Chapter 6 Harbinger #2
“That’s unfortunate,” I snarled. “Halfbloods die on the front every day.” I met her eyes, knowing I was being an ass but unable to stop. Conin had deserved better than dying alone. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”
The tension between us made me want to punch something. Aurora stared at everything except my face, and it was eating at me.
“Tell me about the Nexus,” I said, desperate to change the subject. “I need to understand what happened to you.”
She sighed and sank onto the edge of my bed. “It’s the frequency. Works as a conduit to expand our magic when we tap into more than one of an outlier’s senses.”
I nodded for her to continue.
“The Nexus has a blocker now to prevent us from taking full control over mortal consciousness, but apparently it hasn’t been tested enough.
” A shadow crossed her face. “I just found out before coming here.” Her voice turned hard, but for once the anger wasn’t aimed at me.
“Selena knows more. She’s researched Nexuses for decades.
Warned me about staying connected too long on high settings.
” Her lip curled. “Could cause permanent damage or death. Add that to your list.”
My eyebrows shot up. Fucking brilliant. Those idiots didn’t need Stalkers to kill them. They were doing fine on their own.
“How many senses do you usually use?” I asked, leaning against the desk.
“Hearing, mostly. Sometimes sight.”
I remembered Sibiu. Felt her presence in Terraknight’s mind.
Not just the mental link, but her essence melding with his.
Like a ghost slipping through walls. I hadn’t said anything then because I wasn’t sure what I’d sensed.
But now I knew. The more she increased the frequency, the more senses she used and the easier it was to spot her in someone’s mind.
Terrifying. And fascinating.
“I know this sounds like excuses,” she continued, voice barely above a whisper, “but I couldn’t just stand in that empty command room listening to my guild struggle.
It drove me insane not being able to help beyond feeding them scanner data.
I keep thinking… if I can’t protect the people under my command, how can I ever hope to end this war?
I had to be there, see what they saw, feel their pain. It was the least I could do.”
“You don’t need to explain yourself,” I said, moving closer to sit beside her. “I understand wanting to protect your people.”
Her shoulders relaxed slightly.
I reached out, touched her cheek. Cold under my fingers. “And the…” I tapped her temple. “What do you call it?”
She looked at me with wide, vulnerable eyes. “Transpection.”
“That,” I muttered. My fingers flexed against my thigh as her screams echoed in my mind. “Were you in pain while you Transpected?”
She shook her head. “Nothing worse than a headache. Today was the first time the Nexus tried to kill me, and I wasn’t even using a higher frequency than normal. I wanted to preserve energy. But as soon as I heard those Voices, my blood felt like it was boiling, every nerve screaming in agony.”
A shiver wracked her body.
“I imagine that’s what dying feels like,” she murmured.
I fell silent, remorse spreading through me. All this time I’d thought the Voices gave projectors a little zap, sharp enough to spook them about harmonizing with me.
Not for a fucking second had I imagined the pain could kill them.
Could kill her.
“Do you still plan to use the Nexus?” I asked, unable to keep the edge from my voice.
Over my dead body would I let her risk her life again.
She shrugged. “I don’t know.” Her expression turned thoughtful, like she was weighing whether the risk was worth it.
Something dark unfurled in my chest, the beast sharpening its claws. I knew my face gave me away when her expression turned defensive.
“I’m not suicidal,” she blurted. Then she shook her head and thoughtfully added, “I never want that agony again, but Blood Manipulation doesn’t work as selectively as the Nexus.
I can’t just borrow one of your senses. Without it, I can only take full control over your minds, and trust me. It’s not pleasant.”
“Like you controlled the Stalkers today?”
“Yes.”
Relief washed through me, clearing some of the dread anchored in my gut. At least she wasn’t set on using that double-edged sword.
“Then it’s settled. You don’t need the Nexus anymore.”
“Didn’t you hear me?” She huffed, a soft flush creeping up her neck. I caught myself stroking the vein pulsing there. “Blood Manipulation is one-way, all or nothing. Only the Nexus lets the recipient project back. Through it, I choose the channel. Hearing, sight, both together or apart.”
I tsked and slipped my fingers under her chin. “The Voices can hurt you regardless of what sense you choose.”
The possessive beast inside me roared, demanding I lock her somewhere safe, away from the Voices, away from anything that might dim those fierce eyes. My grip tightened, but she didn’t pull away.
“I know, but—”
“No buts, Projector.” My voice came out harsh. I didn’t care. Better she hate me than end up dead on my watch. I straightened to my full height, looming over her, letting her see I wasn’t fucking around. “You want to stay here? You follow my rules. This is one of them. No more Nexus.”