Page 57 of Gift from the Nexus

“Hell yeah, Gaster’s on board!” I announce eagerly, standing up and pulling Willow along with me.

“Gaster,” Tillman and Corentin chide.

“What? I think it would be a wonderful lesson, plus what an advantage you all will have to be able to communicate with oneanother where no one else can hear you. And maybe, just maybe, you can communicate with all your bonds, Willow.”

He sales it so perfectly that the other two aren’t going to be able to argue with his logic.

“You think I can talk to you and Oakly?” she asks hopefully.

“I’m not putting anything past you, child. If there’s a way, you’ll surely find it.”

Her excitement pulses through her bond to all of us, and the moment it hits Tillman and Corentin in the chest, their shoulders deflate because they know they’ve lost on this. What she wants, she gets, which also means I get to learn how to talk to everyone in their minds.

“Come on, kids, sit around. Now obviously I’ve never instructed anyone on this since it’s only been recorded once before, but from those notes and the knowledge I have on mind transference, I believe we’ll be able to get this right,” Gaster says excitedly, moving the guys’ papers out of their way without waiting on them too. “You as well, Caspian. You learn this now, you won’t have to try to learn it later.”

With a tsk and an eye roll, Caspian shuts his book and moves down the table to us, then pulls my little wanderer out of my lap and places her in his. I growl because what the fuck.

“Enough, dragon. If I can’t participate in the mind connection with the rest of you,yet, she’s sitting with me.” He smiles at me darkly as a deep blush colors Willow’s face.

We both caught that slyyetand while it turns her on, I wish he’d hurry the fuck up and do it already. I’m ready for him to feel the love she showers us with. He needs it more than anyone I know. What he gets from her now is nothing compared to what actually pumps down the bond. To be able to feel how someone truly feels about you from the depths of their soul…fuck, it’s indescribable.

Plus, I got group activities planned and they’re pointless if he’s just sitting on the sideline watching.

“Okay, what’s first, gramps?” I ask, earning myself a sneer before he softens his eyes and settles on Willow.

“Tell me, is it as easy as thinking and you can talk to them, or do you really have to focus? Explain to me what it’s like.”

“That first time was incredibly difficult with Tillman trying to push me out. It almost made it impossible. I think our distance from one another also made it harder, but I haven’t had any problems since. I think of which one I want to talk to or all of them at the same time and send my words. I don’t have to call on my magic or anything.

“The sound is different, though, if that makes sense. Usually when I read their thoughts, it’s quieter, softer, but with this, it’s just as if we’re having a conversation out loud. When I read their thoughts or even broadcast, there’s usually a small pause in between the passing of information, but so far with me and Tillman communicating, there isn’t any lapse in time. It’s immediate.”

“And, Tillman, what about you?” Gaster asks him.

“Same. As easy as thinking now. To both her and them.”

“Remarkable. Wonderful, wonderful. So really, Corentin and Draken are who we need to focus on. Pair up then and let’s practice.”

“Dibs on little wanderer,” I say, staking immediate claim on Willow being my partner.

Honestly, it’s better this way anyway. If Corentin can’t get it, he’ll grow frustrated, and this sweet little bonding bubble he’s in will pop. Tillman’s a professional handling shit like that.

“Okay then. Draken and Corentin, pull your mental shields up so your thoughts don’t interfere with your words.” We both do as he says and at our nods, he continues, “Good. Now focus. Set your intentions clear. The clearer the intent, the easier it’s goingto be to bring forth the ability this first time. Keep eye contact throughout so you have a better connection with their minds and imagine yourself sending your internal monolog to them.”

Set my intentions, say the crazy shit in my head louder. Okay.

Focusing as hard as I can on her, I wrap my mind around everything I want to say. There’re so many thoughts to weed through, and it’s not even the sexual ones. Right now, for the first time she hears me in her head, I want her to know how much I truly love her. How much I think of her, how she’s so inspiring, powerful, badass, beautiful. She’s literally my world. I’d do any and everything for her, no questions asked. I want her to know without a shadow of a doubt, she’s my soul.

The longer I stare into her silver abyss, the more desperate I become to figure this out. I want—no, need this to work. I need to be able to hear her talk to me at all times, and I need to be able to talk to her whenever she isn’t around me. I can’t promise another situation like the one we just found ourselves in won’t happen again because Elementra’s proven it doesn’t matter who we are in this realm, how powerful we are as a Nexus. If something has to happen a certain way, it’s going to no matter what. So I need this peace of mind.

“Very good, Corentin my boy.” Gaster’s elated voice rings loudly in my ears, so I whip around and see Corentin and Tillman cheesing at one another.

“You got it already?” I ask incredulously.

“Yeah, I focused on our bond and pushed the words simultaneously until they broke through. Keep trying, Draken, it’ll come,” Corentin says, annoyingly supportive.

Keep trying, Draken, blah blah blah. Okay, Mr. Overachiever.

Turning back to my little wanderer, I focus on her soft, determined eyes and relish in the confidence she’s sendingtoward me. She has full faith in me, and it’s a heady, distracting feeling. I could just sit here and soak in it all day rather than do anything else.

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