Galeran walked to the stones they’d used to form the gate and activated it. As Nikolai’s controllers turned him toward it, he saw Sebastian.
The tall Bellati had assigned his men to surround Demeti and the Dires, but now he stood at the edge of the cliff, staring down at the carnage below. Faint cries and the sound of buildings giving way to water echoed up from below.
Sebastian turned away, and for just an instant, Nikolai caught a hint of something from him. A burst of pure emotion coursing through the life energies, and a flare of the pale eyes as he met Nikolai’s gaze.
Then it vanished, and the Bellati gestured to Nikolai’s controllers.
“Take him through,” he said. “Our work is not yet done.”
38
In the cave’s small kitchen, Lucas leaned against the counter.
Nikolai’s imagery was flashing through him so often now that he sometimes lost track of where he was and what he was doing. Something had the big guy wound up, and it had Lucas’s heart hammering with suppressed adrenaline.
He heard voices out on the ledge, and therefore wasn’t surprised when Cara followed Aria into the kitchen. His gut twisted when Cara said that Nikolai’s fate might rest with them.
Because he just didn’t see how they were going to be any help at all.
Aria met his eyes, and he read the desperation in her amber gaze. He had no idea what they could do. But for her, he’d try.
Cara walked to the counter and peered into the teapot.
Aria grimaced. “Oh. That is likely too strong. I made it over an hour ago.”
Cara pulled out a cup and poured the nearly black liquid into it. “Strong is good. I’ll even drink it tepid. I’m beat.”
Lucas only half heard her, because there was a surge of pure panic from Nikolai, and then agony scorched through him. He gasped, doubling over. A second later, he sensed the big guy’s despair.
Cara dropped her teacup. It shattered on the floor as her fingers flew to her temples. She collapsed onto the couch.
Aria froze, staring from him to Cara.
Lucas held himself upright by grabbing on to the counter as Nikolai’s pain ricocheted around inside him. “What’s happened?” he gasped.
Aria shook her head. “I just felt this weird surge.”
“It’s Galeran.” Cara’s voice was barely a whisper. “He’s done something horrible.”
Lucas’s gut twisted. That would mesh with what he’d sensed. “A tsunami,” he whispered.
Aria shot him a shocked look. “How do you know that?”
Lucas straightened. “Just a feeling.”
Cara shook her head. “I won’t know the specifics until it’s been checked out.” She met his worried stare. “But Galeran has tapped into Nikolai’s power and used it in one of the realms. Watchers are linked to most of them, so we are sensitive to changes in their energies.”
Cara’s face was drawn and pale. Lucas forced himself to move. He snatched a cup from the cupboard, poured in the last of the tea, and walked to the microwave. Then dug around in the fridge and emerged with the leftover chicken and a flat of muffins. Swapped the teacup for the chicken, and when that was heated as well, brought the whole mess to the table near the couch.
“Thanks, Lucas.” Cara grabbed a muffin. “I’ll leave the chicken to you.”
“Are you a vegetarian?” he asked as he flopped into an overstuffed chair. His legs were still shaking.
“Mostly.”
Aria frowned at Lucas before addressing Cara. “What has happened?”
Cara sighed. “Based on what I felt, he’s wiped out a large settlement. Maybe a city.”
