Page 93 of Unleashed

This was their punishment for following Aduun. For daring to see themselves as beings worthy of choice, of freedom.

His shoulders rose and fell with heavy breaths as fury and sorrow clashed inside him, tightening his chest and curling his clawed fingers. Would there truly be no justice for this? Had Kelsharn truly escaped the punishmenthedeserved?

Nina covered one of his fists with her hand. “Do not blame yourself.”

Aduun closed his eyes and drew in a deep, shaky breath. This time, he drew on her strength rather than offering his; in that moment he had nothing to give. Her love flowed into him, her concern, her protectiveness, settling over him warm, secure, and comforting, but it could not overpower his emotions.

This was wrong. This was all wrong.

“Something is happening,” Balir said.

Aduun glanced over his shoulder to see Balir with his head turned as though listening. He felt it a moment later — a faint vibration under his feet. It turned into a low hum that built great pressure in his eardrums and resonated in his bones, gaining power until it was almost too much to bear. Nina withdrew her hand from his to cover her ears, squeezing her eyes shut. Clenching his teeth, he reached toward her, uncertain of what else to do apart from hold her close.

The sensation stopped abruptly, and the sound cut out.

“Aduun,” Vortok called warily.

Aduun turned to see a towering, ghostly figure standing at the center of the platform. He growled and stepped forward, placing himself in front of Nina. “Kelsharn.”

“You’ve made it farther than I thought you would,” Kelsharn said. His voice echoed from all around, as though projected from the very walls.

The caged beasts went wild, slamming into the unseen walls, snapping their jaws, and raking their claws in the air. Even if they didn’t know Aduun, it seemed they knew Kelsharn.

Aduun took another step forward; his instinct was to attack, but he held it back. This was too big to be the real Kelsharn, and once again there was no accompanying scent.

Just another phantom.

Kelsharn spread his arms to either side. “You have found your people. Congratulations. Did you find the journey enlightening?” He grinned, displaying those malicious, pointed teeth. “I must assume the worst, of course — that you have not learned the lesson this was meant to teach you. That you have not learned yourplace.”

The image swelled, growing larger, and seemed to solidify. “I’ve reminded you time and again that it wasIwho made youmore, who made youbetter. I am your creator. You are my pets, my playthings. Ungrateful. Insignificant.Worthless. I must commend your tenacity, but the simple truth of the matter is evidenced by your presence here.

“You have not learned a thing. You have not changed. And you will never realize the potential I instilled within you. You have reached this place because of your defiance, not because of your obedience.”

Kelsharn glided to the edge of the platform and turned his head as though gazing upon the cages. “Look closely, Aduun. These are your people.Thisis what you are without me. You could’ve been so much more.

“The other clans of your tribe have provided me with servants that understand loyalty. They are perfect machines of death that will lay waste to the entirety of this world should I command it. They are what you might have been if you had shown me loyalty.”

The figure faced them again and tipped its horned head down. “This is your final lesson. Learn it well, for you have little time to internalize it. I owe younothing. You owe meeverything. And I have no further time to waste on beasts that cannot understand their place in the universe. The only reward you have earned is agony.”

Kelsharn lifted a hand, gesturing behind him. “Their heartstones are hidden within this city. Not far out of your reach, really. I wanted you to know that because you will be dead before you ever locate them.” He flicked his wrist toward the cages. “Enjoy your reunion with your clan. They’ve been starving for your company.”

He grinned maliciously before the image faded into nothingness.

Aduun stood motionless, heart pounding, paralyzed by overwhelming emotion.

They were never meant to leave this place. They were never meant to free their people.

A piercing roar shattered the silence.

It broke Aduun and his companions from their stupor. All four rushed to the edge of the platform and looked down to see shimmering blue and purple light spreading from the outmost cages toward the center. More bestial calls joined the first, turning into a chorus that both chilled his blood and demanded he answer with his own proclamation of dominance. As the light faded, the animals leapt out of their cages, unhindered by any invisible walls.

“Aduun!” Nina grabbed his arm. He turned to her and met her wide eyes, which held a startling combination of fear and hope. “I think I know where the heartstones are. If he told the truth, I think they might be in the same place my mother found Orishok’s heartstone. That must’ve been the voices! They’re the voices of your peoples’ heartstones!”

“Where?” he asked.

“They’re coming, Aduun,” Vortok rumbled.

“Under the crystal pyramid,” Nina said hurriedly. “That’s where Orishok’s heartstone was in the real Bahmet.”

---