She seemed unconcerned about the Watchers that pursued them, and Nikolai had to admit they had become more of an annoyance than anything sinister. There were still only two. At one point in the night, distracted by his thoughts, he’d taken a wrong turn and ended up in a blind canyon. By the time he’d navigated out, they should have closed the distance.
But they hadn’t. They’d paused, too.
They are afraid of you,his inner voice had stated.And so they should be. You are more powerful than them.
A chill chased down Nikolai’s spine. Surely the Watchers weren’t afraid of him? Determined to test it, he’d headed toward the energy that marked the Watchers’ presences.
And they’d moved away.
I know you better than you know yourself.
With the knots in his gut twisting tight, Nikolai had pointed himself toward the town. He had to get away from them, and away from this place. He wanted to flee from the voice in his head as well, but had no idea how.
I am part of you. You cannot escape me. And you shouldn’t try. I am your future.
Nikolai shoved the voice aside. As always, it went, but he was starting to suspect it agreed to go. That it merely lay in wait for the next opportunity to comment.
His feet were already carrying him toward Aria, like a compass drawn to true north. Nikolai had no more control over it than he did over the lurking voice in his head.
She was there. He had to go to her. It was that simple.
The farm they’d chosen as a hideout was long abandoned, the strange, dome-shaped house half crumbled away. The barn had been carved into a hill, the front built of earth and straw. It, too, was in a state of collapse, but the curved walls still supported a roof, albeit rather rotten.
The setting sun cast everything in a pale-gold light. It traced Aria’s outlines as she leaned against the doorway’s remains. She wore a coarsely woven cloak with a large hood that she’d pushed back, revealing her rich, red hair streaked with gold. Her arms crossed her chest as her gaze tracked him.
He walked to about three feet from her and stopped.
Her beautiful amber gaze assessed him. “Hi.”
“Hello,” he responded. “Long time no see.”
One red brow twitched. “Well, about twenty hours, anyway.”
“Did you ditch the Watchers, then?” The new voice came from the shadows of the barn. Nikolai noted that Lucas had given himself a highly advantageous position—barely visible, while Nikolai stood in the light. He accepted it for what it was—an indication of lack of trust.
“They are still there,” he answered. “But they don’t seem to want to close the gap.”
Lucas swayed restlessly from one foot to the other. Aria shot the other man a glare, and his eyes flared emerald. The tension between them was palpable, as though Nikolai had arrived in the middle of an argument.
Lucas emerged from the shadows, clad in the same kind of hooded garment as Aria. “If they’re holding back, then we have time for a chat.”
Aria grew even more rigid, and her eyes spat fire. But she said nothing as Nikolai deliberately entered the barn, walking right past Lucas and looking up at the ancient rafters supporting the domed roof.
“Chat about what?” he asked, keeping his voice as casual as possible. Not an easy feat, considering how his heart thundered.
“You are a Liberi,” Lucas began.
With one hand tracing the packed clay of the wall, Nikolai let his gaze drop to the shorter man. “You have said that before.”
“We had a chat with a Watcher. She was waiting for us at the gate.”
Nikolai froze. He’d felt the flare of her energy in the town, but it hadn’t been there long before vanishing once again. Little wisps of black fog emerged from his fingertips and danced along the wall. He dropped his hand, flattening the fingers along his thigh. “What did she say?”
Aria took a step forward, positioning herself in the space between Lucas and him. “Her name is Cara. She said that you were very powerful. And that in some circumstances, that power could be dangerous.”
Lucas’s gaze was focused on Nikolai’s hands as though he’s spotted the fog. “She said it was dangerous to have you running loose, so she wants you to come back with them to their realm—”
“She wants to train you,” Aria interjected, “so that you can control your power.”
