After a few moments, Chloe stood and pulled me into her arms, and when her eyes met mine, they were glassy and fierce all at once. “You just made me whole. Ancestors help anyone who tries to hurt you—because they’ll have to go through us first.”
Oliver and Deshawn echoed the vow, then pulled their new Nexus back into their arms, not wanting to lose the connection to her for a second.
“You have Aegisworn?” Torren asked, clearly stunned by what had just happened.
Before I could reply, Oliver, Chloe, and Deshawn glanced at him, only now noticing his presence.
“Who’s the tall, sketchy guy? Do I need to kick his ass?" Chloe examined him from head to toe, then grinned at me. “It would be a pity, though—he's quite the snack."
Both of her men growled.
Oren stepped between Torren and the others, shoulders broad, voice lethal and calm. “He’s leaving.”
Torren looked at me.Only me. “The forest won’t stay safe. They will come looking for you as soon as they regroup.”
No threat or fear.
Just the truth as he saw it.
Oren’s voice dropped to a whisper lined with steel. “Don’t stare at my Nexus. We decide as a group whether you stay or go.”
Chloe leaned near my ear, “Say the word and we’ll bury him. Ride or die. Your choice, bestie.”
Torren's voice remained steady, not wavering at all. “I’m staying.”
Silence snapped through the clearing.
Oren stepped forward, shadows slithering around his body. “You don’t make that decision.”
Torren's eyes lock onto Oren’s stare without a blink. “You don’t know this forest. I do. They’ll send everything they have to find you. They’ll set fire to this entire forest to smoke you out.” He glances at me—just a quick flicker of connection, brief and careful. “I know where the old tunnels are. I know which rivers flow deep enough to hide tracks. I know which cliffs won’t support weight. Youdon’t.” He smirked slightly. “And I know where there might be a portal that’s open.”
Pantar stepped up to him at his full height and growled low.“I can take his head for you.”
“That won’t be necessary.” I smoothed my hand down his side.
Jet’s eyes narrowed. “So, you’re volunteering to be our guide?”
“No,” Torren sniffed. “I’m far from a lowly guide.”
And there was the arrogance.
“But I’m not leaving, so you might as well use my knowledge to keep your Nexus safe.”
Zane spat on the ground. “You’re really asking to die tonight, huh?”
Nathan rolled his neck as his hands burst into flames. “I’ll help.”
Oren’s jaw flexed, hands twitching with barely contained power. “We can keepourNexus safe. We don’t need anything from you.” Shadows began slithering around his body. “You can tell us the way.”
“I’m not here for you.” Torren showed no concern despite Oren’s display of power. “And you won’t be able to find it without me. I’ll make sure of that."
A ripple moved through the group—anger, shock, disbelief.
Then he looked at me—onlyme. “You’re not safe yet, Reverie. So, I stay." He turned to my men. “They saw what I did in that arena, so they’ll kill me on sight, anyway.”
My heart was pounding so loudly, I swear they could all hear it. Not once did he mention that he’s my Potential. It was nice that he waited for me to start that conversation.
Oren steps half an inch in front of me, voice low, lethal, final. “You don’t touch her, ever.”
