S’okay.It was all he could offer as Demeti gave him another burst, and then stopped, surveying Lucas’s limp form with satisfaction.
The Morph didn’t dare meet his tormentor’s eyes. He was sure his own were breaking through the morph. Too much collar torture would test his abilities to hold it to the absolute limit.
The young Liberi appeared at the cell entrance, pulling a wheeled cart. Leaving it against the wall, he scooped a large armful of straw from it.
Demeti stepped back from Lucas’s prone form. The Liberi bustled around Lucas, spreading his burden. He didn’t even notice when Lucas brushed his calf up against his bare arm. He did flinch, though, when Lucas reached his hand to jab an exposed ankle with his modified claw. Just the tiniest injection of poison. The Liberi glanced down at Lucas’s crumpled form and shrugged it off.
Lucas, are you okay?
I’m good. The plan is going well.
A burst of incredulity.This is the plan going well?
Trust me. This plan is going better than most.
Well, let me know if it starts to go badly. So I can duck and run.A mental grinding of teeth.I can duck, even if I can’t run.
I’m here to remedy that. Just hold tight.
A snort carried down the tunnel, even as it echoed through Lucas’s mind.
“That’s enough fussing.” Demeti gestured impatiently to the young man, who bowed his head and left the cell. Out of the corner of his eye, Lucas noted he pushed the cart close to the wall before leaving it and walking away.
Demeti, meanwhile, held his ground as the Dires left as well.
“Just a reminder of who is boss here.” He sent another jolt through the collar.
By the time Lucas blinked back to full awareness, he was alone. Fortunately, if any of his morph had slipped, the Torshin had been too busy gloating to notice.
Plan still going well?Nikolai offered. He sounded stronger.
Splendidly.Lucas rolled onto his knees.Just need a moment to breathe here.
He collared you.A pulse of pure rage.
Lucas rejoiced in a resurgence of the old Nikolai. Ash had told him it would happen, and he hadn’t believed it.It’s not a big deal.
I’ve seen in your mind,snarled Nikolai.I know just how big a deal it is. And he will not collar what is mine.
The words reverberated through Lucas. Before he could comment, a surge traveled through their link.Isobel is here, healing me. She will never know to what use I put her energy.
That was the only warning Lucas received before Nikolai became a powerful presence within his body. Riding on the waves of a possessive rage, the Perditor shoved the red-hot tendrils from Lucas’s brain. Piercing pain shot through his head, but he endured it as preferable to the alternative. Within moments, the collar clicked open and fell from his throat.
Score one for Ash. The Oracle had seen correctly.Thank you, Nikolai.
For a moment, all he experienced through the link was the mental equivalent of heavy breathing. Then, in hoarse tones,You knew I would do that.
Ash did.
Smart guy.
Yeah, he is. Kinda a pain in the butt, too. Not easy having someone tell you the future. Only thing worse would be seeing it yourself.
A burst of emotion other than rage—curiosity. Like Nikolai was grasping beyond it, to who he used to be.I’d like to meet him.
You will. Soon. Let me know when Isobel leaves.
Why? Have you had enough of paradise?
