Nikolai’s panic was quickly giving way to horror. “You cannot kill theem all. Even I do not have that power.”
Galeran shrugged. “You underestimate what you can do. But it is not necessary to pursue the Sartorians, when we have powerful allies so willing and able to help.”
Nikolai didn’t understand. He’d killed with the core, yanking from it to shred living things apart. The disruption of life energy had resulted in significant collateral damage. But to do it on the scale of millions—did he have that kind of power?
Galeran's smile broadened as he addressed his audience. “Every realm has a hidden heartbeat. That the very earth we stand upon is as alive as we are. The realm itself will rise against its oppressors. And nothing will stand against it.”
Suddenly, Nikolai understood. As his father raised his arms, he surged against his chains. The Bellatis grunted but held firm, tossing their manes and snorting. Their eyes gleamed with anticipation.
Galeran reached deep within Nikolai for the core energy and yanked it free.
It scorched through Nikolai. Instantly, the fluffy clouds roiled and turned black. Thunder rolled and lightning shot toward them, outlining their entire group in a dancing show of crackling fingers.
Nikolai barely noticed—encased in agony, his consciousness accompanied Galeran as his father sent the energy deep into the ocean, racing it along the rocky floor until he found what he sought.
Only fifty miles from the coast, two crustal plates ground against each other. For centuries, the rift had progressed toward a cataclysm. It might have taken another hundred years to come to life, but now Galeran plunged the energy into the fissure.
The ground rumbled, and then a section hundreds of miles long snapped free, popping upward two hundred feet and sending the water above it on a date with destiny.
Galeran pinched off the power, and the relief almost dropped Nikolai to his knees. But the damage had been done. Although the wave was barely visible from their perch, Nikolai sensed it coming. So did the city below—alarms wailed and the citizens raced for higher ground.
Horror permeated him. There would be no escape from what came for them.
The wave built as it rolled inland, until it towered almost as high as the cliff they stood upon. It toppled the little fishing boats and tore through the big ones, smashing them like juggernauts into the wall surrounding the port. The construct gave way in an instant, and the water crashed through the city.
Everything was swept away. Nikolai felt the Sartorians die. All along the heavily populated coast, the tsunami crushed the cities and towns. There was no escape for anyone living thirty miles from the ocean. The giant wave took them all.
Gone in an instant.
The Bellatis stood as though carved from stone, watching the disaster unfold. Protected by the female Liberis, the grass at their feet remained green.
Everywhere else Nikolai looked, was death. The trees framing the cliffs and the foliage among the stones were twisted and brown.
Shaking with reaction and scorched nearly hollow by the raw energy, Nikolai hardly registered the merest extra ripple across his skin.
A gate, opening among the boulders not fifty feet from them.
Sebastian drew his horn spike and stepped between it and Galeran. The Bellatis formed a line between Nikolai and his father, their expressions stone-cold.
A tall, thin figure appeared and strode toward them. He was flanked by six Dires, who snarled at the Bellatis.
Sebastian stiffened, raising his horn spike.
“It is all right, Sebastian,” Galeran said. “I invited him.”
The Bellati froze, one arched brow rising as he looked at Nikolai’s father.
“He has something we might find useful,” Galeran added.
The new arrival was familiar. Nikolai stiffened in his chains as Demeti walked to within ten feet of the Bellatis.
Sebastian strode forward through his men. “You will stop there,” he commanded. “We do not require swords to kill you.”
The Torshin cocked his head to regard the Bellati. “No. You would require a lot more than a sword.” The crimson eyes rolled to where Nikolai stood, and he pulled his lips back from his shark teeth. “Well, my friend. We meet again. So nice to see you tied up.” Before Nikolai could do more than glare, the Torshin transferred his gaze to Galeran. “Your proposal interests me.” He glanced at the devastated city. “And I like your style.”
Galeran’s expression remained impassive. “We have several more stops to make before we return home. You are welcome to join us.”
Demeti grinned. “I think I might enjoy that.”
