Page 61 of Legacy Ascended

Ander jerks beneath me.

Then I feel him through the new bond. His surprise hits me first, followed by a rush of emotion as he reaches for me. He is separate from Luke, Torres, and Soren, but just as real.

My other three bonds flare in answer.

Ander wraps both arms around me. "I can feel you."

"Yeah."

"Not just where you are." His hand tightens in my hair. "You."

"Welcome to the bond."

"Is it always—"

"Ask Torres," I tell him. "He's been insufferable about it since the day his turned up."

He laughs into my shoulder and doesn't let go for a long time.

He keeps checking.

While he's getting water, and sorting the blankets out, and putting my shirt back on me one sleeve at a time, he keeps stopping. Going still, eyes unfocused. Every time, he catches my eye and smiles.

It's exactly what Torres does. I decide to tell him that later.

"You did it again."

"I did not."

"You went away and came back with your mouth open."

"I was checking you were still there."

"I'm right here. I'm touching you."

"I know. But feeling you through the bond is different. Apparently my brain needs to check both." He puts the glass in my right hand and makes me drink some before he drinks any himself. "I'd like to formally apologize to Torres for something I thought about him in October."

"He'll want the details."

"He will not be getting them."

He gets in beside me, arranges the pillows around my left side with his usual attention, and then lies down and pulls me against him.

"They felt it," he says after a while.

"I know."

"Can you feel all of us?"

"Yes."

"Separately?"

"Of course. You're separate people."

"Breakfast," Ander says into my hair.

“You better come to breakfast with me.”