Page 134 of Gift from the Nexus

“You’re incredibly smart, Tanith,” I mumble.

“I am many, many years old and soon you will learn the ways as well. My imprisonment has slowed my aging even more. I imagine the same for my lord.”

“He’s seemed to age backward. He looks much healthier now than the first time I saw him. He’s being fed, and he feeds respectfully. Unlike the others,” I inform her gently, hoping to alleviate some of her worry.

“Our time is coming to an end. I feel your presence beginning to wane, so listen closely, young one. Be wise in the words you choose to share. My existence needs to be kept secret.

“Many steps must be taken precisely once you convince him to allow you to do this. First, you must use your claw to puncture a hole in his neck until the tip touches the silver. Do not fret hurting him with this step. He’s a vampire and has been bitten harder than that before. Next, command your ancient flame through the cord. Not your normal element. It must be your flame. It will liquefy the silver. This is the part that will hurt and harm him if done improperly. You must use your earth element simultaneously with your flame to draw the silver out. If you release your flame, the cord will instantly solidify. Silver is a mineral of the earth, so it will come to your command.”

As soon as her directions are delivered, I feel my mind slowly drifting and I beg it to please stop. I still have so many questions.

“Tanith.”

“Do not worry, we will have much time to teach each other once we unite. I will answer all I can then. I swear it to you. Be safe and confident on your journey. And one more thing, Willow. Names have power. Use it wisely.”

The cave disappears right before my eyes, but before I completely enter the darkness, I hear her otherworldly voice whisper.

Dericko Keeper.

Twenty-One

Caspian

“You aren’t supposed to have nightmares while you’re wrapped in my arms, Primary,” I murmur quietly when Willow sits up suddenly, gasping.

Her fidgeting woke me up a short time ago, and I’ve been sitting here holding her, waiting for her to come out of whatever place she was stuck in. Usually just a touch from me has her mind soothing back into restfulness but not tonight. Tonight, there’s no chasing away whatever had a hold on her.

“Cas…” she says quietly, clutching my hand as if to make sure I’m real. “Not…not a nightmare.”

“Where did you wander to this time?” I ask, even though the likelihood of her being able to tell me is slim to none.

My shadows travel over her body in a gentle caress, aiming to soothe her as she trembles, and looks around the room in confusion. Wherever her mind had gone, she’s come back shaken up.

“To an ally. One who awaits us,” she whispers.

When she finally turns to me, those maddening eyes are full of water, the dam on the verge of breaking. I can’t have that. Nothing feels right when she cries, and I have no one to take it out on at this late hour.

“They’ll continue waiting tonight. Come lie back down,” I order, patting my chest so she knows exactly where I want her.

She does as I ask, but she forced herself to do it. That dream walk of hers is going to keep her up through these last few hours of darkness. No matter that she’s surrounded by her Nexus, she’s not going to be able to slip back into sleep. Which means neither will I.

“Do you want to tell me about it?”

“Yes, really bad, but we both know I can’t,” she murmurs.

“Then would you like to wander somewhere else…with me?” I ask timidly.

Fear has become an emotion I’ve refused to acknowledge for years. Eighteen years, to be exact. Until her. She struck a kind of fear in me that I didn’t even know was possible.

I fear how black my soul would bleed if I were to lose her. I know the man I’d become without her, and I fear that man. He has no conscience. No restraint, remorse, or regret. He’s just darkness.

I fear telling her my story because for such a long time, my anger has brewed from not having all the answers I deserve,crave. Not all the pieces make sense to me, and at every turn here recently, I’ve had to hold my composure because little does my Primary know, she continues to bring things to light that could possibly fill those gaps in for me.

Because of that, I told myself I wouldn’t force my story out or plan for it because that felt like suffocating pressure. But here it is. What better time to face my fears than in the dead of night when it’s only me and her awake.

“Anywhere,” she says confidently with a small smile. One I try immensely to match despite the panic pumping in my chest.

“Then hold on, Primary. This will be uncomfortable for just a moment.”

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