Nikolai reared, striking the closest Bellati with his powerful hooves. But Galeran had been ready for him. The Bellatis to each side ducked away, and a heavy net fell over him. Nikolai thrashed, but every movement only entangled him further.
Bellatis in human form tugged on ropes, pulling the net until he lost his footing.No.Trapped and bound, Nikolai completely lost his mind. He raged like a wild animal, fighting for his freedom with flying hooves and gnashing teeth. But confined to his animal form, he had no ability to tap into the life energy that flowed around him.
The Bellatis were not so encumbered. They overpowered him with ease.
Galeran’s eyes gleamed like a ghost’s.In time, you will understand that what we do is for the greater good.
His father nodded to the Bellatis, and they threaded poles through the edges of the net. Then those in animal form stepped forward. The poles were attached to a harness strapped to their bodies, and they suspended a hapless Nikolai between them, lifting him without effort.
His breath coming in ragged snorts and his body trembling, rage and panic warred for supremacy as Nikolai glared up at his father. But Galeran turned his back to him and led the way across the huge cavern to an arch carved in the stone.
He raised his arms, and his hands began to glow.
Now, my son. Just a taste of what we will achieve, together.
A rune at Nikolai’s throat glowed red-hot, and suddenly, Galeran wasn’t just a voice in his head. He was there, a powerful presence that pierced through the fog in his mind like a lightning bolt. It seized hold of Nikolai’s awareness, but didn’t stop there. Instead, it delved deeper, opening the doorway to the core, and sending the thinnest tendril questing into the maelstrom.
In an instant, the power flooded along that tendril, bursting to the surface and along the link formed by the rune to Galeran. Pain consumed Nikolai. The runes burned as though they were on fire, and the energy scorched him from the inside out on its way through. His jaws opened in a soundless scream, powerless to either guide or stop it.
Bound as he was, he was nothing but a conduit.
The arch began to glow, and with a crackle, a gateway snapped into reality.
“Come to me, and pass through the gate,” Galeran shouted to those that surrounded them. “Our future, and our destiny, awaits.”
Isobel walked through first, and then, in orderly rows, the Bellatis stepped through, followed by the small group of women. Finally, Galeran gestured to the Unicorns supporting Nikolai; he and his tall young accomplice led them through the gate.
Nikolai caught a glimpse of snow-locked mountains, his breath steaming in the icy air, before Galeran yanked himself free from the core energy. The sudden snapping of the connection, and the agony’s cessation, took Nikolai’s consciousness along with it.
With relief, he embraced the cool darkness.
* * *
The Perditor that died in the war was Nikolai’s maternal great grandfather? Aria almost choked on her herb-dusted scone.
Her mind spun. She always knew Nikolai possessed dangerous capabilities. And now she discovered he came by his power honestly. But that didn’t mean he deserved what the Liberi Elders were doing to him.
Did it?
Cara didn’t seem to think so. And what were those veiled references from Ash? She glanced toward the golden Dragon shifter just as he stiffened.
Lucas gurgled, doubling right over. A moment later, Aria felt it—a wild surge that scorched straight through her.
Cara shot to her feet, her eyes flicking from Lucas to Ash, who nodded.
“It begins,” he said.
“What’s going on?” Cody asked.
“Someone just tapped into the core to build a gate.” Cara’s face had gone as white as her hair. She grabbed the plate of potstickers and shoved them to Cody.
“Take these. I need you out of here.”
Cody’s eyes widened. “What?”
The Watcher’s blue eyes flashed. “Now, Cody. We don’t need the Sabres in the middle of this.”
“I’m already in the ‘middle of this’,” he protested. But he took the potstickers, while Cara gathered his unopened beer and put it in the fridge.
