Cara rubbed both her temples, but when she spoke, her voice reflected her resignation. “As plans go, this one is risky as hell, but not bad otherwise. If we can get Nikolai to me directly, I can disable the runes.”
Aria transferred her glare to Tyrez and Dani. And finally Ash. Nuts. They were all completely crazy. “You’re going to get them both killed.”
“The timing will be tight,” Ash admitted. “And even if we are successful in getting Nikolai out of there, Galeran will still have control over him through the runes.”
Cara bit her lip. “I cannot disable those that Galeran has written on his skin, but I can reconnect Nikolai to his power, so he can fight back.”
Dani picked up the narrative. “Hopefully, it will be enough. With any luck, we’ll have time before Galeran realizes the deception. If not, everything will get rather interesting in a hurry.”
“How can we get Cara close enough to help them, if we don’t even know where Galeran is?” Aria protested.
Ash leaned forward. His remarkable eyes swirled with rainbow colors, and it was as though he looked clear through her before he offered her a flash of very white teeth.
“Easily,” he said. “Because now that Lucas is with him, I do.”
44
Demeti had the Dires haul Lucas into the cave.
Up ahead, the Bellatis team dragged a nearly comatose Nikolai down the tunnel and into a side alcove. Galeran stepped aside to let them pass, and his intense gaze landed on Lucas.
“What are you planning to do with that?” he demanded.
Demeti pulled himself up tall. “This shifter and I share a history. I have decided to become reacquainted.”
“I can sense he’s soul bonded,” Galeran pointed out. “He’ll be in telepathic contact with his soul mates. It’s an unnecessary risk.”
Lucas’s heart raced. If Galeran decided he wanted to end him here, there would be little he could do about it. Ash had outlined it as a possibility—one timeline showed it happening. They were counting on Demeti’s lust for Ash to carry them past it.
He wasn’t disappointed. “My collar will give me absolute power over him. It’s how my father controlled him from birth.”
Galeran frowned. “Does it block telepathy?”
Demeti’s pause was almost indecipherable, but Lucas caught it. The Torshin didn’t really know. But he said, “Even if it doesn’t, nothing about this cave distinguishes the realm. But the potential benefits outweigh the risks—if I can control him as my father did, we will have the Oracle at our beck and call.”
The gray gaze narrowed. “I already have a Seer.”
“He is not like the Oracle. No one has greater ability to decipher the timelines.”
Galeran’s mouth straightened. “Be aware of what you reveal around him, Torshin, or I will eliminate you along with him. I will not tolerate a disruption in my plans; am I clear? The Dragons are getting closer, so I want the number of darting mechanisms doubled for the next realm cleansing.”
Demeti’s lips peeled back from his sharp teeth. “We don’t have that many guns assembled.”
Galeran pulled up to his full height. “I have given you sufficient materials. See that they are assembled immediately.”
Demeti’s eyes flared crimson, and he glanced toward Lucas, but he nodded.
Galeran gestured farther down. “There is a cell built along that tunnel. You can put him in there.” He spun and strode away.
Demeti muttered something beneath his breath that Lucas doubted was complementary.
Lucky.Nikolai’s mindvoice was fragmented, barely audible.If Galeran had chosen to end you, I could not have helped you.
It’s okay. We knew it was a risk, but only a small one. Rest a bit; you’ll need your strength very soon.
Isobel awaits me. She keeps my body going, not for me, but for him.
Lucas sensed the hollowness beneath the words. They weren’t staging their intervention a moment too soon. He was a breath away from giving up.Be ready, Nikolai.
