The Bellati’s hands were held out from his body, and Lucas spotted glowing lines along the insides of his wrists. Galeran raised them high, and the lines became visible as brilliant red runes. The red glow spread to his hands.
Nikolai, is he reaching for your power?
No reply, on the rush of galloping hooves.
Nikolai! Stop!
The only answer was a terrifying surge of rage, and the ground shook again. From deep within the mountain, came an ominous rumble.
The cave was warm... the facts clicked in Lucas’s fried brain.Crap, Nikolai. Is this a dormant volcano? You’re going to wake it up—
He cut off as Demeti nailed him again, and Lucas gritted his teeth as the raw blast coursed through him. The ground heaved, and chunks of stone fell from the ceiling. It was only a harbinger of what would happen when Nikolai arrived, and Lucas was desperate to stop the cataclysm that would follow. Writhing in the straw, he reached for the only other one who might be able to stop this.
Lucas envisioned her—her beautiful heart-shaped face with its determined set to the jaw, the hair the color of a sunset, and flashing amber eyes... then he concentrated and sent a message into the darkness.
Aria. You have to stop him.
In an instant, he was swept up in a world of flickering images and pain, and it was only when red-gold wings flashed through his mind that he realized it was Aria in midshift. He sensed her shock at his presence, and then, faint but clear,I’m on my way.
His relief was almost overwhelming. Lucas pushed himself partly upright and met Galeran’s glare as he defaulted to his usual defense—taunting and stalling for time.
“Thou will kill more than just me, if you keep this up,” Lucas snapped. “Nikolai will wake up thee bloody volcano.”
Galeran’s eyes ignited. “If that is what it takes, then that is what I will do.”
Demeti frowned. “Wait. What? Not with us in it!”
Another Bellati appeared behind them. Tall, muscular, every inch a warrior, Sebastian reported in.
“Legion Dragons, Sabres, and a group of Watchers have appeared in the upper reaches of the pass. And I have reports of another Unicorn that looks like the Perditor, heading for us.” His gaze snapped to Lucas, and away again.
Galeran’s voice was clipped, his face contorted with effort, but he answered. “Itisthe Perditor. This is an imposter. Somehow, they slipped him out right under our noses.”
Sebastian stiffened. “Sir, I have no idea—”
“I’m not interested in your excuses. I can still control the Perditor. We can get him back, this is only a minor setback, but we must deal with the Dragons and Sabres.”
The Bellati nodded. “I have Dires in position. The parasitic darts will hold off the Dragons if they try to fly, but if they come in as human, it will be harder.”
“Bellati are born to fight,” Galeran ground out. “So it is what you must do until I can re-establish control over the Perditor. I will move to the main cavern, you must protect me while I do so.”
Sebastian’s eyes widened. “Re-establish control?”
“The Watchers are attempting to block me, but they will not be successful. I need you to buy me time. Stop wasting it and do your job.”
The Bellati’s jaw clamped, but he nodded and jogged off down the tunnel.
Galeran’s wrists glowed red as though they were on fire. Lucas’s mind raced. Those runes must link him to Nikolai. Could he disable them?
As if the rogue Bellati read his mind, Galeran’s gaze burned into his own. Demeti was breathing so hard Lucas could hear him, his crimson eyes blazing with hate.
But luckily for Lucas, Galeran had other concerns. “This Morph is your mess,” the Bellati hissed to the Torshin. “I leave him to you.” Galeran spun on his heel and headed for the main cavern.
Dammit.Any chance Lucas had of messing with those runes had just walked away.
Demeti advanced on him. Lucas let go of the morph, but before he could slip the chains, Demeti nailed him with another blast.
His brain filled with white static as it slammed him against the restraints. Pain vibrated along every nerve, but letting go of the morph didn’t require a ton of focus. He found his way back to his own body, and the restraints fell free.
