Page 56 of Gift from the Nexus

I’ve sworn up and down to Elementra from the moment I felt her mate’s message, that I’ll do anything to fix it for her. I can’t say for sure Elementra answered since I’m not her favorite—Willow is—but the calm that came over me after I no longer felt what she was going through seemed divine, so I take that as a good sign that Elementra listened to my promise.

And fuck do I promise it.

Mark my words, I’ll find a way to wash away those scars for her.

“How are you feeling, princess?” Corentin asks, pulling me out of my head.

“Same as I did when you asked twenty minutes ago. Last time you said you were just worried about the magic I used broadcasting to everyone, but you’re asking again, so I’d like the truth this time, please.” She says it so sweet but also with sass, causing me to snort.

After we all simmered down, Oakly and her Nexus stayed for a little while longer, embracing Willow, making small talk here and there before they headed back home, but not before Jamie checked her over one more time and gave her instructions to spend some time outside to recharge what little magic she used.

Which translated to Corentin as “stay outside all damn day.”

It only took a few minutes of us fussing over her profusely for her to order us to do something else, something useful since she doesn’t need to be waited on hand and foot. So Gaster and Caspian pulled out books, looking for something, Tillman and Corentin started poring over plans for the Forsaken Forest and everything else Willow revealed to us, and I’ve stuck to her side like glue.

“I just want to make sure you’re feeling okay.” He huffs.

“He’s waiting for his gift to come bursting out of you, Primary. It has him stressing out,” Caspian supplies boredly, not looking up from the book that has his undivided attention. It earns him an eat shit and die look from Corentin and a curious look from Willow.

“Huh, you know, I’ve been thinking about that too, but with both Draken’s and Tillman’s gifts, I had some signs leading up that something was about to happen to me. I felt different.”

“And you don’t feel any different right now?” Corentin asks.

“No, not really. But then again, theirs was a brutal takeover of my body and mind. Maybe yours will come easily. Nice and calm and controlled.” She smirks playfully.

We all laugh at her teasing banter while Corentin stares at her blankly, but with a few bats of those long brown lashes and sweet come fuck me eyes, his mask crumbles and a small little twitch on his lips gives him away.

He’s…different. Not a bad different, but something changed in him with their bonding. He always seemed to hold such tension in his body, but today he seems light as a feather. He’s not once yelled at me, sighed, or shaken his head at me for anything. Even when he was bossing me around this morning, he was sweet about it.

I wish I could tell ol’ Corentin how much I like his sweet side.

Huh, speaking of that…

“Are one of you going to teach me the whole talking back in your head’s thing? I’ve got some stuff I want to say in private,” I pipe in cheerfully now that the talk of gifts reminds me of my little wanderer’s newest ability.

“No,” Corentin and Tillman declare, while Willow easily agrees with a “yes.”

“You mean you can do that on command? It wasn’t just in the moment this CC stranger advised it?” Gaster asks Willow excitedly.

“Yeah, I can talk in Tillman’s, Draken’s, and Corentin’s minds, but so far, Tillman’s the only one who can talk back to me.”

“There’s no guarantee any of us will be able to speak back to her, Draken. Tillman is most likely having ease with it because of his gift, but it may just be a one-way thing with her gift,” Caspian says, shrugging, trying to crush my dream.

“No, no way. I’m not accepting that. If Tillman can do it, so can I. So can the rest of us, including you when the two of you bond,” I declare firmly.

I refuse to accept that I won’t be able to whisper sweet nothings to everyone. And I already have a list of dirty praises I plan to shower Willow with right when she comes.

“Bad dragon. You don’t have to talk in my mind or let me hear your thoughts to know what’s on your mind. I feel it.”

Her voice penetrating my thoughts only makes my dick more painfully hard from her teasing little shimmy she keeps doing on my lap and I want to fuck that cute little grin right off her face until all she can do is scream my name.

“Draken,” Tillman barks.

By his stern glare and my sweetness’s beet red face, I get the picture I definitely didn’t hide that particular little thought.

Sorry not sorry.

They both snort at me while the others look around like they’re confused, but I see a spark of excitement in the old man’s eyes and as long as I’ve known him, that means one thing; he’s about to teach me some shit.

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