Page 25 of Moonlight Bonds (The Nexus #4)

Chapter

Thirteen

“ S everi,” I whisper his name as I see him for the first time in a while.

I step closer, only to look down and see my bare legs and shorts, which are ghostlike.

I lift my hands in front of my face, seeing the same shimmery, ghostlike haze to my body.

Am I dreamwalking? I know I can do it, but it never seems to work when I want it to, and it’s never been like this.

“Nexus?” I shout for her, but I only sense her in the distance, watching Severi the same as I.

We are still in the cabin in the woods in Wales, and he looks so much better now.

A brown shirt hangs off his shoulders and is open, making me see the god-awful scars that run down his chest. They have healed at least. There is colour to his face, and he is okay.

I needed to see him, I realise. I’ve oddly missed him, and I keep expecting Severi to turn up randomly, like he usually does.

Only he can’t this time. “Hello!” I shout at him, trying to move, but my body feels like I’m frozen in ice.

I barely manage to move one step forward when he lifts his head from the book he was reading on his knee.

He doesn’t look my way; instead, he frowns and searches the entire room.

He slams the book shut, and his head twists to face the door.

I watch as shadows crawl around the floor, crawling out of his feet, almost like my shadows but far darker, almost pitch black.

They cover the floor of the room, even around me, just as the door slams open with a bang.

Georgina walks in, standing on the broken door.

She has red-heeled boots on, black leather leggings, and a blood-red shirt tucked in.

Gone is the innocent pretence I’m used to, and now she looks more like herself than I could have imagined.

I still don’t see myself in her looks, but maybe my mother and aunt—she looks a little like them both.

Her hair’s pulled up into a messy bun with strands falling around her cheeks, and her makeup matches her outfit—red lips and dark eyes.

A clip lies in her hair, expensive jewels flashing in the light, and it almost looks like a tiara.

I tense when she looks right my way, only for a second, and turns back to Severi. “Hello, Prince.”

This has to be a dream…otherwise, am I seeing our hiding place being found? Georgina shouldn’t be there. Severi moves like a breeze, grabbing her arm and throwing her into the wall. She smashes into it and winces as she stands, holding up her hand. “I didn’t come to fight you, Prince. Calm down!”

Severi glares at her. “You’re not leaving here alive, not after what you did to your sister.

I knew my father sent you to the academy, and I hoped meeting Gwen was enough for you to see his manipulative bullshit.

She is your fucking twin! Your blood family!

” He sneers. “How the fuck could you nearly kill her? Do you really want her dead before you even know anything about her?”

“I know enough about the dark princess from my time in the academy. I was trying to get to know her, but she never let me get close. I tried with her friend, and she still only saw me as the enemy. That won’t change overnight, and you say I should care that she is my twin…

but I don’t see her caring that I am hers.

” She lifts her chin. I try to ignore the fact that part of what she said is true.

I don’t even classify her as my family now, and I’m not sure forgiveness and acceptance is ever possible for us both.

Georgina led herself on a path that could have been avoided.

She throws something at him, and he catches it. It’s a vial filled with blood on a chain. “It’s my blood. As long as you wear it, he won’t be able to get into your mind to take it over. This has to stay our little secret, for obvious reasons.”

I’m knocked for six. Georgina is helping Severi and not the king? What the fuck is this dream? A scream cuts through the air, and Georgina looks at the door. Severi clutches the chain. “You want me to believe you’re actually working against him?”

“I’m not working against him at all,” Georgina corrects. “He is my king and my ruler. I care deeply for the king, and that will not change.”

Well, she isn’t off the crazy train quite yet then. “You and your sister are confusing. I assume you are letting me go to help her?”

“That is a conversation I’ll have with my sister and her alone. I’m sure she’s here watching. It’s almost like she should know her entire life and Nexus mates are a trap. One she should not walk into.” She shrugs. “If my sister were smart, she’d run away with you and forget the rest.”

“You don’t forget mates.” He cocks his head to the side. “Who was that screaming?”

Georgina is already walking out. “You will find the sweet dog and the quiet boy in the forest, walking around. The others are gone, and the king has them now. Find your mate, Prince, and disappear before it’s too late.”

I cuddle up to Finn in bed as I wake up from the strange dream.

I can smell breakfast in the apartment, but I’m happy to stay in bed a little longer, my body still aching from actually dying yesterday.

It took me five hours to come back this time, not as instant as before, and anytime I’ve asked my Nexus about why it took so long, she is dead silent on the subject.

I know she is a Goddess reborn now and death is nothing to her, so where did we go for five whole hours?

“I don’t want to see you die again. Last night was fucking horrid.” Finnegan plays with the end of my hair as I lie on his shoulder.

I can only hum to him, my mind still focused on the dream. I reach for my Nexus as I climb out of bed. “Was the dream real?”

“I don’t know, I couldn’t see, but I doubt it,” she replies, and it helps me feel a little better.

I get dressed and join them in the lounge to eat breakfast, and I end up back on Finnegan’s lap as they talk about the Gods.

The feeling of the glass cutting into me, of dying, is so fresh in my mind even now. “I think it was a tantrum because I won.” I glance at Hollis. “Darkness and Crimson seem particularly angry. Vengeful almost.”

“I agree,” Hollis murmurs. “We should be celebrating your win. There’s only one person in our history who’s managed to win three rites,” he reminds me. “Two left and it will be over.”

“Who is this mysterious man that’s managed to win these rites?

I could ask him for advice on the fourth and fifth, which I’ve no doubt I’m going to be forced to play out even if I’m not interested in doing them anymore.

” No one answers me because we don’t know who it is.

There isn’t a history book on anyone who won in Starlight City, or not one that my mates have heard of.

My aunt isn’t likely to know either, or she might as well have told me a name.

There’s one sharp knock at the door, and I raise my shoulders as my aunt walks in.

Talking of which… “I am sorry to intrude while you’re recovering and celebrating.

I come with news.” She stops in the middle of the couches, and I straighten up.

“Starlight City has been taken by Vian and is now under the king’s control.

We had sent guards to establish and take out refugees, but they’ve all been killed.

May the Gods care for their souls.” She looks at the ceiling for a second.

I glance at the kitchen, where Annie is watching and listening.

“A few stragglers got back to us and told us what happened. Unfortunately, what is left of the Starlight City Nexus is now captured, and the king has sent his forces in, and they will be killing them as we speak. I have no doubt this is a lure for you, Gwenieve.”

“A calling card,” Onyx growls. “Marked with death.”

I shiver at the thought.

“What are you going to do about it?” My aunt looks directly at me, then at Onyx.

“You’re all the leaders the people of Starlight have left, and it will be you they are hoping to see come through the door.

What are you going to do about your home?

What side of the war are you on?” My mouth dries.

“What is it you want at the end? People like you have been given so much power, sent back from the stars themselves, and you’re just sitting here as evil wins! ”

“What do you want me to do? Walk into Starlight City and what? Get captured by the Vian again?” I snap, standing up.

“He could capture me and use me to kill the rest of Starlight in seconds. The rest of the world would follow!” I close my eyes briefly.

I’m scared, and I’m not too proud to admit to it.

“I don’t want to leave those people, but… what do you expect me to do?”

“I saw you today, and you faced two Gods. In that fog of blood and shadow, you rose like a light against them, and you won. My people are not whispering about you as a monster; they are whispering about you as a Goddess who is a threat to the very Gods we have worshipped for many years. I know you’re scared…

” She steps closer and puts her hands on my shoulders.

“I know my sister would have done everything she could to raise you not to be scared, to be brave and fearless. It’s what she tried to be from the moment she found out about you growing inside her.

I always felt that fear is a natural part of ourselves when we risk everything.

I know we are new to each other’s lives, but I wish to help you, and I believe a city of a few hundred thousand Vian is something you can fight. ”

“They raised me as a monster and taught me to drown out that side of me to control it,” I whisper.