Cara reached into her pocket and extracted a thong. From the end of it dangled a familiar crystal sculpture.
Aria gasped. “That’s Nikolai’s.”
The Watcher smiled. “Yes. It was his mother’s—she left it to him. And it has spent his lifetime absorbing his life essence.”
Aria and Lucas both stared at her.
Cara looked rather smug as she held it up. The crystal glowed in the cave’s dim lights.
“It is a piece of him,” she purred. “And we are going to use it to set him free.”
* * *
Another hour. Another cataclysm.
Galeran had planned it well. Sebastian researched appropriate places to gate them into the strike zones. They popped in, created destruction and chaos, and vanished back into their lair.
Within six hours, they’d wiped out every port on one of Meiros’s main continents.
Demeti came with them. The Torshin stood off to one side with his Dire bodyguards. The Bellatis regarded him with varying expressions of disgust, and Sebastian wouldn’t let Demeti within ten feet of Galeran.
As they stood on another cliff and watched the latest tidal wave wipe civilization off the map, Demeti cackled like a witch.
“Sir,” Sebastian said through gritted teeth. “Must we tolerate this Torshin?”
Nikolai’s body had channeled so much that his muscles seized and he could barely stand. But he noted the glances several Bellatis shot toward the conversation and sensed the agreement with their peer.
They disliked the Torshin. Intensely.
Galeran continued to stare down at the carnage. “Sometimes we must tolerate the unpleasant to achieve the end goal.”
Demeti’s grin widened. “I am both indispensable and unpleasant.”
“Are we taking him back with us?” The tall Bellati vibrated with disapproval.
“He is a valuable resource.” Galeran’s eyes drifted to the Torshin. “For now.”
Sebastian stiffened, but he nodded and stepped back. Nikolai noted, however, that the Bellati refused to look at either the Torshin or at the results of their efforts.
Galeran glanced to where Nikolai slumped against his chains. “Well, I think the fun is over for today. Can’t burn out my best tool on the first go.” He spun on his heel and walked through the open gate.
If the Bellatis hadn’t been strapped to him, Nikolai would never have made it back to the cave. His entire body howled with pain. His insides burned as though they had been scorched.
As his puppeteers pulled and pushed him toward the gate, Demeti stepped into his path. The crimson eyes gleamed at him.
“So glad to see Galeran has you where you belong,” he hissed.
All Nikolai could do was glare as the Bellati to his right tossed his heavy mane. “Get out of thee way, Torshin.”
Demeti’s eyes flashed again, but he turned, and stepped through the gate, taking his Dires with him. The four Bellatis dragged Nikolai through in his wake.
It spat them out in the main cavern, where Galeran locked his gaze with Demeti’s. Nikolai’s Bellati stepped off to the side and then froze.
“So, Torshin.” Galeran crossed his arms. “I have reason to believe you can be useful, but I must make one thing clear. Betray me, and I will fry you.”
Demeti drew himself up to his full height. “Don’t be so sure you could.” He glanced toward Nikolai. “I have faced your son twice, and survived the experience.”
“My son didn’t know what he was doing,” Galeran pointed out. “I do.”
