Nikolai fought not to flinch, just as two figures appeared in the entrance. Isobel, her long white braids glittering with crystals, and Galeran. His father’s eyes glowed silver as he glared at Demeti. “Us working together does not give you permission to fondle my son.”
With reluctance, Demeti pulled his hand away. “Such a pity to chain such a beast and not take full advantage of the opportunity.”
Galeran stalked into the chamber. “He is chained for higher purposes than mere entertainment. Your tendency to inappropriate focus has much to do with your past lack of success.” He glowered at the Torshin.
Demeti’s brows lowered. “What is the point of power unless you pause to enjoy it? You are far too serious.”
“Prepare your Dires for deployment,” Galeran snapped. “We will be departing within the hour.”
Demeti glanced back at Nikolai. “He doesn’t seem ready for another go,” he assessed. “He might have access to the core, but it will fry the living vessel if you push too hard.”
“I know far more about his capabilities than you.” Galeran stated. “I suggest you stick to what you are best at, and leave the power disbursement to me.”
Demeti’s eyes flashed. “If you weren’t plugged into a supernova, I’d show you just who wields the power here.”
If he meant it as a threat, it fell far short of the goal. Galeran’s lip twitched. “Oh, but I am. So this argument is pointless.”
Demeti’s eyes flashed crimson as he straightened. “You’d better hope you don’t end up burned, Bellati. But I will hold up my end and ensure that the Dires are ready.”
The two Torshins left the cave. Nikolai was relieved to see them depart, but eyed Isobel as she approached.
Galeran gestured to the Watcher as he addressed Nikolai. “You and I have much to do, my son, and Isobel will see that you are ready for it.”
Isobel approached Nikolai, and he bared his teeth. She ignored him and moved past where his teeth could reach, placing her hands on his ribs.
Immediately, warmth flowed through them. She pulled from the surrounding life energy and pumped it into him, healing him as she bolstered his reserves.
Nikolai was afraid she would sense where Cara had meddled with the runes. To distract her, he launched his campaign to refocus Galeran.
I understand why you are angry at the Sartorians. They have treated their realm with a lack of respect for anything living.
Galeran strolled closer and stopped only feet from the tip of Nikolai’s horn.I am not angry at them. I am angry at the Liberi Elders for leaving the Sartorians unguided for over a thousand years.
But the Sartorians are paying for it with their lives,Nikolai pointed out.What if there was another way?
Galeran stared at him.What other way?
I can tap into the core power. What if we used it to heal the land and sea instead of destroying those who plundered it?
Galeran tilted his head, as if considering.You did not grow up Bellati. The Bellatis are not healers. That responsibility falls to the Watchers. We pave the way for them. In the old days, that was done through guidance and negotiation with the local populations. Occasionally, we had to use force to make our point. It set them up to listen to a new way to live.
Nikolai jumped on that.If we used my power to heal the land, we could teach them how to care for it. All this killing is not necessary.
Galeran’s eyes flashed.You have lived too long among humans. What you are not understanding is that these populations have gone too far down the wrong path. It is too late to change them. They have committed themselves to raping the land to sustain an unsustainable population. The only way to set them up for a balanced existence is to lower the number of inhabitants to a feasible level.
Nikolai stared at him in horror. This wasn’t just about healing the land. It was about culling the resident sentient populations, taking them to the point where they were forced to balance with the new order.
A new order dictated by Galeran.
Do the Bellatis know the full scope of your plans?
They know what they need to know,his father said.
Galeran took his shocked silence as temporary acquiescence. As Isobel pulled her hands away, his father gestured to someone in the tunnel, and the four harnessed Bellatis in beast form stepped into the cave.
Nikolai glared at his father.
I thought I was a monster. But it seems there are worse things than me.
