Page 64 of Within the Veil

Hunter

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WatchingHudson break rips a piece of my soul right out of my chest. Every wrenching sob makes my eyes fill with tears that stopped falling the moment she came back to us. We move forward as one and kneel at her side, and are all hit with a force of tangled emotions that nearly knocks us on our asses.

It slams into me like a wrecking ball, an onslaught of emotions, hopes, and dreams I hadn't been aware of. My ears start to ring, my chest caving as the pain increases, like a flood bursting its banks and rushing toward me, unstoppable. I can hardly breathe under the torrent of emotions--each one a raw, poignant story that sends shockwaves through my system.

Suddenly, I'm not just Hunter, I'm a thousand other souls living a thousand different lives. Each emotion is a vivid color, splashing over the monochrome canvas of my existence. The torture is as sharp as a blade, cutting through me, but it's the hope that's truly staggering. It burns bright, stubborn against the backdrop of despair, refusing to be extinguished.

"Drowning," I find myself whispering, words tumbling out in a desperate attempt to make sense of this onslaught, "It feels like I'm drowning. But not in water. I'm drowning in emotions, in hope and fear, in love and loss. It's all there, hitting me wave after wave. It's... it's devastatingly beautiful."

Every emotion, every sliver of hope, every dream, they're not just feelings. They're lives, stories, and echoes of people who dream, who love, who hurt. And now, their hopes, their dreams, their fears, they're mine too. It's like carrying the weight of the world inside me, an unbearable, exquisite burden. It's breathtaking. It's terrifying. It's everything.

"What the fuck is this," I say, trying to breathe through the influx of everything Hudson is projecting.

Ryder grits his teeth as he picks her up and cradles her to his chest, "this is her bringing down the damn barrier she has erected toprotect us."

"Protect us?" Grayson says, incredulously reaching over to grab Hudson from Ryder.

We quiet and take turns cradling her in our arms as her tears start to ease.

Xena suddenly pops into the room, looking absolutely furious, until she notices Hudson between us. She comes forward, nudging Hudson's head with her own to let her know she is there.

"Why would she do this? " Remi asks softly, her face wet with the tears streaming down her face.

"I have been able to link to the entirety Tír na nÓg, to every Seelie that is part of the Kingdom, to every living breathing thing. I feel it all, even those under Nici's reign--their pain. I didn't want you all to be concerned when their pain was mine to bear. It is my duty to feel the pain of my people," Hudson whispers, her voice raw from her grief.

We scowl. "Our people, Hudson. Ours. They are our duty as well. Just as much as you are," Zane hisses furiously.

"If you would have said something, we could share the burden. Instead, you poisoned yourself when we could have taken some of that burden from you," Grayson says, his voice hot with anger.

"You would have made me stop connecting. You would be more concerned with me..."

I cut her off with a snarl, my own anger rising, "You are damn right because a broken mind is just as bad as a torn, bloodied body slipping into a coma. Worse, because you'll be walking and talking but still not present. We had this talk before Hudson and the only reason I am not making good on my promise to you, is that I feel your pain, your regret as deeply as you do. That is what a fated mate bond is. I'm supposed to feel every bit of your pain just as you are meant to feel mine. So that can carry ittogether.You are putting yourself in danger again. In this case, being selfless isselfish.You still don't fucking get it, do you? We fucking love you. We may be your mates, but you, Hudson...you are our everything."

"We have several lifetimes together, babe. We will all have to lean on each other to stay strong. Communication and openness are the only way to do that," Remi whispers, running her hands through Hudson's hair.

Oberon holds Hudson and tips her head until their eyes meet, "Mate, I have always considered you wise beyond your years. You have humbled me with your strength and passion. Your aptitude to analyze, plan and apply concepts is higher than most Fae, some of who are hundreds of years older. Your battle skills surpass that of soldiers who have trained with some of the greatest of warriors. But today, you disappoint me greatly," Oberon shakes his head and places his hands on her belly, making the swell glow. The babies send us waves of joy at the contact. "Do you understand that you are putting our children in great peril? As small as they are, they are able to communicate with us. Their needs go beyond food. They need a mother who is of sound mind, body, and soul. Andweneed to know that our Mate isn't going to crumble under the strain of leading a Kingdom simply because you failed to lean on us. That is part of your duty as well. I want you to remember this moment, I want you to feel how the weight you have borne all this time has eased considerably simply because you have let down the shields you have erected. That is what it means to have a mate, to love and be loved."

Zane sighs heavily, "Hudson, from this point forward, we will be shifting gears to spend more time figuring out the extent of your powers. You aregoingto stop blocking us. If it isn't for brief moments where you need privacy, I want to know every damn thought that goes through your head, every fucking thing you pick up around you. Your connection to Tír na nÓg is powerful. The advantages of all of us having access to that knowledge are endless. It can shift this war so far in our favor that victory is within our reach. If your concern is fulfilling the duty to your people, think about that."

"Hudson, we love you. You have more people than just your mates. It isourduty as your sentinels to protect you and shoulder all of your burdenswithyou," Jensi says, uncharacteristically solemn.

"If you understand duty, then let us do ours. Otherwise, we are failing," Luca adds with a shake of his head.

Suddenly we are hit with a love so profound that our heads snap up to look at King, who vibrates with anger, "I may not be your Mate, Hudson. But I have loved you just as hard from the moment I saw you walk down the steps of that party, dressed in that purple dress that hugged your every curve. The way your spirit glowed, I couldn't keep my eyes off of you. The moment you smiled at me, all while bringing the guys down a notch, I fell hard and fast. Your skill, your intelligence, and the way your very presence can make a room brighter are just the tip of the iceberg of all the things that make you unique. I am happy being just your Sentinel if it keeps me within your orbit. You keeping us closed off from all of your pain is cruel. I didn't ever peg you as someone who would be cruel. I damn sure expect more from the woman I love, and I am duty-bound to. I didn't fall in love with a coward, and right now, that is what you are."

We stare at him, jaws slack. While part of me wants to rip him apart for looking at Hudson in any other way than friendship, the depth of his feelings makes it hard even to consider it.

One by one, he meets our gazes, "Zane, Hunter, Grayson, Ryder, Remi, Oberon. I cannot apologize for loving your mate, but I do apologize if my feelings cause any discomfort. That is not my intention, and I will behave the same way I have always done. Respectfully and dutifully." He nods and faedes from the room.

"Well, fuck." Jensi mutters.

He's not wrong.

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Hudson(The next morning)

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