Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance (Legacy #3)

12. Luka

12

LUKA

“ W hat?” came Theon’s irritated voice when he answered the phone. Wherever he was at, it sounded loud and chaotic.

“I need your ring,” Luka answered.

There was a long pause during which the background noise seemed to die down. Then Theon said, “Repeat that.”

“The black onyx one. I need it.”

“For what?”

“To give to the Achaz Lord.”

Another bout of silence greeted him at that. “And why are we giving the Achaz Lord a ring?”

“Because it was part of my bargain to let me stay here,” Luka answered.

“Why the fuck are you making bargains with the godsdamn Achaz Lord?” Theon demanded.

“Because you sent me to Tessa, and this was the only way he’d let me stay here. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself, but I’m going to need that ring,” Luka replied, tipping his head back against the sofa.

He was in his room, a silencing enchantment pulled in tight around him to make sure this call wasn’t overheard. It was nearly midnight, and he could feel her, restless and frustrated down the bond.

And that frustration wasn’t just with not being able to sleep.

She’d been avoiding him, refusing to meet him during the regular training times. Needless to say, he was just as frustrated as she was.

In all the same ways.

“I take it things haven’t been going well,” Theon asked.

“You could say that. What is happening there?”

Theon’s sigh was audible. “Nothing I can say over the phone.”

“You know we could meet in person. It wouldn’t be difficult for me to?—”

“No,” Theon cut in. “I’ll find a way to get the ring to you. What do you think he wants it for?”

“He said it was to prove my commitment or some bullshit, but that’s exactly what it is. Bullshit. I stole the ring once. I can do it again once I’ve fulfilled that part of the bargain,” he answered.

“You and your penchant for rings,” Theon muttered. But then he said, “Wait, part of the bargain? What else did you agree to, Luka?”

“Answering questions about my bloodline?—”

“We don’t know much,” Theon interrupted.

“Exactly. And not to kill him.”

Theon huffed a laugh. “A little arrogant of him to assume we even want to.”

“Agreed,” Luka said, stretching out his legs and crossing his ankles.

Silence fell between them, and in that quiet, Luka realized just how much he missed his best friend. They’d been separated before for longer periods of time, but this felt different. Theon was stepping into a new role. One they’d planned for and prepared for for years, and he should be there with him, godsdammit. At the very least to tell him when he was being too neurotic and making stupid decisions.

“How is she?” Theon finally asked.

“Do you really want me to tell you?”

“No. Yes.” Another sigh before, “I feel her sometimes. When her shields slip, and she’s… Are we too late?”

“I don’t know,” he answered truthfully. “I can’t get her alone, and when I do see her, she refuses to acknowledge me.”

“After all this time, everything still hinges on her,” Theon murmured, and Luka could hear the exhaustion in his voice. It was the same exhaustion they were all feeling. At least he’d gotten a decent night’s sleep when Tessa had slept in his bed five nights ago.

“Nothing on Axel?” Luka asked.

“No, and other matters are starting to become pressing. I can’t ignore the rest of the kingdom much longer,” Theon said.

“Let me leave here and go looking for him,” Luka insisted.

“You’re in the best place to find information, and she needs someone,” Theon said, those last words sounding full of an acceptance Luka rarely heard from him.

“There is no information to be found here if she will not speak to me,” he argued.

“Keep trying. I promised her I’d always fight for her. This is the only way I know how right now. Keep trying,” he repeated.

“How long?” Luka demanded.

“How long what?”

“How long are you going to make me stay here?”

“Is the Guardian bond becoming an issue?” Theon asked.

“Not like it has in the past,” Luka said.

In the past when they’d been separated for more than a few days, the Guardian bond would become somewhat unbearable. The need to make sure Theon was safe and not in danger turned to paranoia the more time passed. In fact, Valter had used it as a means to control him in the same way he would use blood to control Axel. But that hadn’t been an issue since he came here, which could only mean it was her. There was no other explanation, and gods, wasn’t that a convenience he didn’t want right now. Because every minute spent here, even with her not fucking speaking to him, was weakening a resolve he’d held firmly in place since the moment this girl had become a prospective Source. There was no way Theon understood what forcing him to stay here was doing, or he wouldn’t be making him.

“How long?” Luka asked again.

There was an annoyed huff, and Luka knew his friend was raking a hand through his hair in irritation. “Another week, all right? Give it another week and if nothing has changed, we’ll change tactics,” Theon said.

Tactics. Strategies. This is what Luka liked to hear.

“Fine,” Luka said. A muffled male voice sounded in the background, and Luka was immediately on high alert. “Who is that?”

“One of the things I can’t discuss on the phone,” Theon replied tightly. “I have to go.”

“Yeah, all right,” Luka muttered a second before the line went dead.

Letting the silencing enchantment drift away, Luka tossed his phone across the sofa. Maybe he’d just Travel to his cave tonight. He had a better chance of getting some sleep there. Yet he knew he wouldn’t go. He had this same thought every night, and every night he stayed because if she happened to show up at his door again, he needed to be here. Just like Theon said, she needed to know someone had stayed for her.

And two hours later, when the bond lurched in his soul and his dragon lifted his head, he knew. She didn’t knock on the door like she had last time. No, this time, she created one of those blinding portals directly into his room.

“You need to learn to Travel,” Luka growled, shielding his eyes until the light faded.

He blinked a few times, readjusting to the dim lighting of the room to find her standing between the sofa and the bed. She was in an oversized Chaosphere sweatshirt that went to mid-thigh, and he had no idea where she’d gotten that thing from. The Whirlwinds logo was big and bold across the front, and for some unknown reason, he found himself wondering when the last time she’d even gotten to watch a game was.

It took him a minute to tear his gaze from her bare thighs to realize she was holding something in her hand: his shirt she’d worn his first night here. Dragging his gaze up her body to her face, he found her scowling.

Fidgeting in her irritation, she said tightly, “It doesn’t smell like you anymore.”

Elbow on the armrest, Luka steepled a finger along his temple as he arched a brow. He said nothing, waiting to see what she was going to do.

“Can I just…have a different one?” she finally asked after a long tense silence.

“You haven’t bothered to show up to training sessions, hardly speak more than a few words to me, and avoid me at every turn. Now you show up here and want something from me?” Luka asked.

He watched her hand clench tighter around the fabric, her power flickering before she managed to snuff it out.

“I just need a different shirt,” she said.

“Then get one from your own closet. I’m sure your Lord has provided plenty.”

“Gods, Luka. Can you just not be an ass for one day in your entire godsdamn life?” she snapped.

“Can you not act like a brat for two minutes and have a godsdamn conversation?”

Her eyes flared violet. “I’ll get it myself,” she sneered, stalking towards his closet.

And he let her because he had too much on his mind to bother fighting with her tonight.

She emerged a minute later, the black shirt he’d worn that day now in hand, but she lingered in the closet doorway. Her eyes darted to his bed, the pillows and blankets all perfectly arranged in what others would call a mess. At least here, he wasn’t deemed important enough to have his room tended to daily.

“No,” was all he said when she opened her mouth to speak.

Her features hardened again. “You don’t even know what I was going to say.”

“Were you not going to ask to sleep in here tonight?” When she pressed her lips into a tight line, he said again, “No. If you can’t bother showing up for training, I’m not going to let you sleep in my bed. You don’t get to ice me out and still get what you want from me in the end. I’m not Theon.”

She stared at him in disbelief, her mouth opening and closing a few times before she managed to find words again.

“How dare you,” she seethed.

But he dared all right. Maybe he wasn’t too tired to fight with her after all.

“You think I got what I wanted from Theon in the end?” she said, her fury igniting in those bands of light around her wrists. “I cannot wait to hear how you came to that conclusion.”

"Are you still at his side?" Luka challenged.

"That is because of me , not him," Tessa retorted. "I did that."

"Did he follow?"

"He can't follow me, Luka. Not without breaking a bargain."

"That he made to make you happy."

"That he made because he thought he was outsmarting me." Then she added with a sneer, "Want to try again?"

Luka stood then, so suddenly it startled her, and she stumbled back a step as he approached. Her light had advanced, winding around her arms again, and he shifted his eyes, just to match her chaos because he could.

"You're right, Tessa. He took from you, manipulated you, and tried to cage you. But you did the same godsdamn thing. Call it revenge. Call it justice. Call it whatever you fucking want, but don't pretend you are the innocent victim in this. Maybe you started out that way, but not anymore," Luka said.

"Are you saying because I fought back, I, what? Deserved everything that happened?" Tessa fumed.

"No," he replied, leaning in closer. “I’m saying that it's a little paradoxical that you hated the monsters so much, you decided to become one only to employ the same tactics you hate. Who cares about the casualties as long as you get the ending you want, right?”

“ You told me that the monsters take their happy endings and leave blood trails, Luka,” she cried, throwing up her hands in frustration. “I am doing nothing different from you or Theon. You believe in your purpose and will sacrifice for it.”

“You’re sacrificing Axel, Tessa,” he replied, his voice rising.

“Of course that’s your argument,” she scoffed.

His head tilted, a completely predatory move as his dragon paced, wanting to put her in her place but loving that she wasn’t afraid of him. Not like she once was.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Luka asked.

“If it was someone you didn’t know, if it was anyone else but Axel or Theon, would you even care, Luka?” she shot back.

He straightened, stepping back. Would he? Would he be this upset? Probably not, if he was being honest.

Her smile grew more wicked and confident. “I suppose that’s the good thing about not having anyone, not caring about anyone,” she mused. “I don’t care if it’s Axel or you or Theon. I don’t care if it’s Rordan or Tristyn?—”

“Katya or Lange? How about Corbin?” Luka interjected, knowing full well it was stupid to keep pushing her on this tonight. Her magic was already teetering on an edge.

"What is your problem tonight?" Tessa demanded, and Luka could swear her skin was glowing faintly.

"My problem is you showing up here whenever you want," he sneered, trying to figure out when, exactly, he’d started throwing fits like the St. Orcas brothers.

She barked an incredulous laugh. "Are you forgetting that I don't even want you here? You are the one who made that deal with Rordan, Luka. Blame yourself for that one."

“And yet, you haven't told him it's all a lie. Why haven't you, Tessa? If you want me gone so damn badly, that's the easiest way, and yet you insist on being diff?—”

"Call me difficult, Luka Mors," she interrupted. "I dare you."

Her voice was deadly and had that ring to it that always made him take pause. Her eyes were brilliantly violet, flecks of gold shimmering in them, and the power that wove around her arms was doing more than that now. Her feet were an inch off the ground. She hovered in the air, her golden hair floating on a phantom breeze, and what he could only describe as golden ashes were floating among the strands.

Gods, she was stunning with all that power and rage. If she could just learn to harness it, she would be unstoppable.

And before he knew what he was doing, he was back in front of her and taking her face in his hands. He felt her heart stutter at the action, and his dragon was pushing for more. She was right here, in his hands, and he knew she wouldn't stop him.

"You're not difficult, Tessa," Luka said, his power lurking just beneath his skin and ready if she lost the little control she still held. "But you're trying so hard to be the villain, you're walking right into the very thing you're running from."

"I have a purpose," she said, holding his gaze, but there was a thread of defeat in her tone. "I have a destiny I cannot deny."

"Says who?"

"What?"

"Who says you cannot deny destiny? Fuck, who says this is your destiny?"

She shook her head, his large hands still framing her face. "I wouldn't expect you to understand."

"You've never let us try."

Her eyes darted to the side, and he felt her reinforce her shields, blocking the bond.

“I told you that monsters take and leave blood trails,” he said in a low growl. Her eyes flew back to his at the words. “But I also told you it didn’t have to be like this, so right now, I’m calling bullshit on all of this. Everything you’ve just said. All the fuckery about destiny and promises, sacrifices and purpose.”

“You can’t call bullshit on fate, Luka.”

“I just did,” he answered, and before he could second guess the action, he closed the space between their mouths.

A small, surprised sound came from her, and she went still for a few seconds before she was kissing him back. This was so much better than their first kiss had been, when she’d barely been awake, let alone comprehended what was happening. She understood now. That was evident when her tongue slid out to touch his, apprehensive and unsure. Fire burned through his blood, and he was swallowing down the growl that was clawing at him.

One of his hands stayed on her cheek, cupping her jaw, while the other slid into her hair. His fingers twined into the golden locks, tugging just as he’d told her it would be if things had been different. A soft moan came from her in response, and that small growl slipped free from his throat.

He pulled back just enough to murmur onto her lips, “Let me train you, Tessa.”

"No," she said. The response was breathy, but it was a firm rejection.

And it broke whatever had just happened in that kiss.

“Then you can't sleep here tonight,” he said.

“Fine.” She stepped back, his fingertips dragging along her jaw as she did, his other hand slipping free from her hair. Then she shoved the shirt at him that she still clutched in her hand.

"Take it," he said, trying to hand it back to her.

"I don't want it," she replied, that hardness back in her features. "I don't want anything from either of you."

Blinding light appeared behind her, making him wince and turn away. By the time it dimmed, she was gone.

Another choice where there was no one to catch him when the consequences came.

It took him several seconds to figure out where he was. This wasn't the Arius Kingdom, the Underground, or any other territory he knew intimately. No, he'd only been in this space a handful of times. This was a large lounge in the Pantheon where the ruling families gathered before a Selection Ceremony. Not the last time, of course. He'd been in the Grand Hall with Theon trying to talk him out of choosing Tessa.

But Tessa was here now. All the ruling families were. Anala and Falein. Celeste and Serafina. Rordan still headed Achaz. In fact, the only difference from the Selection five years prior was the absence of Valter.

Theon was here, clearly the ruling Lord now, and at his side was a very pregnant Felicity. Her chestnut hair fell down her back in waves, a Union Mark visible on her hand. Her eyes darted between Theon and where Tessa sat in an armchair. Violet eyes were taking everyone in, and the air was thick with tension.

“Axel and Brigid are the only two Selecting this year,” Rordan was saying, “so the Ceremony itself should be relatively short."

“I still do not understand why she is here,” Felicity said, looking up at Theon, a hand resting protectively on her stomach. Her tone held nothing but disdain, and it was clear she was referring to Tessa.

His eyes were on Tessa where they’d been this entire time. “We have been over this. There is a collective understanding.”

“Is that what it is?” Tessa asked, shifting and stretching her arms above her head. Everyone tensed, and she smiled a sharp, pointed thing. The silver wolf lying at her feet didn’t move, but his glowing eyes watched the room.

Theon sent her a look that would have made her cower the night he'd Selected her, but while Tessa still bore four Source Marks, Theon also still sported the Achaz Mark on the back of his hand too.

“It is more than you deserve after what you did to our kingdom. You should be in the Underground,” Felicity spat.

“I wish I were,” Tessa purred in response.

“Enough,” Theon hissed, his darkness appearing and making his wife flinch back. Tessa, however, didn’t even blink. “Unless you are suggesting you know better than the Lords and Ladies standing in this room with you, you will accept the consequences agreed to.”

Tessa clicked her tongue as she said mockingly, “Someone forgot their place.”

“Tessa,” Theon warned.

But Felicity’s smile turned as pointed as Tessa’s when she replied with faux sweetness, “And yet my jewelry was a gift.”

Tessa glared, and it was then that Luka realized Tessa had rings on six of her ten fingers. The type of rings that blocked power, keeping it trapped within. The same type Valter would use on them to keep them weakened during punishments. What the fuck had happened, and why would Theon agree to this?

“We all know you only have that ring because Theon needed to fulfill a bargain,” the Anala Lady said. Her amber eyes went to Theon. “And Tessa is right. Your wife forgets her place.”

Luka was still trying to wrap his head around everything that was happening when the doors opened, a sentinel letting them know it was time to proceed to the Grand Hall. Everyone started getting in order to get things underway, but Tessa stayed seated.

“You remember the arrangements, Tessalyn?” Rordan asked, turning and smiling at her.

Tessa’s return smile was small and forced. “Of course,” she replied, all her previous arrogance gone.

The Lords and Ladies filed out, and the moment the doors closed, she curled in on herself. She clearly didn’t notice him standing in the corner of the room. She started tracing patterns on the chair with her finger while reciting song lyrics softly under her breath.

Exactly like she would do when she’d been locked away somewhere.

He cursed under his breath, and the wolf’s head lifted, ears perking. Glowing eyes settled on him at the same time that muted violet ones lifted to him as well.

“You’re not supposed to be here,” she mused.

“Where am I supposed to be?” he replied.

She only hummed, returning to tracing the pattern on the chair.

He debated it for only a moment before cautiously moving forward until he stood beside the chair. The wolf gave a low warning rumble before he placed his head back on his paws.

“This feels different,” she murmured.

“What feels different?”

“This dream or vision or whatever it is.”

He crouched beside the chair. “How is it different, Tessa?”

“Lately they’ve been…”

“They’ve been what?” he pushed, trying to understand something. Anything.

She turned to face him, confusion coloring her features now. “I don’t know how to explain it, but everything has felt different since…”

“Since you left,” he finished for her.

“I had to leave,” she retorted, that familiar fury flaring in her eyes.

“You don’t have to do anything.”

She huffed a harsh laugh. “Tell that to him.”

“To Theon?”

She turned away from him again at the name, resuming her tracing. He was about to say more, but the wolf was suddenly on his feet, hackles raised and teeth bared.

“You again?” demanded a female voice.

And before he could turn around, he was yanked from the vision once more.