Tyrez cleared his throat and shot his brother a look. “I thought you were in a hurry.”
Cara appeared in the doorway. “I’ve got tea on.”
“And food?” Razir asked hopefully.
“I’m sure I can rustle up something,” Cara waved at him as she vanished again.
To Aria’s surprise, Lucas was already in the kitchen. The Morph refused to look at her, but his gaze snapped to Razir, and froze.
“This is Tyrez’s brother, Razir,” Aria said. “He’s with the Legion.” She gestured to Lucas. “This is Lucas.”
“The Morph,” Razir stated, examining Lucas.
Lucas’s eyes gleamed emerald before he nodded and looked away. A muscle jumped in his jaw as he leaned back on the counter, seemingly determined to not meet anyone’s eye.
Aria caught a glance between Dani and Ash. She wondered what they were saying to each other.
“Everyone, sit down.” Cara gestured to the seats. “I’ll take the floor cushion. Tea is almost ready.”
“I don’t have long,” Razir stated, pressing his bulk into the cushy chair and reaching for a scone. “Kinda dropped in between Elandriel and the Empire. I’m not supposed to know you are here.”
Ash declined to sit, preferring a counter lean much like Lucas, while Tyrez squeezed in beside Dani on the couch, and Aria took the remaining chair.
Cara put the plate of scones, tea, and cups down on the table before settling herself on the large floor cushion. “I sense Galeran has been busy.”
“He has.” Tyrez’s brother’s expression downgraded to a snarl. “The news coming out of Meiros, frankly, is terrifying. The Legion has attempted to intercept, but each time, he’d already moved on. We just didn’t have good enough intel.” He glanced at Ash.
The golden Dragon shifter shrugged. “I didn’t give the Legion that information.”
Razir’s gaze measured the other shifter. “No. We got it from our resident Dragon Seer. She’s good, but not good enough. Don’t suppose you have anything to add?”
Ash met his gaze. “If I see something that has a chance of success, you will be the first to know.”
Aria wasn’t the only one to find that reply elusive. Razir grimaced in frustration. “Well, we tried to anticipate where he’d strike next. Figured he’d continue with the coastlines, but then he switched to a series of strip mines. Triggered a massive quake that buried them.”
Aria’s gut twisted. “How many dead?”
Razir shook his head. “They were still tallying it. Galeran isn’t even bothering to warn them, he’s just out for blood.”
Aria exchanged a look with Lucas. The Morph’s face had lost all color.
“The Elders were asking about you,” Razir noted, glancing at Cara. “They want an update on your progress.”
Cara shot him a look. “Are they coming looking for me?”
He grimaced. “Not yet, but a few have suggested that they do so. Some have raised suspicions that you are collaborating with Galeran. But most just think you are reluctant to get involved in tracking the Perditor, considering they want to kill him.”
Cara rose to pour the tea. “Well, my closest friends know about this retreat, but it is one of many. And I don’t think they’ll reveal it unless directly asked to do so.” But her mouth pulled into a grim line. “I may not have as much time as I’d like.”
“I’ve gotta fly,” Razir noted as he refused the tea. “The Elders told me there are about one hundred Bellatis loyal to them, and they have the support of the Cryptid council as well, which has promised the Sabres’ help whenever the Elders locate Galeran. But with him hiding among the crystal caves, and popping in and out using gates—we’re going to have to be incredibly mobile to nail him.” His eyes shifted between Aria and Lucas to Cara.
Cara nodded. “As long as Galeran has control over Nikolai, I fear any effort to stop him will result in a cataclysm.”
Tyrez fastened his turquoise gaze on Cara. “What you are attempting isn’t just about freeing Nikolai from Galeran.” A muscle jumped in Tyrez’s jaw. “If you are successful, we are betting a lot on your ability to control him. Otherwise we will be jumping from the frying pan into the fire.”
Cara’s gaze drifted to Aria as she responded to him. “Your concern is valid, my friend. Once he is free of the runes, I am relying heavily on the most powerful of leashes to control him.”
Aria’s heart accelerated, but she had an idea of where the Watcher was going with this. And it tied her guts in a knot. “You think Lucas and I will be able to control him? We couldn’t do it before.”
