Page 174 of Phoenix Rise

Hold on, Sebastian. We are coming.

No clear answer, only a wordless acknowledgment along the link. He was so weak. I worried we wouldn’t get to him in time.

As I sent a pulse of pure energy to sustain him, something else pushed at me. Something familiar.

“Nikolai wants in on this.” Cara had come up behind me. “He’s been pulsing energy at me for the last hour.”

“It’s too risky?” Having that much power at our disposal...

She shook her head. “There wouldn’t be anything, or anyone, left in that realm to bury.”

I swallowed. “Is he going to take no for an answer?”

Her gaze slid to me. “I’m not sure.”

I turned from the window. “I’ll talk to him.”

Trix hugged my knee as I wove through the busy suite. I felt a bit bemused, unsure just whose idea this had really been.

Matt looked up from the table.Where you goin’, Angel?

To talk to my big bro. Won’t be gone long.

He glanced at Tyrez and Cody, who were hashing out fine details.

Stay, Matt. I will only be a second. They are just down the hall.

I could tell he didn’t like it, but before I got to the door, someone ghosted between me and it.

I have no idea how almost seven feet of blue-scaled Dragon could come out of nowhere like that. I stared up at him and opened the link. It was still raw and new, but getting stronger.I don’t need assistance, Talakai.

Well, you are getting it.His mindvoice was as deep as his real one.I want to meet this guy anyway.

I sighed.Very well. Just don’t piss him off. They can’t afford to build a new academy.

Noted,he rumbled through my head.

We left the room and went down one hall, then up another—and a door opened at the end. Lucas stood there, his troubled eyes watching us come.

“Hey,” I said.

“Hey.” He gestured us inside.

Aria sat on the couch, and her expression was one of relief when I entered. She nodded to Talakai and introduced him to the other person in the room.

“Nikolai, this is Talakai.”

Nikolai paced in the living area, his gray hair radiating outward, and his eyes alternating between silver and inky black. Wisps of black fog drifted through the apartment.

A chill swept through me as he stopped before Talakai. “Hello,” he said.

The Dragon went completely rigid, and our link sprang to life.Shards. The energy coming off him—and what’s up with his eyes?

Yeah. Just breathe. He’s pretty worked up.

Trix bounced straight up to Nikolai, as though he were just another big, long-haired guy and not the destroyer of realms. He smiled and bent to pat her. Some of the surrounding air cleared.

Go Trix.

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