, then back at her. She’s only been out here a handful of times, never gotten in farther than her feet hanging like now, and it’s because of the fear that Deadman hiding put into her. If she’s ready to conquer that, though, you’re fucking skippy I’m going to do it with her.

“It’d be my pleasure,” I purr, chuckling when her body shivers and breaks out in goose bumps.

Standing up, I hold my hand out for her to take, and instantly my body shivers when her earth element glides across the two of us and she laughs at her little play at revenge. I damn near tremble again when I look at what she’s put us in, though.

Red matching bathing suits.

Be fucking still, my heart. She’s so fucking perfect.

And so fucking sexy.

“You look amazing too. Red really is your color,” she purrs and my eyes narrow in warning. She’s playing a deliciously dangerous game.

Walking over to the naturally formed steps that lead into the pool, I take my time, slowly taking each stair, giving her a second to get her bearings as we make it to about hip deep water. Well, hip deep for me. It’s already up to her waist.

I grip her hand firmly while I finish walking down the steps until my feet are on the bottom of the pool and I turn to face her. She’s a little hesitant, but I feel her eagerness to do this. The perfection of this little oasis reminds her of her bathroom, so it’s a hard temptation to keep passing up.

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