46
Lucas’s morphed body lay in the straw of Galeran’s cave, but his mind was furiously busy.
It was busy keeping a metaphorical volcano from erupting.
Nikolai, you have to chill. Or none of us are going to see another dawn.
A blistering mix of emotions pummeled Lucas along the link. Followed by a pulse of pure fear, and,I am trying.Nikolai’s mindvoice was so hoarse the words were hardly more than a growl.
Look, just breathe with me, okay? Aria is with you; focus on her, too.
I am. She is so beautiful. And scared.
Aria isn’t scaredofyou. She’s scaredforyou. So breathe.
Lucas sensed how hard Nikolai was trying. With everything he had, the Liberi pushed back on the emotional turmoil building within him. But it was like spitting into a tornado.
The tornado was winning.
Tornados, volcanoes, you aren’t helping Lucas.
Sorry, man. Let’s think about the ocean.
Hurricanes?
No. A nice, calm, balmy ocean. With hidden depths, but they stay hidden, down deep.
Another rune gave way, and the howl that was Nikolai’s subconscious upped another notch.
Maybe she should stop.Nikolai sounded close to panicked.
She can’t stop. The only way through, is forward.
Nikolai snorted.When the hell did you decide to be a wise man?
Wise man? Sometimes, Lucas forgot Nikolai grew up in a desert.I prefer wise ass.
Yeah. That fits.
Okay, from one wise ass to another, breathe.
They’d taken eight deep breaths together when someone howled from down the tunnels. At first Lucas thought it was one of Demeti’s Dires, but then he realized the truth.
It was Demeti himself. He’d just discovered his prized prisoner was missing.
Lucas tried to hide it from Nikolai, but the man was on a razor’s edge. Alert, hyper aware, he snatched the fact from Lucas without effort.
Careful Lucas,he warned as the commotion in the tunnel increased.
They won’t associate Ash escaping with me taking your place. Not right away, anyway. Relax, focus on your own issues.
But—
Nikolai, if you don’t regain control, none of this matters.
A tall figure popped into the cave and stared at Lucas.
Galeran.
