Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance (Legacy #3)

25. Tessa

25

TESSA

“ T essa, stop,” Theon rasped, blood seeping from beneath his hand where it was pressed to his side.

Tessa stood over him with a gold dagger in her hand, and she twirled it between her fingers.

“Tessa,” Theon tried again. “It doesn’t ? —”

“Have to be this way?” she interrupted. “You mean it should be me on the ground preparing to cross the Veil?”

“No, Tessa. I ? —”

But he was cut off by a shuddering breath that turned into a cough and was followed by curses.

“Fuck,” he muttered, lifting his palm to look at his wound before immediately applying pressure again. “I wish Luka was here.”

She smiled, and she could tell by the look on Theon’s face the smile looked as wicked as it felt. “He’s…”

That smile faltered a little. Where was Luka?

She looked around, expecting to see him standing off to the side, watching. That was where he’d been the last few times she’d had visions. But he wasn’t here.

Thunder cracked, pulling her back to the male on his knees before her, trying to push to his feet.

“You’re fulfilling the prophecy if you do this, Tessa.”

She whirled to the source of the voice, seeing Tristyn on the ground nearby, light binding his hands and ankles.

“It’s what they want. Don’t you see?” the male pressed now that he had her attention. “You will be the ? —”

“You had plenty of chances to tell me what you know,” she said, power flaring through the light that held him and making him wince as it coursed through his being. “And even when you did tell me, it was shrouded in half-truths and motivations that only served you.”

“No—” he gasped out, but she was already turning back to Theon.

Until another voice had her spinning once more.

Axel stood there, Katya tucked behind him. She peered out, amber eyes wide with fear but also determination.

“A prophecy can mean so many things,” Axel said, his tone calm and even. “It can mean whatever you want it to mean. Just like your fate. You can define what it looks like. Just like we did.”

“It’s not the same,” Tessa said sharply.

“You’re right,” came yet another voice. This one was complete power and all-encompassing. No one appeared this time, but she knew the voice. She’d spoken to the same in a mirror. “It is not the same. The fates and destinies of Fae and Legacy are of no worry to you, but the fates of those with power can alter the course of history. You hold that power. And if you fail?”

He didn’t need to say it.

If she failed, she was stuck in Devram forever. Alone in a realm to be used and caged. Someone would find a way to do so eventually.

Correct the balance.

That was what she had to do.

And if the entire realm happened to be the cost of that, she would smile as she stepped on the ashes when she was finally free of it.

“Tessa—” Axel was saying, but she cut him off.

“No,” she snapped. “This world had millenniums to fix this. You all failed. That’s why I was sent here.”

“Is it?” Tristyn cut in. “I know you’ve spoken to Xan. What did he tell you?”

“Lies,” she hissed. “Only more lies.”

“You know that’s not true,” he insisted.

“Stop!” she cried, a hand driving into her loose hair and tugging on the ends. “You constantly lie to us. Half-truths and pretty words. You can’t control chaos.”

“No, but chaos can be balanced,” Theon cut in.

She lurched forward, gripping his throat, and he let her.

“I’ll take your fury, little storm. I’ll take all your wrath and all your vengeance, but I will not accept that you are the cost for the balance,” he rasped out around her hold.

“I will not be the cost. You will be,” she sneered.

“You’re wrong, Tessa. We were wrong. I was wrong. So very wrong.” Her fingers squeezed, her power flickering around them and sinking into him, but he managed to get out on a breath, “Where is Luka, Tessa?”

“He’s mine,” she snarled. “He was always meant to be mine. Auryon said so herself.”

“You killed Auryon,” Theon gasped out, and his words startled her enough that she released him and stumbled back.

His darkness swarmed around his wound. Trying to heal him. Trying to save him while he gulped down several deep lungfuls of air.

A pointless effort, but she’d let him waste that power of his. It wasn’t as if she needed him as a Source anyway.

“I didn’t kill Auryon,” she gritted out.

“Your Hunters did,” Theon amended. “At your command.”

“Because she was trying to keep me from my destiny.”

Theon shook his head, damp hair from the misting clouds swaying with the movement. “I’m so incredibly sorry, Tessa.”

She shot forward once more, gripping his hair and yanking his head back. The tip of her dagger pressed beneath his chin. “Your apologies are too late. They fall on deaf ears.”

“I know, Tessa, but it changes nothing of how I feel for you.”

“Stop it,” she snarled as she felt his emotions flood down the bond.

She waited.

Because she should be feeling Luka right now too.

Where was Luka?

Three of them.

It was supposed to be the three of them bound to one another.

Connected in a way that was never meant to be, but couldn’t possibly be any other way.

Unless sacrifices were made.

Oh, gods.

Unless sacrifices were made.

“Where is Luka?” she whispered, releasing Theon and stepping back.

Theon’s face was full of anguish. “I think you know the answer to that, little storm.”

Wind swept through the clearing, stirring dead grass and scorched earth from a battle that had left hundreds dead. Fae and Legacy alike had fought in a war that should have been reserved for the gods.

Too many sacrifices had already been made.

Corbin.

Lange.

Auryon.

Cienna.

But not Luka.

Not Luka.

Not Luka.

Axel was here.

Katya was here.

Everyone who should have cared had betrayed her.

But not Luka.

If this world took him from her, any mercy she might have found in her soul died with him.

Thunder rumbled at the thought, the sky breaking open and raining its own wrath to the ground.

“It doesn’t have to be like this, little storm,” Theon tried again.

But it did.

If Luka was dead, it was because she had failed in her purpose. Somewhere along the line, she had failed. Failed Achaz. Failed the Fates. Failed her parents. Failed him , and he had paid the cost.

“We don’t have a choice,” she said hollowly, echoing words he’d said to her so often in her dreams. “It’s more than a bond, and it cannot be.”

Emerald eyes fell closed, acceptance filling features she had once thought she could love.

For so long she had wished for death, and now, in this moment, if they would both be gone, she found herself wishing for it again. But more than that, she felt the need to avenge them. She’d found something to fight for, and then she was forced to sacrifice it. And now? Now she felt nothing but the fury that had consumed her.

“You’re wrong,” Tristyn rasped, trying to inch closer across the earth that had quickly turned to mud. “Have you learned nothing over these past months? We’ve tried, Tessa. We’ve brought you aid ? —”

“Once again to seek your own ends,” she replied listlessly.

“To save you,” Theon said, clearly trying to keep her attention on him. His hair was plastered to his brow now, rain mixing with the steady stream of blood from his wound. “I tried to change it. I did everything I could.”

“But destiny beckons and sacrifice demands,” she said, crouching before Theon once more. “Those that came to this world unbidden learned that truth. We’ve all learned that truth.”

“Their queen will seek her vengeance, Tessa. Make no mistake.”

“I’m counting on it.”

“Her vengeance will know no bounds.”

“Then she will know my wrath, just as you have.”

“And I’d ask for it again and again if it is all you will let me have, clever tempest,” Theon replied, a shaky hand coming up to cup her cheek. “But I understand we are out of time. Once again, I’m out of time.”

She got a little lost in dark emerald eyes and black hair. In a small dimple and lips she’d kissed more times than she could count. Then she was kissing him. Deep and lovely, just like it always should have been.

“I’m sorry I failed you, little storm,” Theon said, when they broke apart, sorrow filling in his features. “I tried. I tried to save you.”

“I understand,” she whispered. “I’m sorry I couldn’t give you all of me. Every piece of me.”

And she sank that gold dagger into his chest.

“But only one can be left standing when Chaos comes to reign.”