He called the lightning down.
The earth shook beneath him as the forks danced over the surrounding ground, multiple points of contact blasting at the earth and sending it into the air. A mixture of dust and black fog rose until he could no longer see anything at all.
He dropped his head and cut the energy off. It went without complaint, temporarily replete in its destruction.
The forest surrounded him in shocked silence as the dust slowly settled. The pit that had formed the mine was gone. Only a mound of earth remained.
Mai emerged from her hiding spot and quivered her nose as Nikolai turned around. Cara stood with Aria and Lucas, and behind them were the Bellatis, still in human form. Twenty of the best, handpicked from those that had sworn to serve him. Sebastian loomed at the forefront, his eyes gleaming silver as he surveyed the filled mine, and his expression signaled his approval.
Lucas stepped forward. “I’ll take you to the Mother Trees,” he said aloud. His gaze bounced between the Bellatis and Nikolai.
Nikolai understood, even if he wasn’t comfortable filling a leadership role. Such a thing had to be nurtured. The Bellatis had already been betrayed twice—once by the Elders, and then by Galeran.
He paused beside Aria, kneeling so she could grab his mane and pull herself up onto his broad back. Her physical and mental warmth soothed his internal jaggedness. She reached for Lucas and hauled him up behind her.
Those scales make you look dark and dangerous,she purred.
Seems appropriate,Lucas said.I am very mysterious.
In your own mind, anyway,Nikolai commented.
Lucas drifted his hand into Aria’s hair.When you have wings, you don’t need a horn.
Horns are superior.Nikolai tossed his head.
Is that a metaphor? Because I think in a dick measuring contest—
Being able to morph is an unfair advantage.Nikolai humped his back beneath them.
Boys,Aria chided.Concentrate on the task at hand.
Hey, you started it,Lucas pointed out. But he opened his mind to show Nikolai the way, interpreting his aerial route from the ground.
Cara and the Bellatis trailed them into the forest. Lucas’s and Aria’s warm legs wrapped around Nikolai, and their presences, on his body and in his mind, filled his soul to overflowing.
Damned lucky you have us,Lucas agreed.
Can we focus?Nikolai sensed Aria’s tension through the link.
Cara thinks I can do this,Nikolai reassured her. Even though doubt niggled at him too.
Aria was quick to respond.I know you can.
They didn’t have far to go. Lucas stopped them when they reached the stump of what must have been, in life, an enormous tree.
Within eyeshot were two more. Worth many thousands of dollars, the trees had been taken sometime over the last six months. The surrounding forest had been decimated during their removal—they’d used bulldozers to clear a path to them.
The expansive root systems of the Mother Trees provided nutrients to the entire forest, supporting its tremendous diversity. When they died naturally, those resources were channeled into the upcoming generation. But when they were removed, it weakened the surrounding forest.
Aria’s amber gaze sparked with anger as she traded glances with Cara. “Even I can feel how out of balance this place is.”
“Humans can only sense life energy if they take thee time to train themselves. Unfortunately, money is a huge motivator,” Cara explained, her voice reserved. “But many, like thee Guardians, understand and fight to preserve life.” She eyed Nikolai. “This will be thy true test, using thee core to heal thee forest. Ground thyself well.”
Aria shifted her grip from his mane to his neck, and Lucas laid his hands on her shoulders. Instantly, their triad link bridged, flowing strong between the three of them.
As usual, for a few moments, Nikolai had trouble breathing.
Aria giggled a little.I love it when I make you breathless.The imagery she sent along with it did little to help the situation.
