Had she not started the herbs in time? But if it was hormones—why hadn’t she reacted to Cody? Or more likely, Tyrez? Was it because they were already mated?
She had no answers, only endless questions. And with Nikolai being held captive, she had bigger worries than her out-of-control libido.
Mai squeaked and sat up on her hind legs, long nose wiggling toward the sky. A split second later, a Dragon appeared.
The rising sun’s rays gleamed gold off his scales. Long and sleek, much smaller than Tyrez but graceful and heart stoppingly beautiful.
Ash.
Above him appeared another. There was no mistaking the second—the brilliant turquoise scales and the sheer size was distinctive. Tyrez circled overhead, while Ash banked toward her. Aria spotted a figure clinging to the golden neck spikes—Cara.
Aria stood up and backed into the cave to clear room for him to land. Cara slid off and smiled at Aria as Ash leaped back into the air to head home.
“He’s not staying?” Aria had hoped to pump him for information on the future.
Cara’s expression took on a knowing look. “He’s told me all he’s willing, or able, to,” she said. “There is a fine line between seeing the future, and influencing it. Ash has straddled it far too often. It doesn’t always end well.” The Watcher glanced to where the golden Dragon disappeared into the nearby forest, followed closely by Tyrez. “He’s exhausted and if he didn’t go home, Tyrez threatened to haul him there. The big guy can be very persuasive.”
Only then did Aria realize they’d come straight from Elandriel. “The Elders questioned Ash all night?”
Cara rubbed her face as she followed Aria into the cave. “Yes. They wanted all the potential timelines explained in detail. Ash gave them what he could.”
“What are the Elders going to do?”
Cara’s lips straightened and she shook her head. “They haven’t finalized anything, but they aren’t listening to my suggestions, either.” Her eyes blazed sapphire at Aria. “I’m afraid Nikolai’s future may rest with us.”
37
This morning, the cave reverberated with suppressed excitement.
The only way Nikolai could cope was by shutting down as much as he could. Embracing the mental fog that the runes encouraged, he let things drift without acknowledging any of it.
He’d shunned the hay until Galeran promised to have him forcibly fed. Now he only ate and drank enough to survive. He pretended the Bellatis that bustled around him did not exist. And he did his best to ignore his father’s voice inside his head.
He would have given up entirely if it weren’t for the dream.
Who would have thought it would be Lucas that would instill that tiny seed of hope? Whether the Morph’s presence had been real or just an illusion, it had been enough to push Nikolai to try.
The hay brought to him included the seed heads, which often fell apart into the bottom of his manger. As he nosed through the strands, Nikolai isolated a handful of seeds. They lay on a thin layer of composting material along the edges.
In the dream, Lucas had freely offered his energy through direct physical contact. Cut off from that generated by the life around him, the only source Nikolai had was his own. So he took a deep breath and focused on the hay seeds.
It was like touching a raindrop after surfing a tsunami—the power available for his efforts was minuscule compared to what he’d tapped into in the past. But he persisted, feeling a tremble run through him as he pumped his own life force into the seeds.
They split along their length, and the first stems pushed forth, stubby roots extending down into the mulch.
Nikolai’s ears twitched. He rolled an eye to the closest Bellati; the man frowned at him as though he sensed something. Nikolai cut off the power and took a mouthful of hay, tossing it over the new sprouts to disguise what he’d done.
But elation coursed through him. Lucas had beenright. It wasn’t much, but at the moment, it was everything.
Enjoying your breakfast, my son?
Nikolai’s ears flattened.
Galeran continued without waiting for a reply.Today, we begin our journey. I think you will find it interesting.
The perpetual knot in Nikolai’s gut tightened. Even knowing it was coming hadn’t helped prepare him.
Galeran and Sebastian entered the cave. To each side were Bellatis in equine form. They wore harnesses on their bodies, with chains attached.
