Chapter 9 The Nexus' Burden

• The aftermath of the dual Blood-Link left a tangible tremor in the air, a silent testament to the impossible. Elara, still reeling, felt the constant awareness of both Lucian and Kael, their emotions a dull thrum beneath her own.
• It wasn't just a sense of their presence; it was a deeper, almost intrusive awareness of their internal landscapes, a confusing symphony of duty, resentment, yearning, and pain. The Moonbind to Lucian remained, a primal, hot tether, but now it was complicated by this new connection to Kael, a connection that both amplified her power and threatened to pull her in contradictory directions.
• Lucian, recovering from the initial shock, became even more withdrawn, his discipline a shield against the torrent of emotions flowing through the Blood-Link. He focused relentlessly on Elara’s training, pushing her to master her kinetic abilities and control her shifts.