11. Eleven

"I'll see you in just a few. If you need us before then, call us," Corentin orders as the four of them drop me off at Gaster's office.

I know I freaked them out last night, and I've let them believe it was just the bond, which it is pushing like a raging bitch right now, but that wasn't the entire reason for my meltdown.

"I will, I'm fine. A good night's sleep cuddled up was exactly what I needed. I'll see you all in a few," I tell him as I make my way to each of them—well, all but Caspian—getting a kiss and a sweet goodbye.

During my typically peaceful bath time, I was assaulted with another horrific vision. One that I can't even tell them I had, one just as bad as the two I've seen of Lyker. The consequence of this one is far greater if I slip up or if Tillman gets any wind of it. The results will be devastating because he'll tell the guys and they'll try everything in their power to prevent the outcome.

"Good morning, Willow." Gaster smiles at me until he takes a good look, then the smile falls from his face. "What's wrong?"

I give him a sad smile, shaking my head.

"Can you tell me how to block Tillman from my mind, or is there a way I can block him from catching my thoughts on my visions?"

"Oh, Willow," he says gloomily. "Come, sit. There is a spell that will allow you to block your whole mind and one that you can just block out the visions. It'll be best for you to have both, and they're incredibly simple."

"I asked Tillman to teach me last night, and he said no. I could tell he was freaking out about not being able to hear my thoughts, but this is important," I say regretfully. I feel so guilty asking Gaster to help me when Tillman told me no, but I don't have a choice.

My visions are constantly on my mind. Not only that, but last night when I finally fell asleep in Corentin's arms, I had a dream about the first vision I ever saw of Lyker. It was more than a dream. I know it. So currently, my mind, conscious and unconscious, is consumed with the future, and I have to keep it blocked from everyone.

"I know it is, child. Tillman will just have to get over it. If you want to block him out, he'll be blocked, and if you don't, the other spell will block out your visions and keep your mind open to him. I'll also begin loading more spells into your journal, so if you feel comfortable, you can cast them on your own," he says seriously.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Now which would you like to put in place first?"

"The visions. That's the most important block to have in place," I immediately answer.

"Okay, for this spell, you'll need to separate the two, the visions and your own thoughts. The visions are not creations of your own mind. They may create new thoughts for you, but they're still different from your own because you never would've thought them to begin with if not for the vision. So close your eyes and imagine yourself splitting your mind in two," he instructs.

Closing my eyes, I picture my mind in two separate categories, focusing hard on one side being completely dedicated to my visions and any thoughts that come from them. Although my thoughts themselves are still a jumbled mess, I can clearly see the two sections I've created, so I nod, letting Gaster know I'm ready.

"Good. Now call forth your magic and repeat after me. With the sights I see and thoughts I foster. Bring forth my wall, permanently empower my blocker."

I repeat the words out loud, and as soon as my magic activates the spell, I feel the blocker slam in place, forcing the visions into their assigned section before the thick, heavy wall fades out. I feel the division in my mind if I focus hard enough, and a weight of worry lifts off my shoulders, knowing they're now blocked off from anyone, not just Tillman, from hearing.

"It's in place. Thank you so much, Gaster."

"No worries, Willow. Now this one is even easier. Think about a wall being built around your entire mind. Build it up brick by brick, make it impenetrable."

Following his instructions, I do just that. I build a wall out of thick brick and massive cinderblocks, then reinforce it with titanium plates. Five carbon steel locks are drilled into the stone, ready to be slid in place on my command. My need for it to be so strong isn't to keep Tillman out. I'm perfectly fine with him being in my mind now that I know my visions are blocked off. I want my block to shove any out on their ass who think they can take from me whatever they want.

"Same process. Call your magic and repeat after me. Fortify my wall, a veil refined, block my mind from those inclined," Gaster instructs.

A grunt falls from my lips as my fortress locks around my mind. The sound of metal gliding across metal vibrates through my head, ending with a deafening click as the five locks secure themselves tightly.

Unlike the block on my visions, this block, I can feel is up. It's like a thin piece of fabric has been laid across my mind, not too heavy or distracting but enough that I can tell it's active. Opening my eyes, I give Gaster a reassuring smile.

"It's in place as well. How do I lower it and place it back when I need to?" I ask.

"Good, very good. Call your magic forth and direct it to your mind. Your commands will be lower and block. It will only lower the full block on your mind. Your block on your visions is permanent."

"Perfect." I call out my magic and command the block to lower.

I'm sure it's a feeling I'll get used to with time, but the difference between the wall being down and up is extremely noticeable, and personally, my head is less fuzzy with it down.

"Good morning. Sorry I'm late, but I came with the next best thing besides great sex." Oakly comes bounding into the office, Jamie in tow with his hands full of what smells like delicious coffee.

"Babe, really." He blushes.

"What, it's true. What did I miss?" she asks, turning to me and handing me a cup of the sugary good stuff.

"You're the best. Thank you. And Gaster helped me place a block on my mind," I tell her, taking a huge sip, humming in happiness as the flavor bursts across my taste buds.

"Oh shit, your mind-reading giant is going to flip," she says with wide eyes.

"Probably, but I'll take care of him. Jamie, I need a favor, and it's a big one." I give Oakly a reassuring look before turning my gaze on him.

"What's up, Willow?" he asks nervously.

"I need you to draw a couple vials of my blood, and you can't tell anyone. I hate to ask this of both of you, I know that it's super shitty on my part, but you can't even tell Ry," I tell them quietly. I can't even go into detail with them, or Gaster, or even my own Nexus about why I need this, and I hate it.

"Willow, what's going on?" Oakly's forehead wrinkles from the frown that takes over her, just a second ago, glowing smile.

"I'm sorry, Oak. I can't tell you." I plead with my words and eyes for her to understand.

"Ugh damn visions… Jamie, are you okay doing this?" she asks him.

He takes a moment, examining me, weighing his options and best course of action before he finally nods.

"Okay, Willow. I have no doubt this must be important if you're asking this of us. Is that all you need, a few vials of blood?"

"Yes, that's all," I whisper, feeling like the world's shittiest friend and Primary.

"I'll be back in just a minute." He leans over, gives Oakly a quick kiss to the forehead, then transports out.

"I'm so sorry, Oakly. I'm an awful friend asking this of you and Jamie," I say with regret shining in my eyes.

Corentin warned me how awful the sight could be as a gift, if it is my gift and not a variation of my stone, but I didn't think they'd be so dreadful and heart-wrenching. It's killing me carrying the knowledge of what's coming, and I can't warn the others. It also doesn't help that I can't gain control over it. Gaster has warned me that unlike any other gift in the realm, the sight is by far the hardest to control, taking many, many years to master.

"Don't say that, Willow, I know how hard this is hitting you. I don't know if it's because your feelings are so strong right now and that's why I can feel it so keenly, but I can feel the weight of your guilt in my chest. You got to let that go, babe. We all understand what it means to have the gift of sight. We know you can't always tell us everything, and we don't hold you at fault, especially not your Nexus." Oakly wraps her arms around me in a hug, one I return equally tight. It means a lot to hear that coming from her, and it does help a little, but I still feel guilty I can't tell anyone about what I saw last night.

Jamie poofs right back in the spot he just left with a medical tray in hand, giving us both a sad smile as we pull apart.

"Everything's going to be okay. Come on, let's get started," he says, ushering us over to the couch.

With Oakly on one side, holding my hand, Jamie cleans the veins on my arm, and as gently as the first time he did this, draws four vials of my blood, healing the area over immediately, like it never happened.

"Thank you. Do they need to be kept somewhere or in something to keep the blood fresh or potent, whatever the word is?" I ask, causing everyone to chuckle.

"Here, let me see them."

I feel his magic roll across the vials I just placed in his hands, and I can't help but step a little closer to observe, causing another laugh to come from Gaster.

"Curious as ever, child."

"I can't help it. What did you do?" I ask Jamie.

"I infused them with my magic. This will preserve its vitality," he says with a smirk.

"That's the word. Thank you."

"No worries," he grunts, following up with telling me and Gaster goodbye and swinging Oakly around in his arms, kissing her dizzy before he leaves to head back to the lab.

"Okay, girls, to the secret room. Time to vial up some cures," Gaster orders.

It's perfect timing, seeing as that was where I was planning to hide my vials of blood anyway and having the cures on hand will make me feel so much better.

Gaster commands his pocket dimension to open for us and we make our way down the dimly lit brick hallway. My nerves calm as I take a deep breath of the lavender and musty scent, letting it seep through my whole body.

I feel worn down, exhausted. Oakly was right; this guilt is weighing on me. I know in my heart no one is mad at me for not telling them about my visions, but that's only because they have no clue what I've seen, who knows how any of them will react once the visions come to fruition.

There are multiple paths to all three of the visions I've had, all with very few positive possible outcomes, so it's prudent that I keep all the possibilities intact. And the only way to do that is to keep my mouth shut. I've seen the alternatives. Those aren't an option. They can't be.

Stepping into Gaster's seating area that we redecorated yesterday as our makeshift lab. Four cauldrons—which me and Gaster argued over because he calls them pottles and that's wrong, plain and simple—are set out, holding the four cures we need for the Dark poisons.

Since yesterday, their compositions have changed drastically. Yesterday, they were indistinguishable. Each looked like muddy swamp water, green and goopy with different herbs floating around. Today, they're glowing with different luminescent colors, each striking and giving off a sweet smell.

We labeled the cauldrons to be on the safe side, but now that they've finished fermenting, their colors give away which cure goes to what poison. Swirling the Necrotic Lotus cure around inside the black cauldron is like looking at the galaxy; it's bright bluish purple is cosmic.

The Wymfire cure is a slow-moving, orangish-red whirlpool that looks so much like lava, if I didn't know what it was, I could convince myself that's exactly what it is. The Tarring cure looks so much like the black sludge I saw pouring from Lyker's wound it makes my throat close up. Stirring it gently, though, it's smooth, not thick or sticky, and it has a hint of midnight blue swirling with the black.

Lastly, the Poison of Essence cure is so white, it's almost painful to look at from how brightly it shines. I can't help but think of Corentin's light and the anxiety in my chest eases.

For the next hour, the three of us work silently, vialling each cure and separating them out. Every batch made enough for twelve vials each, splitting them up, four of each will stay here at the academy, four of each Gaster is going to send to the Palace, and the others I'm putting in my pocket dimension.

"You remember what I told you, ground yourself, then draw your circle," Gaster instructs confidently from where he stands beside me.

"Right, got it." I blow out my breath, shake my hands out, and do as he says.

Calling my magic forth, gripping it tight, I spread it throughout my body, all the way to my feet and into the floor. Lifting my hand, I draw the circle slowly, and the vibration of my power from my dimension reaches out to me. Pulling the zipper down, the swirling silver reveals itself and I laugh out a breath of relief.

"Very good. Here you go. Set them in."

Gaster created three wooden boxes, each cushioned with soft, separating foam to keep the vials from clinking around and breaking on one another. These are too precious to run the risk of breaking senselessly, so he took lots of care with making the boxes just for them.

Taking the box from him, I worry for a minute that it's going to be too wide to fit through my circle, but to my surprise, the vortex of silver stretches wider, allowing me to easily set the box down and pull my hands back out.

Closing the dimension back is much easier than the last time, and my magic slowly slinks back into my chest. There's no shooting me to my ass or power drainage. Thank fuck.

"Perfect, Willow, it'll become easier and easier the more you open it," Gaster compliments as he starts making his way toward the hall, the box going to the palace tucked carefully in his arm. "Now, come on, you two, your men will be here shortly to get you."

"What are you going to do with your free period this morning?" Oakly asks as we plop down on the couch.

"Go spend some time in Corentin's office. Draken's supposed to go to Fire Elemental class today, but we'll see. He's a little jealous I got out of my Air Elemental class, but he still has to go."

"Yeah, because my fire element is stronger than the damn instructor's. There's no reason for me to be there," Draken complains dramatically as he stomps through the door as if me speaking his name summoned him.

"Well, quit burning people and you can get out of the class," I tease.

"Now you sound like the guys."

I laugh as I take his outstretched hand, telling Oakly bye as San walks in to get her.

Damn, they really do have this escorting us thing down to a science.

It's always so easy to enjoy the comfortable silence that comes with Draken. If he isn't making me laugh my ass off, he's making me feel at peace. It's a beautiful balance that I cherish so much.

"So are you going to class?" I ask as we make our way to Corentin's office.

"No. Corentin's in a meeting, so I'm not leaving you sitting in his office by yourself," he tells me, giving my hand a comforting squeeze.

I can't lie and say it doesn't make my heart flutter that he's worried about leaving me alone, although on one hand, I know I shouldn't encourage or let him cut class at my expense, but the other hand reminds me he doesn't even need the class. It's a punishment, so it's fine.

"What are we going to do then?" I ask, squeezing his hand back in a silent thank you.

"I'm sure we can find a way to distract ourselves, little wanderer." The low growl he uses saying my nickname has my dragon perking up in my chest, flooding me with her need to get to his dragon, and I have to swallow down the purr trying to escape me.

That purr would've said please fuck me right here.

My ignoring her interest doesn't go over well and she shoves her desire at me in full force. My face flushes with the yearning coursing through me, and it's all I can suddenly think about. All I can smell is Draken, his fiery scent invading all my senses. I can taste him on my tongue.

The heat in my lower belly is causing a throbbing between my legs that I know won't go away unless he touches me. My skin's so tight, I want to rip my dress off and press myself against him while he buries his cock deep inside of me.

What the hell? I was just bragging about how you don't take over.

My mental scolding to my dragon goes completely ignored as she continues to force her want through me. No matter how much I fight her, it's a losing battle. And finally, she does shove my ass right to the back of my own mind.

"Mine."

I hear his responding growl as he pulls us through a transport, depositing us into Corentin's office. As soon as my feet touch down, I throw myself at him. He easily catches me by my ass as I wrap my legs around his waist, grinding myself against him, begging for the friction I desperately need.

He pulls my head down, catching my lips in a blistering kiss, but I need him naked. I need all these fucking clothes out of my way so I can impale myself on his dick. I break the kiss with an impatient growl, tearing his shirt right down the middle.

The air is knocked out of my lungs as my back hits the couch. Draken leans over me, a long, drawn-out purr leaving his chest that has my whole body shaking, withering with need.

"Don't rush me, little wanderer." His warning does nothing but turn me on more.

I know I should want, and probably need, the buildup, the foreplay he's so generous at giving, but I don't right now. As fucking perfect as it is to come at least three times from him eating me out, all I want is for him to bury himself so deep within me I feel it in my gut. He can worship every inch of me later.

I let out a low, sultry purr, calling his dragon to the surface to give me exactly what I want, and I watch as he tries to fight his beast off. He shifts a single claw and expertly slices it right down the middle of my dress and bra before ripping the rest away from my body.

"You're gonna come for me at least once, sweetness. I won't wreck this perfect pussy because you're being greedy."

The rumble in his chest sends delicious shivers through every inch of me and I'm not the least bit offended he called me greedy because that's exactly what I'm being. I want him my way and I want it now.

Every stroke of his tongue against my pussy makes me a panting, moaning mess. Grabbing two handfuls of his hair, I grind myself against his tongue, chasing down my release that comes the moment he pushes two of his fingers inside of me.

Throwing my head back, I scream his name through my orgasm, slowly coming back to reality when I feel him nip the soft skin of my inner thigh.

"I told you not to rush me, little wanderer."

He flips me over so fast, it makes me dizzy. My blood was already rushing to my head from the fast, intense release. Now I'm seeing stars. Being flung around like nothing more than a toy he can own, play with however he pleases, has me pushing my ass in the air toward him.

I'm okay being owned right now, my dragon wants him to own us, put me in my place for not listening to him.

Heat flares throughout my body when suddenly his hand slaps down on my ass causing a moan to purr out of me as the sweet sting of the pain quickly melts into needy pleasure. This is the first time I've ever been spanked in my life, and I've got to admit, it turns me on.

Grabbing both of my hips, he forces my back to arch even more, leaving me hanging on to the armrest of the couch for support, and I smile triumphantly as I feel him line his dick up with me.

"So fucking tight. Fuck, you feel so good, sweetness." Draken groans. My eyes slam shut as he pushes into me, my smile fading, merging into an echoing moan.

I lay my forehead onto the armrest as he pounds into me, using my hips as leverage to slam my body into his, over and over and over. It's exactly what I need. My dragon and bond hum in my chest, adding to the pulsing pleasure that's ripping through me with every thrust.

Gently wrapping his hand around my throat, he pulls my back flush to his front, and the feel of his skin on mine sends fire through my veins. I feel like I'm boiling from the inside out, about to ignite any second now.

"Open your eyes, little wanderer. We have an audience," Draken whispers in my ear, laying a trail of searing kisses down my neck to my shoulder.

His masterful fingers, tweaking and teasing my nipples and clit, cause my brain to slowly process what he just said, but as soon as the words register, my eyes fly open.

My sight collides with three sets of hungry glares and my bond stretches out, absorbing every ounce of the lust that's pouring off them. I should be mortified right now, but I can't muster it up. My logical brain has completely been overpowered by my dragon and bond teaming up against me, loving every second they're standing there watching me.

I look into each of their eyes, letting them see how much I'm enjoying putting on a show for them. When my hooded gaze lands on Caspian, he gives me a knowing smirk, like he's seen this before. He knows I'm about to detonate like a fucking bomb.

"Naughty little Primary," he growls.

And that's what does it.

Leaning my head back into Draken's shoulder, I shatter to pieces, taking him down with me as he slams into me once more, roaring his release.

My mind is a dizzying haze, and my body is overstimulated from the raw pleasure coursing through me. My senses are so heightened, I can smell each of them, mingling in with Draken's fire.

Falling forward, panting, I catch myself on the armrest of the couch, my claws shredding through the fabric like butter.

Claws… Why are my claws out?

"We have to get to the house. We have to shift." I vaguely hear Draken tell the others. His deep voice straining with his dragon on the surface.

Darkness surrounds me for a few seconds, causing my dragon to become enraged that someone dared touch me right now. There's something I wasn't finished doing and someone fucked with me before I was done.

"Stand back. Don't fucking go near her." I hear Draken growl, and I immediately swing my head to him, my eyes shifting, locking onto his.

Deep in my chest, I feel a low rumble build up, and up, and up until finally, I release it. My growl's so powerful, so thunderous, the ground beneath my body quakes, and I can hear the windows behind us rattle and tree branches in the forest crack.

His body begins shaking, and the moment the bright light of his shift flashes, mine follows suit. Shifting quicker than him, only to about fifteen feet in height, I beat my wings hard, taking off to the sky at breakneck speed. His deafening roar travels through the air like a blade, piercing my ears, my only warning he's coming after me.

I push myself faster when I look over my shoulder and see him gaining on me quickly, his massive size doing nothing to slow him down. No matter the twists, turns, or dives, he's catching up to me.

Flipping over in the air, I zoom over the top of him, my scales shining like silver bullets, quicker than the eye can see, but not quick enough to deter him. He flips on a dime, sailing through the air on his back, his belly upward right under me. His large wings wrap around my body, trapping me for a split second then letting go, roaring his victory to the realm.

We circle each other in the air, a choreographed dance that our dragons seem to know instinctively. Beating our wings, spiraling upward, we soar higher, higher, and higher, the ground barely visible beneath us before we briefly pause, suspended midair, our gaze locked onto one another.

Pulling our wings into our bodies, we free-fall, plummeting back toward the ground. With uncanny accuracy, we execute perfectly synchronized barrel rolls, corkscrew turns, loops, and spirals, our movements mirroring one another turn for turn.

Slowing our descent, we catch the wind under our wings, gently lowering ourselves. The closer to the ground we get, I feel a connection forming between the two of us, much like the night we bonded. I can sense a oneness brewing between our beasts.

As our claws sink into the soft soil, I become overwhelmed by the urge to sink my teeth into Draken.

I attempt to fight my dragon off. I've enjoyed her wild adventure she's taken us on, but biting him is a little much. My teeth could do some serious damage, but she isn't relenting. The more I fight, the harder she pushes back.

Draken's chuff forces my attention back to him, and locking onto his cobalt eyes, my bond floods with encouragement; he's pushing me to give in to my dragon as well.

So that's what I do.

Again, in perfect harmony, we lean into one another and bite down. With the size difference currently, I'm only able to reach up to the junction of Draken's shoulder and throat, whereas his long neck can stretch to my hip.

There's a brief second of pain before euphoria. I thought after our bonding, we were complete, but the difference is stark now as my teeth sink deeper, his blood dripping down my mouth. We were still missing a piece, and now we're truly becoming one.

Pulling my teeth from his shoulder, his body begins to quiver, morphing as he shrinks down until he's eye level with me, the size he was his first ever shift. His dragon purrs softly, and he overflows the bond with respect, pride, and admiration.

Leaning our foreheads together, our bodies suddenly ignite in flames. A sea of cobalt fire races down his spine as a blazing inferno of purple coats my silver scales, the flames embrace one another, mingling and blending, uniting.

The air crackles with the intensity of raw power that's being shared between us right now. I can feel the electricity of it surging through every cell, pore, and muscle in my form. I feel so loved, so powerful, so, so, much…

Then we grow. Growing and growing until we stand at least fifty feet in the air.

Raising our heads as one, we release ear-splintering roars, breathing fire to the sky that matches the flames licking our bodies. As the noises echo on, we start shrinking down until we're no bigger than maybe eight feet tall before the flash of light takes over, slowly fading, leaving us in our human forms, locked in each other's arms.

"Draken, what was that?" Corentin yells, seething as he makes his way toward us.

"Calm down, Corentin, everything's fine," Draken says as he pulls my still naked body closer.

"Are you okay, little one? Let me see where he bit you," Tillman orders as he steps up to me and wraps a robe around my shoulders.

"I'm fine. Draken's right, everything's fine. All of you need to calm down and listen before you flip out," I say softly, moving the robe to the side to reveal an already healed silver scar. I look over my shoulder at Draken and see his matching one at the junction of his shoulder and neck.

"It's a claiming mark, well, a mating mark," Caspian muses as he sends his tendrils out to trace over it, causing a tremor to pass through my body and a small moan to leave my lips.

"Careful, brother, you'll have our girl falling apart right here between us if you keep stroking that mark much more. It's going to be sensitive for a few days." Draken chuckles, a satisfied smirk crossing his lips.

I know my eyes are dilated, and I'm staring at Caspian, preparing to pounce on him at any moment. It takes every bit of restraint I have not to do just that.

His darkened eyes meet mine with a hungry look before his lip twitches and he slowly calls his shadows back, pulling a little whimper from me that has them all pressing in closer.

"I need you to explain what's going on, Will, or go inside while we talk to Draken," Tillman warns lightly. A little growl slips out of me, but he silences the sound as he plasters his lips to mine.

"Caspian's right. Our animals just bonded," I say with a breathy smile as I slowly pull away from him.

"You two have already bonded," Corentin states the obvious, not understanding what I'm talking about.

A huge smile takes over Draken's face. It's so bright. It's like staring into a Star gem.

"Many shifters have ceremonies of sorts when they bond, both human and animal side. Typically, the males will dominate the female into submission, then bite them. When Willow's dragon hit me with her mating purr, my dragon didn't want to fight her. Well, you kinda caught us in the act of what he wanted, then we power shared here in our dragon forms. I had no idea it would be so dramatic, though," he informs them—well, and me. I didn't realize my dragon started this; his growl is what turned me on.

Whoops.

"So you two planned this?" Tillman asks, jealousy and hurt leaking through his tone.

"No," we both shout. Not that I feel bad that this happened, but I don't want any of them to feel like we planned a whole ceremony and left them out of it.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make it sound like this was a bad thing. I'm incredibly happy for you both. I'm just jealous." He gives Draken's shoulder a squeeze while pulling me closer, letting us both know he's completely supportive.

"How do you feel, princess?" Corentin asks, turning my chin toward him.

"Amazing. I thought we were bonded completely, but now that this has happened, I can tell we weren't completely solidified; a piece was missing and now it's not." I beam as Corentin gives me a quick kiss then smiles down at me. I can feel he's genuinely happy that this happened, and he got to watch. He's also still a little turned on from catching me and Draken in his office.

I know none of them will say anything about what they saw back in the office now that they know my dragon started this, but that's fine with me. There's no need to talk about it when the faces they made as they watched me fall apart on Draken's dick are seared in my mind. I know they all are A-oh-fucking-kay with it.

I completely forgot that I'm butt-ass naked, so when a gentle breeze blows, causing my robe to open, four groans sound around me, making me bust out laughing as I quickly tuck it back around me.

"I should probably put some clothes on now." I chuckle as they all look at me with varying degrees of heat, then pull apart.

Draken skips ahead of us in Lalaland, laughing and singing like a kid jacked up on sugar, but his happiness is so contagious, it spreads to all of us.

"Little wanderer is fucking packing. The feeling of her power coursing through me was a rush. I've never felt anything like it. I still feel powered to the brim." He beams, looking over his shoulder at us, his eyes slitted and glowing.

"Damn, Draken. It looks like you got an upgrade. You both did grow to about fifty feet," Tillman tells him, staring at his eyes in disbelief.

"Oh, I definitely did. I'm fairly sure I could shift into any size I want, small or large. And I'm quite sure my dominance is even stronger than it was."

"Do you feel like that too?" Corentin asks me.

"Not like he's describing. I can feel the shift in my power, but I feel more settled. My notes on Primaries said this would happen, though. My emotions will settle more with each bond as well."

"Well, don't settle too much, little wanderer. I like you all possessive."

I shake my head at him, grinning as Corentin steers me toward the house with a hand to my back. Caspian's walking closely behind me, while Tillman interlaces his fingers with mine, and I figure now would be the best time to test out my block.

As soon as I command my block in place, his entire body tenses and he stops walking, halting my footsteps right along with his. Turning to face him, confusion, anger, hurt, and fear all battle for control, each wanting to take root and take over.

"Tillman," I whisper, reaching my hand up to cup his cheek.

"Gaster?" he grunts.

"Yes. I won't keep it up all the time, and I put a separate block on my visions. I'm not doing this to keep you out, Tillman. I'm doing this to keep others out." I lower my block back and open my mind to him so he can hear, see, look, do whatever he needs to understand this wasn't about him.

"I'm sorry, Will. I should've taught you last night when you asked me to," he says sincerely.

"Yeah, you should've, but it's okay. I forgive you."I smirk, watching his face fill with humor as he picks up my mental sass.

"Come on, little warrior. Let's get you dressed, fed, and back to the academy."

Ah, fuck me, I forgot we're in the middle of a class break.