Page 58 of Gift from the Nexus

“You’re letting your mind wander too far off, Draken. Don’t think about anything else but getting inside her mind, talking directly to her. Tell her exactly how you feel about her. Block everything else out, even your own internal rambling.”

Talk directly to her.

Okay, I can do that.

Taking a deep breath, I center myself and blink a couple of times before concentrating back on her, clearing out every thought and blocking off every feeling coming from her.

“Little wanderer, I don’t know if you can hear me, but I want you to know how fucking proud I am of you. You’re stronger than anyone I’ve ever met, and as much as I love that, I wish you didn’t have to be, but still, you own it. When I call you a goddess, I’m not blowing smoke up your ass. There’s no doubt in my mind, there’s no other that walks this realm that’s above you. The closest being to that is Elementra herself, and she no longer walks on two legs.

“I can’t tell you what an honor it is to be able to share the skies with you, to fly beside you as one. I’d never want to share this honor with anyone other than you. You…Willow, saying you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me doesn’t even come close to describing what my life is truly like with you in it. I’m so unbelievably grateful to you.”

“Draken…”

“Willow, did you—”

“Yeah, every word.”

A surprised laugh bursts out of me when I jump up from my seat. Snatching her up with me, I spin us around, making her laugh hysterically before I smother the sound with my tongue. She immediately lets me in, kissing me back just as hungrily.

I feast on the pride and happiness for me that she’s pouring through our bond and drink down the desire that emerges like a man dying of thirst. Fuck, I’m so obsessed with her.

“Can you all hear me?” she asks when she reluctantly breaks our kiss.

“Yes.”

Both Tillman and Corentin respond, and I hear it clear as day in my mind as well, so I whip us around to face them. Bouncing my eyes between the two of them, I ask,“What about me?”

“Yeah, we hear you too, Draken,” Corentin replies begrudgingly.

“That was a hell of a lot easier for you two than it was for me. Did you hear me this morning, Caspian, when I told everyone good morning?” Willow asks, beaming at all of us as she parks her pretty ass right back in his lap.

“No, Primary, I didn’t. You’re going to have to touch me and broadcast your thoughts, then read my mind for a response like Tillman’s had to do up until now.”

Her elated mood slightly deflates with disappointment, but she quickly brushes it away. No doubt she wants all her men to be able to talk in her head, but three out of four is better than none for now.

“All things considered, little warrior, you and I knew the two of their intentions and we didn’t try to keep them out of our heads. Plus, between the bond and our close proximity, they were in much better situations to figure it out,” Tillman says.

I know he’s not trying to discredit our quick pickup but instead reassure her.

“Wait. Caspian, how did you know how to guide me on what to do?” I ask now that I think about how it was him who got my mind back on track and not Gaster.

“You don’t think I haven’t read every piece of research I could find since our Primary mentioned this ability?” he asks with an arched brow like I’m a damn idiot for not just knowing that.

“Have you?” Willow asks, turning in his lap to look at him.

“Of course I have, Primary. I wasn’t going to be unprepared if something this rare were to occur in our Nexus. I just wasn’t confident about our ability to speak back to you. Now that I know, have no worries,whenwe bond, I’ll know what to do to get right inside your mind.”

Well, fuck. Too bad I can’t hide in the shadows and watch that.

“I’m going to take a bath,” Willow announces as she stands from her sprawled out position on the couch, stretching her curvy little body out. Teasing me.

We ate a feast for dinner and for the past hour, we’ve been practically comatose. I don’t know if it was just Chef’s doing, wanting to fuel Willow through food or it was under orders from Corentin, but every single dish she’s ever made a remark about liking was on the table waiting for us tonight.

“We’ll come to bed when you’re done, princess,” Corentin says as he gives her a quick kiss on the forehead and heads over to the bar.

There’s a goofy little smirk on his face that’s pretty much been there all day and that shit cracks me up. My little wanderer’s bond has done burrowed itself in him, sweetening and softening him up like a cinnamon roll.

Just as I go to talk shit, Willow’s unease settles in my chest and I shut my mouth to look over at her, still standing where she was, fiddling with her shirt. Her body language screams discomfort, and I don’t know why.

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