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“I-I don’t know if I can do that,” Clay stammered as panic rushed into his chest. He didn’t know if it was the idea of letting Grey into his head or trying to accept all the power. Both sounded like horrible ideas.
“You’ve tried doing this alone, Clay, and it’s not working. You need to accept these powers, stop trying to control everything. What’s the worst that will happen? Do you really think I’m going to rummage around in your memories? Afraid I’m going to take over your brain?”
“Can you?” Clay demanded, his voice jumping higher in pitch.
Grey dropped his head back and groaned. “Not that I want to at all,” he started and then stopped again to glare at Clay. “But I can see this giant ribbon of energy tying you and Dane. Even if I could get in there and fuck around with your mind, I’m pretty sure Dane can kick me out again with little effort. He’s your soul mate. You’re bonded. His tie to you will always be more powerful than anything I can do.”
“Oh,” Clay whispered, earning another groan of frustration from Grey. The guy really was bad with people, which made him being the Soul Weaver kind of funny.
“Feeling better now? Not gonna fuck with your brain. Here to help you. Save you.”
“No, you’re right. I’m sorry.”
Clay had been alone for so damn long. He wasn’t used to this idea of trusting people, relying on other people to help him. But he would get better at this. Grey was his brother. Baer was his brother. Dane was his soul mate. They would be there for him always.
He drew in a deep breath through his nose, held it, and slowly pushed it out again past his lips. Tension flowed out of his body, leaving a light tingling sensation along his bare arms and legs. The power of the earth was still there, waiting for him to let it back in.
“What do I do?” Clay asked softly.
“Look me in the eyes and relax,” Grey replied in a soft, even voice.
Clay purposefully closed his eyes and took another deep breath, trying to find a center of calm to cling to. The power in his chest stirred, but it was like it merely lifted its head to see what all the fuss was about.
When he opened his eyes, he was staring directly into a pair of piercing gray eyes. He focused on the color. It wasn’t a dull, matte gray like he’d initially thought. It was deeper, more varied. Hints of blue were in there, making his eyes more of a gunmetal gray. The longer he stared, the deeper and darker the color became.
For just a moment, there was a sensation of falling. He tried to flail his arms, to reach for something to catch himself, but before he could truly panic, he felt hands grabbing him. Steadying him.
It was Grey.
The world had disappeared around them. No more morning breezes and burning summer sun. No more birds and buzzing of insects. There was only Grey, keeping him safe.
Wait. There was a brush of something else. Warm. Loving. Concerned.
Dane.
He’d been getting used to the hints of emotions coming from Dane since the bonding ceremony, the little feeling in the back of his mind that Dane was always there with him, but this was so much stronger. It was like being wrapped in armor made of his love and trust. It was so deep and profound, it threatened to take his breath away.
“Soul mates are very special,” Grey said, but his words sounded strange. He wasn’t sure if he’d heard the words with his ears or if Grey had simply thought the words at him.
But the words seemed to open a door Clay hadn’t noticed before. More washed around Clay. Bits of tangled emotions from Grey, sleepy feelings of warmth and contentment from Baer, and even another layer of thoughts from Dane. Grey might be in Clay’s mind, but Clay also had access to Grey’s mind.
“Don’t wander,” Grey admonished, but there was no anger in his words.
“What do I do now?”
He could feel Grey’s amusement, and it was an interesting thing. He didn’t have a chance to think about it, though. Grey took his hand, fingers tightening until they bit into his flesh.
“Let the power in. I’ve got you,” Grey said.
Clay wanted to tell him that it was easier said than done, but he pushed away the sentiment. Pushed away all the worries that were trying to take up a place in his brain. Squeezing Grey’s hand, he did exactly as Grey said. Very carefully, he relaxed and dropped the barriers that he’d been using to keep the earth’s energy at bay.
As with before, it flowed in slowly like a gentle stream. But the wave was coming. It was building just outside of his vision, blotting out the sun and making his frame tremble. It was going to crush him. Grind bones into dust. Steal away his breath. It was going to kill him. He was going to be nothing. No one would be there to protect Dane. No one would be there to protect his new brothers. No one…
