Page 187 of Gift from the Nexus

“How do you know, princess? You’ve counted?”

Her snort echoes in my mind and a smile crosses my lips, but I don’t bother opening my eyes just yet. I bask in the feeling of her naked body lying across my chest, while I trail my fingers up and down her spine. In fact, counting the bones.

It’s at least midmorning by now judging by the sun shining through her curtains, but we haven’t left this spot since last night when we crawled into bed after cleaning her up and tucking her in. My brothers surround us, laying a hand somewhere on her other than in my way on her back, and we just soak in this feeling.

I was a fool before not notice to that it was only our bonds that wove together during our bonding. This entire time I would’ve sworn to you she carried a piece of my soul with her, but that was just love drunk thinking. This here is so much more potent, electrifying, demanding, freeing.

It’s fucking everything.

“How are you feeling, princess?” I ask.

I already know she’s sore. I’m so in tune with her now, I can easily pinpoint any area on her body where she may feel even the slightest ache of pain. There isn’t a part of her that I can’t feel.

“Other than that, I feel perfect…right. I can’t describe it, but it’s the best I’ve ever felt in my life.”

“I’m assuming you heard my thoughts just then?” I ask. I have my mental block up as I always do, but apparently that isn’t good enough anymore.

“Yeah, your block isn’t helping at all. None of yours are. Tillman can hear everything too.”

“Snitch.” Tillman laughs and we all throw a pillow at him as he smugly smiles in our faces.

Not this shit again.

“Even Caspian’s?” I ask.

“Yes, the Primary and Tillman are rummaging around in there. I feel them. Don’t get comfortable, you two. I have every intention of kicking you both out the moment I figure it out.” He doesn’t bother moving his arm from over his eyes, but I see the small smirk on his lips.

This is perfection.

“Draken, are you sleeping or just being quiet?” I ask.

“Listening to all of you,” he says and I arch my brow at Willow, to which she shrugs. “Want to expand a little, brother?”

“I feel calm. I don’t think me or my dragon have ever been so relaxed in our lives,” he says with a soft sigh.

Well, I don’t like that at all.

That’s not a change I’m willing to endure.

Yeah, I give him a lot of shit, but I look forward to his nonsense daily. Draken’s been my reminder for the past fourteen years that it’s important to have fun, be a little carefree, and how important family is. Granted, I don’t heed his advice or gibberish most times, but I need it.

No, this subtle attitude adjustment just won’t work for me.

“Corentin’s about to freak out over the new Draken,” Tillman says, laughing his ass off as I hit him with a ball of air that slings him off the bed.

“Aww, boss man, do you want a hug? How about a group hug?”

And just like that, the dragon’s back as he hops up and attempts to pile on top of Willow, but Caspian wraps him in his shadows and puts him on the floor beside Tillman.

The five of us fall into blissful laughter and my heart beats harder in my chest as my mind empties out. There’s nothing that could compare to this.

This is the first morning in at least thirty years I haven’t woken up, jumped out of bed, and started my day. Since a young age, I’ve been up and ready to go with the sun. Things always need to get done. Even the morning after me and Willow bonded, I made the guys bring my work to me in bed, but all I care about right now is this moment. My brothers and my princess.

Yeah, sure, I still see the to-do list and conversations that need to happen in my mind, but it’s not my number one priority. Therefore, it can wait.

“Your mom’s about to call,” Willow says on a yawn as she stretches out and pushes against me to get off the bed.

The four of us seem to fall into a trance, watching her sashay across the room without a care in the realm that she’s teasing us with our greatest desire. My eyes trace the delicate curve of her body, the marks of Draken’s fingers that now wrap around her hip, her wild curls on top of her head, and the single strand that Tillman missed when he pulled it up trails down her back that nearly touches her peachy ass. She’s fucking excellence exemplified. And she’s all mine. Ours.

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