Nikolai sagged against the chains as Galeran brought the sky down on the industrial area spread out before them.
This time, they stood on a hill. It only gave them a partial view, but it didn’t matter. By the time Galeran was done, the place would be leveled.
Nikolai was in so much agony, he almost didn’t care. He struggled to hold on to who, and what, he was.
Hang on, big guy. We have a plan.
Lucas’s mindvoice was so strong, it was as though he were close. Very close.
I am. Closer than you think. Is Demeti with you?
Yes. He has his Dires with him.
Excellent.
Nikolai fought to focus through the pain.How is that excellent?
You will see. Just hang in there.
* * *
Aria would be pissed.
Lucas knew it as certainly as he knew his eyes were black and green. Well, usually, anyway. At the moment, they were dancing silver and gold.
Dragon eyes.
He soared through the clouds, staying hidden among them, but following the glimpses of Ash’s tail ahead of him. They’d flown for over an hour from the gate in the nearest city, but as they approached their destination, the flying became tricky as hell.
Somewhere below them, Galeran tapped into the core power through Nikolai and used it to bring the heavens down on the Sartorian industrial sector below. Ash led him through the storm’s fringes, but the air currents buffeting him challenged Lucas’s fledgling flying skills to the max. He might never have managed it, if it weren’t for the vast amount of crystal dust he’d consumed before leaving the Dragons’ lair.
Somewhere below him, Nikolai struggled against the onslaught. Lucas sent him as much support as he could, but he needed to focus on his flying, or he might end up in another death spiral.
He almost plowed right into Ash as the golden Dragon hovered among the clouds. Lucas had inhaled so much dust that he now matched Ash’s size.
“Tyrez wills brings yous ins low,” the shifter said. “When you gets hits, its won’t be fars to the ground. Trys not to go splat.”
Going splat didn’t sound like much fun. Lucas nodded. “Thank yous, Ash.”
A huge turquoise form emerged with a swirl of vapor. Tyrez hovered and exchanged a long look with Ash that no doubt had an accompanying diatribe. Then he broke his gaze away to Lucas.
“Readys?”
Lucas nodded, grimly aware that although what he did was risky, it couldn’t hold a candle to what Tyrez was about to embrace. While Galeran leveled the industrial complex, the Legion was winging toward them. But Ash had ensured that the elite warriors wouldn’t arrive in time to help Tyrez.
For a few crucial minutes, the big Dragon would fly alone except for Lucas. That vulnerability was vital to the plan. If Demeti didn’t feel safe to attack, it wouldn’t work.
Lucas followed Tyrez into the roiling clouds. The ex-Legioner dropped them below the storm, and almost right on top of Galeran.
The land beyond was a blur of chaotic motion as the tornado tore the buildings apart. As he shot past, barely in control, Lucas caught a glimpse of Galeran, surrounded by Bellatis. Nikolai, slumped between his puppeteers. And another tall, thin figure standing near a bunch of Dires.
Shouts from below, and Lucas stayed tight on Tyrez’s tail. The theory was if Demeti recognized Ash, he would want him alive. And if he was close enough to Tyrez, the Torshin wouldn’t risk hitting him with darts.
Tyrez beat the air with his powerful wings, taking them up before curving in an arc back toward the group.
Lucas’s heart raced. This should be it. He stuck close as Tyrez took them on a dive toward the line of Dires. Lucas caught a whiff of brimstone just before the Dragon opened his jaws and let a stream of flame loose.
A few stray misfired darts bounced harmlessly off the turquoise scales as the Dires panicked. And then a bolt of gleaming energy flashed past Tyrez and nailed Lucas.
