Nyx mates mark book 3, p.34
Nyx (Mate's Mark Book 3),
p.34
Aryn huffs a laugh and shoots Xeni a look that says he doesn’t believe him. “Guy’s a genius. I bet he would have a lot of theories.”
“Imaginary theories from people who aren’t here don’t do us any good,” Xeni snaps. “I hoped that one of you might have some ideas. Nyx can affect the rift, but it’s only a small reaction when his emotions are extremely high. Even if it were enough, the amount of power he’d have to project would be impossible.”
“You’re sure?” Aryn asks. “It wasn’t just a trick of the light? I don’t mean to cause any offence, but a few sparkling lights could’ve been caused by a hundred different things.”
“We’re sure,” Ronan says, then bites his lip as his gaze darts away into the distance. Immediately, I’m on guard, because Ronan is never coy. His eyes shift to meet mine before moving to Nyx with a look that borders apologetic. “I didn’t tell anyone because there was so much going on, but I… I saw this when Xeni was freeing Matuk from the cage.” He pulls a leaf from his pocket unlike any other I’ve ever seen. It’s a vivid shade of bright pink and is long and slender like a feather.
Nyx stills at my side, then stands and walks to Ronan. He takes the leaf, running his fingers over it. “This is from home. A Kacia tree.”
“Yes,” Ronan agrees, and his throat dips in a swallow. “I’m sorry I kept it from you for so long.”
“So the passageway actually opened?” Aryn asks, and Ronan moves his attention across the circle with a solemn nod.
“This is proof our home still exists in some fashion, and that it wasn’t destroyed like we’ve been led to believe. None of us were around to see what actually happened with the rift, though. It might’ve been a blip, or a small opening, or the whole damn thing could’ve reformed. Whatever happened was enough to let this leaf blow through. But it doesn’t matter,” he stresses, and Aryn looks at him curiously, “because that amount of magic almost killed Nyx. He’s not doing that again. You can get pissed at me for calling the shots on that all you want. It’s non-negotiable.”
“Yeah, that’s not happening,” I agree with as much force and authority as I can muster, and Ronan nods at me in solidarity.
Nyx still holds onto the leaf, twirling it between his fingers before he glances up at Ronan. “Can I have this?”
“Of course,” Ronan says, and Nyx gives him a sad smile as he returns to my side. He hands me the leaf, and I marvel at the magenta color and the thick, velvety texture of it in my hand.
Aryn sighs and puts his elbows on his knees, resting his forehead in his palms as he shakes his head. “This is a lot to take in. Listen, Xeni, I know I’m repeating myself, but Bash’s research was literally centered around this very thing. If he knew we had something from the other side…” He mimes his head exploding with two hands.
“I’m sorry,” Ronan interjects, giving a voice to everyone’s frustrated curiosity. “Who the fuck is Bash and what do they have to do with this?”
“They don’t know?” Aryn asks, his wide eyes swinging up to Xeni’s as the Cavese shifts uncomfortably.
“Know what?” Ronan demands, and Xeni stares at the ground for a long time.
“Bash was… is… my mate.”
“Wait,” August interjects. “Your mate is still alive?”
“And apparently, is some sort of expert with the rifts?” I add, because what the fuck?
“That’s not…” His scoff is frustrated as he glares at Aryn. “He’s alive, yes, and he was studying them.”
Sprocket snorts and rolls her eyes again. “Dude, don’t underplay it. Bash was the only human scientist we ever had working at Ljómur. Leadership discovered this prodigy when he was only like, nineteen? Smartest motherfucker I’ve ever met.”
“Alright, dude,” Xeni snaps. “Yeah, he’s a genius, and yes, he probably has a lot of information that we could use. But he isn’t here now, is he?”
“Whose fault is that?” Sprocket asks, and Xeni snarls, vibrating in his seat like he might launch himself at her. Taryn must think the same thing, because she grabs his wrist and forces his attention to her.
“Could he help?”
“He could, yeah, but the minute he knew I was involved he’d tell you all to fuck off.”
“What happened?” August asks, and Xeni chews on the inside of his cheek as he pushes out a long sigh.
“It’s complicated.”
“Where is he now?” Ronan demands.
“Last I heard, he was living in Atlanta.”
“Keeping tabs on him?” Sprocket teases, and Xeni glares at her again.
“Of course I’m fucking keeping tabs on him. Or I was, until we blew my resources into a crater and became fugitives.”
“Could you find him?” Ronan asks, and Xeni shrugs.
“Yeah, probably.” Pain infiltrates his blasé exterior, and I hug Nyx tighter. I can’t imagine what it must be like to be separated from your mate.
“How long has it been since you saw him?” I ask, and his lips pull into a tight line.
“Four years,” he finally answers, staring at the ground as he grinds the toe of his shoe into the dirt. “We haven’t spoken since the day I severed the bond.”
Author's Note
From the moment I first wrote him on the page, Nyx has been very special to me. I've known his story all along, but it felt so deeply personal that I almost waited longer to share it. I was this close to skipping right to Xeni, because not only did I know that Nyx's book would hurt, but I also knew how much readers love him. I was terrified of not being able to live up to those expectations, and I hope I've done him justice in telling his story.
Also, fun story: Reyes wasn't originally intended to be a main character. I held a contest on Instagram to name him. Shoutout to Mikaela (@risque.romance) for coming up with a name that I ended up falling in love with. He was just going to be a wild side character in Ronan and Cameron's story, but as his personality came out in those pages, I knew he needed to be a full time member of this motley crew.
That's the beauty of being a pantser—the story changes often as I get to know the characters better.
This book is different from the others in this series, because so much of what happened is in the past. I wanted to focus on Nyx's healing without throwing more trauma on top of him as we went. Baby's been through enough, ya know? It's also a slower burn (sort of?) than what I usually write, as well as lower spice. I actually stressed about that part quite a lot, because readers have expectations, and I've never shied away from smut. Nyx is touch starved and desperately needs that connection, but too much of it felt out of place here. I never want anything to feel forced, or there for the hell of having another smutty scene to check a box. Every couple does what feels natural to them and their dynamic, and ending these two with a sweet scene felt more appropriate than a sexy one.
Xeni is up next, and his book is going to be absolutely jam-packed with action as the storyline progresses. I hope you join me for the next part of this adventure in Book 4: Xeni. Thank you for taking the time to take a ride inside my mind, and I hope it helped you escape reality, even if just for a short while.
Special Thanks
To my husband—for putting up with my sobbing over fictional characters in situations I placed them into. I realize I have no one but myself to blame, but here we are, regardless.
To Aisling—for your never ending support, both in my writing and as a friend.
To Myka—for allowing me to vent my frustrations without judgement, and for always being there when I need you.
To Miacha—for the flip side of the coin you can always find for me, and for keeping me in line.
To Audra—for being a sounding board and an incredible friend (look I named a character after you!)
To Meg—for being the most amazing security blanket I could ever ask for.
To Mikaela—for giving me Reyes' name, because I love him even more every time I write him, and this was his time to shine.
Other Books by G. Eilsel
Mates Mark Series – MM Monster Romance
Ronan
Elas
Get Your Rocks Off – MM Rock Star Romance
First Verse: An MM Romance
Chorus: An MM Romance
Second Verse: An MM Romance
One Handed Holidays Novellas—Crossed Swords Edition
Raising Hell: A Spicy MMM Novella
Letters to Satan: A Spicy MM Novella
Quiver: A Spicy MM Novella
Deviled Eggs: A Spicy MM Novella
One Handed Holidays Novellas
Come To Cupid: A Spicy MF Novella
Irish Cream: A Spicy MFM Novella
Down the Rabbit Hole: A Spicy Dark MF Novella
Mother F*cker: A Spicy Reverse Age Gap MF Novella
Shadow Daddy: A Spicy BDSM MF Novella
Raising Hell: A Spicy MMF Novella
Land Ho!: A Spicy MF Navy Novella
G. Eilsel, Nyx (Mate's Mark Book 3)
