Lucas recoiled. “I don’t know if it’s a bond. And he’s not talking to me right at this moment.”
Cara patted his hand. “No, but we should be able to re-establish the link and take a peek before moving in on him.”
Lucas didn’t like the sound of that, but it made sense. So when Cara squeezed his hand, he gritted his teeth and braced himself.
“Okay, Lucas. I want you to visualize Nikolai, just like we did before. Sight, scent, sound, and the way he feels when you talk to him telepathically.”
Lucas sighed, closed his eyes, and did as she asked. The link snapped into place so fast he almost didn’t believe it to be true.
He was in a cave, with two Bellatis in human form standing against the stone entrance. His legs were curled into a bed of straw.
Lucas? Is that you?
Are you alone?Stupid question, Lucas realized it the moment he asked it.
I am never alone.A hint of amusement amid the resignation.But Galeran is not here.
Can you meet us like you did before?
Uncertainty, but also grim resolve.I was kinda tranced out last time, almost dreaming.
Do it again, Lucas ordered.
I will try.
Lucas opened his eyes. “Galeran isn’t there. Nikolai will try to trance out and meet us like before.”
“Very good, Lucas.” Cara’s eyes shone. “Let’s see if we can all connect with him, shall we?”
Aria squeezed his hand. “I wish I could talk to him.”
He glanced at her. “I wish you could too.” And to his surprise, he did.
“Focus, you two. Picture Nikolai, just like before.”
It was easier, this time, as though speaking with Nikolai had strengthened their link. Within moments, Lucas found himself once again in the meadow.
Nikolai stood among the flowers. His torso was naked, but he wore black, skin-hugging tights that did nothing to hide his contours. After a moment, Lucas recognized they were formed from fine, glossy hairs.
Dragons had scales. Unicorns had hair. Lucas had whatever he’d borrowed from everyone else.
His eyes narrowed as he assessed Nikolai. The smooth torso was partly hidden by the long, steel-gray strands that fell from Nikolai’s crown to well past his hips. The big guy looked different from the last time—like the muscles hugged closer to his frame. Had he lost weight? His pale irises gleamed feverishly above cheekbones that seemed much sharper than Lucas remembered.
“Nikolai.” Aria’s voice was almost a gasp. She ran to him, but slid to a stop a few feet away.
When Lucas met the big man’s eyes, he knew why. They swirled with blackness as though the chaos within was hammering to be set free.
Nikolai’s focused on Cara. “Have you seen what I have done?”
She faced him calmly. “It wasn’t you. It was your father. None of this is your fault.”
“I told him we could use the power to heal the land. He isn’t interested. He said that the population must be decreased, or healing has no hope.” His tortured gaze fastened on the Watcher as he demanded the truth. “Is he wrong?”
Cara straightened. “There are other ways to win this battle. Galeran has taken the easiest, and the most destructive. He is misguided.”
Nikolai searched her face, before he nodded. “We must stop this.”
“Yes, we must,” she agreed. “Everyone sit so we can touch. Let’s get some more of these things disabled.”
