Page 30 of Gift from the Nexus

“You haven’t—”

A soft, calming purr flutters from my dragon, and I feel her ruffling her body out, not trying to break free, just…preparing herself. Confidence, readiness, and determination filters from her to me, and I nearly choke on the gasp that wants to burst out of me. They did tell me, just not as directly as I assumed they meant.

“My fire. My dragon’s flame.”

“Just like you burned it through your veins.”

Leaning heavily on the determination my dragon’s bleeding into me, I think each move through thoroughly. Subtly, I blow out a small breath and begin merging my fire and the gift of my dragon in my chest. Although slow moving, much like me, they don’t attempt to bombard me or take control. They listen to the intentions I set forth and begin interweaving with one another.

This is going to be the difficult part. I can’t just burst into flames, or completely burn away the cuffs. Trex may not be a physically abusive asshole like the others, but he has no intentions of helping me, so I see no scenario where he’s going to be okay with me busting out a surprise trick and breaking free of my restraints.

Now or never.

Lacing my fingers discreetly to the cuffs, I make it look like I’m cradling the wounds on my wrist and palm closely to my body, and I command my flame to flow through me to my hands. I wait with bated breath when they reach the threshold of where my air element was halted, and when there’s resistance, I push harder.

A small cracking noise breaks the silence and has me quickly snatching my flame back some. I don’t react whatsoever, and when I peer out of my peripheral at Trex, his eyes have narrowed, but they’re not on me. They’re still facing forward, so I know he heard it. He’s just not acknowledging it.

Okay, so my flame may not draw attention, but these damn cuffs will.

Draw attention…

I don’t overthink my decision. I just do it. As we go to step up on the last stair before the final landing, I let my foot get caught on the edge and purposely trip myself up. This is going to hurt, so I force my flame back out as fast and hard as I can without it bursting through my skin and brace for impact.

My body thuds against the concrete landing, drawing a loud yelp from my mouth, one I didn’t have to fake, and at the same time, the cuffs split beneath my hands.

Whimpering, I roll onto my stomach to relieve the pain throbbing through my shoulder, hip, and shin, then readjust my hold on the cuffs to secure the broken pieces in my palms. Immediately, I know the block is broken as my magic, elements, and gifts seem to flare to life and travel through me, but I sorrowfully have to command them not to fix any of my injuries, not even my bleeding yet as they all seem to spread to the worst of the worst of my damage.

“Fuck, you are burning up.” Trex hisses as he swiftly picks me up bridal style, eyeing me everywhere as if he can spot a new wound amongst the masses.

“Probably some infection from this hellhole. Put me down and let me walk to my death with my dignity,” I snark dramatically, trying and failing to roll myself out of his grip.

He hesitates only for a second longer before gently putting me down and gripping both of my arms to steady me. It’s shit like this about him that confuses me. Concern contorts his features as he examines every inch of me as if he’s about to see a bone popping out somewhere.

“First of all, we can’t get infections. Second, you’re not dying on my watch. You die, I die, and I’ve got shit to take care of before that happens.”

Ah, there’s the cause for concern.

Not releasing his hand from my arm, he steers me down the long, bright stone hallway I came down when I was first brought in, but now all the cells we pass are empty, and a lump forms in my throat because that means they’ve been moved outside or somewhere else.

The wet slap of my bloodied feet against the concrete slows to a stop simultaneously with his heavy-booted steps as we facethe magical illusion wall that leads to the front foyer. Pausing, he stands there, staring ahead before releasing a long sigh. Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out a healing vial and passes it over to me.

“He’s arranged this to scare you, let you know what your defiance will bring you, but don’t let the underlings get a whiff of your fear. They have orders. They’re not allowed to touch you without one of our permissions, so don’t show them any weakness. Just do what the other three say and this will be over soon,” he warns so quietly, I can barely hear him.

Nodding at me, his silent instructions to drink the vial, I don’t hesitate because fear of the unknown that’s about to come my way has me desperately grabbing at any help. I could cry happy tears when the hole in my palm starts stitching itself together, and my blood stops flowing from the cuts.

My newfound energy is zapped once he drags me through the wall and his words start to make sense.

No one’s in the empty foyer, but I hear the voices outside. The many, many voices, and I steel myself for what I’m about to walk out there to.

My eyes widen at the massive gathering of Mastery members. There’re so many. At least a hundred, if not more. The first few rows of them are so tall, I have to peer between the gaps in their bodies to attempt to see beyond them. My gaze follows the open path in the middle of the parted crowd to where Donald, Max, and Bryce wait for us, with deranged, malicious smiles.

My heart thunders in my ears so deafeningly, it drowns out the sound of their laughter, snarls, and crude comments as we take our first step forward. One bellowing laugh breaks through the storm raging within me, and I follow the sound to where Gish is standing, towering behind Donald. His snide, wholly pleasured smile forces me to fully steel myself.

Lifting my head high, pulling my shoulders back with it, I shake my arm free from Trex so I can walk on my own. Whatever humiliation, torture, or other debauchery they have planned for me, I’ll face it on my own two feet.

Until my men get here anyway and wipe everyone out.

Calling my magic forth, I let it swell in my chest with each step I take, feeding, lacing it with my fury, my rage, my hurt and once we’re about halfway to them, I release the spell.

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