Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance (Legacy #3)

47. Luka

47

LUKA

Theon: We’re having it out after this, fucker. I cannot believe you’re sending me into this alone. This is not just about her, and you know it. Get your head out of your ass, and do what needs to be done.

I gnoring yet another message from Theon, Luka shut his phone off before sending it to a pocket realm. He didn’t want to risk losing the thing with what he was about to do.

Dressed in black pants and a fitted long-sleeve black shirt, he tied his hair up before Traveling from his cave to the Arius manor. He didn’t keep it down when he made his way up the stairs and down a hallway. Bypassing his own room, he went straight to a set of guest rooms. He didn’t even bother to knock before he threw open the door.

Flames of black and orange greeted him, but he’d suspected as much, a shield of his own in place. When all the flames died down, Eliza stood there with a beautiful sword in hand, while Razik glared at him with glowing sapphire eyes, the pupils shifted to vertical slits.

“What is wrong with you?” Eliza demanded, lowering her sword.

“I need your help,” Luka answered.

The female looked him up and down. “You look like you’re about to do something stupid. Or dangerous. Or both.”

“Both,” he confirmed.

Looking up at Razik, she said, “We’re helping him.”

“We don’t even know what he’s doing,” Razik countered.

“I don’t care. I’m bored , Razik,” she said. “I haven’t stabbed anything for weeks.”

“You sound like Scarlett,” the male grumbled.

“I need to get out of this house. I need to do something other than research in books?—”

“You love books.”

“You know what I mean, Raz,” she retorted. “We were sent here to help, and all we’ve been able to do is skirt around truths and confirm theories when they finally figure shit out. I need to do something.”

Luka understood that feeling. From the moment he’d learned his father was alive, he’d been driven by a need to do something. Raiding Theon’s books, he’d found everything he could about the Faven Palace and sat down to write any details he could remember about the time he’d spent there these last months. Tessa had said he was in cells, but he’d never come across them. He had, however, been keeping tabs on Tessa. She might have been blocking the bond, but she couldn’t block that Tracking Mark Theon had put on her. He’d taken a page from Theon’s book and used the thing to always know where she was.

It was how he’d tracked her down in that hallway on one of his first days there when everyone was looking for her. She’d seemingly appeared out of nowhere, Roan at her side, but as he’d watched her more and more over the coming weeks, she went to the same place more than once. Spent extended periods of time there.

He was a link to something I was desperate for. He kept me company when no one wanted me.

Those had been her words, and it had all clicked into place. There was an entrance to some sort of dungeon down that hall. They just needed to find it.

He waited while Razik and Eliza disappeared into their bedroom, becoming increasingly impatient with each minute that passed. While he waited, he wandered around their rooms. Various pieces of their lives were scattered about. Although he couldn’t really say scattered. The room was remarkably neat for two people that rarely left it. The things that were left lying around appeared to be hers. A lone dagger here. Discarded shirt there. Ties for her braids collected in a small porcelain bowl. Luka preferred trinket tins for his hair ties, but this bowl was black, the light glinting off of it.

Swiping it up, he dumped out the hair ties before sending it to a pocket realm to retrieve later.

Moving to the table, he looked over books and notes. His brow furrowed as he read some of the hastily scrawled words. Something about the Fates and bonds. A genesis bond. That term was circled multiple times.

“We’re ready,” Eliza announced, and Luka turned to find her in black pants and some kind of white tunic. She had what appeared to be leather armor strapped to her arms, legs, and along her torso with numerous weapons sheathed…everywhere. Her hair was braided in a plait, and the hilt of her sword peeked over her shoulder. Razik wore black pants and boots, along with a loose black tunic.

“Based on your tight-fitting clothing, I’m assuming you don’t anticipate needing to shift or summon your wings?” the male asked, sounding annoyed.

Luka shrugged. “It’ll rip easy enough if I do.”

“Wasteful,” Razik scoffed.

“I’ll buy you new clothes if you get blood on yours,” he tossed back.

A growl rumbled from his brother, his lip curling, but Eliza stepped between them, practically bouncing on her toes. “You two can have a brawl later. Right now, let’s go—” She paused, frowning. “You should probably fill us in a little.”

“We’re going to rescue someone being held in the Faven dungeons,” Luka answered.

“Rescue mission. Great. Let’s go,” Eliza said, grabbing Luka’s hand while simultaneously intertwining her fingers with Razik’s.

Luka didn’t let them ask any more questions, Traveling them to the very hall he needed. The wards would recognize him since he’d been staying here. These two, however, could pose a problem. Wandering through the halls didn’t seem like the wisest of options, so he settled for the hall Tessa always emerged in.

“There is a hidden entrance here somewhere,” he said, already inspecting the walls. “We need to find it.”

“Are you sure it’s hidden?” Razik asked.

He paused, looking over his shoulder. “I guess not. Why?”

“Have you checked all these doors?” he said instead, gesturing down the hall.

There were a few small doors he assumed were storage closets. He would assume if it was an entrance to a place prisoners were being held, there would be guards.

Or wards.

They wouldn’t need guards if there were wards, and Tessa wouldn’t have any difficulties getting around them because of who she was. The direct descendant of gods explained why she could always cross wards without issue. They weren’t designed to detect beings like her. They were, however, designed to sense Legacy and Fae.

“You overlook the obvious,” Razik said, less than impressed as he wrenched open a door down the hall.

“What do we do about the wards?” Eliza asked, coming up beside her mate as Luka approached.

Beyond the door was a set of stairs leading down, sconces lit by Achaz magic lining the walls.

“I don’t know,” Luka admitted.

“You don’t have a plan for the wards?” Razik demanded. “Did you plan this out at all?”

“It was kind of hard to plan when I didn’t know what we were going to find,” he shot back.

“What good is rescuing this person if we can’t get them out of here? More than that, how do you propose getting them out of the cell? I’m assuming it’s more than wards keeping them imprisoned.”

“You’d be right.”

They all turned, the three of them drawing weapons, only to find Cienna standing there. As she approached, she slipped a hand into a hidden pocket of the suit she wore, producing three vials.

“Drink,” she instructed, passing one to each of them.

Luka didn’t question the Witch, downing the contents of the vial in a single gulp, but Razik and Eliza studied the liquid, holding the vials up to the light.

“What is it?” Eliza asked.

“A potion to let you pass the wards. It will only last for an hour at most. We must be fast,” Cienna explained.

“We?” Luka asked.

“I have seen this play out many different ways over the decades. The only times you are successful is when I am along to aid you,” she replied, brushing past them and walking through the doorway.

She didn’t wait as she descended the stairs, and Luka shot his brother a look before he followed. He heard their footsteps behind him a moment later, and within minutes they’d reached the base of the stairs. Panes of glass lined the walls, and Luka peered into one, finding the cell empty. He reached out, pressing a palm to the smooth surface, then yanked it back with a curse as light speared into his being.

“The fuck?” he muttered, shaking his hand to ward off the sting. Then he went still when he saw who was in the next cell.

Valter.

Hazel eyes zeroed in on him, and the Lord lurched to his feet, stopping just short of the glass. He looked…terrible. The linen pants and top hung off of him, showcasing how much weight he’d lost. He had bands on his wrists keeping him separated from his magic. A cot and a bucket to piss in were all he had in his cell. His hair was long and a full beard had grown in.

“It’s about fucking time,” Valter snarled, his voice hoarse from disuse. “Did you bring Eviana?”

Luka didn’t know what to say. It was surreal to see him in there. The bane of his existence for so long. The tormenter of his chosen brothers. The male who had forced him to take life after life after life.

He wished Theon and Axel were here to witness this moment.

“Luka!” he snapped. “Get me…”

But he trailed off as Razik and Eliza came to his side, and then he was cursing when Cienna appeared.

“You traitorous bitch,” he rasped. “I see he rescinded the death order as the acting Lord.”

“Did you know?” Luka asked, but a part of him already knew the answer. Handing his father over to Rordan was absolutely something the male would do. Force Luka to become completely dependent on him and his charity . Force him to be grateful for a place in his home. At his side.

Valter obviously understood what he was asking, his lip curling into a disgusted sneer. “I gave you everything.”

Luka nodded slowly. “Including misery and regrets.”

The male tsked, his gaze sweeping over Razik once more. “Who is this?”

“None of your concern,” he answered.

“Are you going to free me?” he demanded, nearly slamming his palms to the glass again.

“Sure,” Luka said. “In about twenty-five years.”

He turned his back on the male as he screamed curses after him. His heart beat faster with every step down the corridor. Then his chest seized, and Luka momentarily forgot how to breathe when he saw him. There were no shackles. Only a collar of white stone at his throat. There was scarcely enough room for movement. He’d been given the same accommodations as Valter, and all Luka could think was twenty-five years .

His father had been here for twenty-five years, and he hadn’t known.

He could feel Razik and Eliza beside him, but he couldn’t look at them. Had no idea if his brother had figured it out yet. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from his father.

The male’s eyes had gone wide, bouncing back and forth between him and Razik. He opened his mouth, then closed it, as though he couldn’t find the words.

Then Cienna appeared at his other side, and his father’s gaze slid to her.

“Cienna Blackheart,” he said, something akin to relief filling his features.

“Xan Mors,” she returned in kind.

“It is finally time,” his father said, and Luka could swear there were tears glimmering.

Cienna nodded. “If you can convince him.”

Xan’s eyes went wide, and his gaze skipped over Luka, swinging to Razik. “ Him? ”

“What is happening here?” Luka asked. “We are running on very limited time.”

“There was a prophecy given when I arrived here with you and Tessa,” his father answered, but his eyes were still fixed on Razik. “When a son learned truth, a genesis would commence. That’s when my imprisonment would end. I just always assumed it was when you learned I still lived, not that…”

He trailed off, staring at Razik, and Luka shifted, a jealous sensation creeping up. He was the one who had learned the truth. He was the one who had planned all this. He was the one who had come to get him out of this place, and all his father could do was stare at Razik. The one who wanted nothing to do with either of them.

“How do we get him out?” Luka asked, turning away from him and facing Cienna.

“There are powerful enchantments here, and that stone around his throat prevents him from not only accessing his magic but shifting as well,” she answered.

Horror washed over him. “He’s been unable to access his magic or other form for twenty-five years?”

Cienna didn’t answer. Instead, she said, “Your time is slipping away.”

“Then what do we need to do?” he asked again.

“Dragon fire is one of the most powerful gifts in existence,” she said. “But Achaz knows this. The enchantments here are designed to withstand any gifts of Arius and Sargon— dragon fire, starfire, and otherwise.”

“That is not helping,” Luka gritted out.

“It needs more. It needs something not recognized in Devram.”

“Spit it out,” Razik growled, his glowing eyes fixed on Xan’s stare.

“Raz—” Eliza tried.

But the male suddenly rounded, glowering at Luka. “Is this why you brought me here without saying a fucking word? To use me to get him out?”

“I knew I’d need help,” Luka admitted. “You’ve wanted nothing to do with me since you learned of our relation, and I assumed it’d be the same for him. But did I know how we were going to accomplish this? No. Do I know you’re well read and knowledgeable in several areas? Yes. And that is ultimately why I asked you to join me.”

“I’m sure it is,” the male sneered.

“Fuck you, Razik,” Luka said, finally reaching his breaking point. “I don’t have time to debate motives with you. Either help or leave, and I’ll figure it out myself.”

“Or end up in the cell next to him.”

“Like you’d give a single fuck if I did.”

“Razik,” Eliza said, drawing his attention back to her. “Just because you help here doesn’t mean you have to do anything else. No one is expecting anything else from you, and even if they are, you helping here? That’s all it is. It is not an offering of anything else.”

The male clenched his jaw, and Luka knew he was fighting a shift.

“After this, we can leave if you wish,” she added. “We do not have to stay.”

Razik said nothing, but they clearly communicated down their bond because Eliza turned to the rest of them. “How can we help?”

“You are his?” Xan asked, pulling everyone’s attention back to him.

“Yes,” she answered immediately.

“His chosen inevitable?”

Eliza frowned. “If you are asking if I am his source, the answer is yes. If you are asking if I am his twin flame, the answer is also yes.”

“That is not what I was asking, but the confirmation will suffice,” he answered.

“Someone just tell us what the fuck to do,” Razik snarled.

“You can combine your gifts,” Xan answered. “Not as a source, but as?—”

“Twin flames,” Eliza finished. She looked up at Razik. “Scarlett and Sorin do this all the time.”

“It’s not the same,” he argued.

“How is it not?”

“We both have flames. They’re just different.”

“So we combine them, and make them more powerful,” she answered. “Or you absorb my magic into yours, and twist it all into dragon fire.”

“We have minutes left at this point. For the love of Sargon, do something, ” Luka cut in.

And they did.

Black flames appeared at the same time as flames of red and orange and hottest blues. They tangled together, winding and twisting, until something burst from the center of it. One would expect a dragon, but it wasn’t. It was a giant bird of dark flames, his eyes the bluest of fire, while its wings and tail were tipped in oranges and reds.

Razik yanked Eliza back with an arm around her waist as the bird let out a shrill call before soaring above them. Luka ducked, feeling the heat blaze down the back of his neck.

“What is that?” he barked.

Cienna was standing tall, watching the flaming bird. “A dark phoenix,” she answered. “Anala favored phoenixes. Interesting that is what their magic chose to form.”

“Yeah. Interesting,” Luka muttered. This was anything but interesting . It was going to announce their fucking presence.

The bird circled again, seemingly with no sense of purpose.

“Control the fucking thing!” he yelled at Razik.

His brother met his gaze with glowing eyes, flipping him off before focusing on the magic. Eliza straightened, doing the same, minus the vulgar gesture. Luka didn’t know what they did, but the bird made a sharp turn before diving. It pulled up a second before colliding with the glass of the cell, its wing brushing along the length. Luka watched as the glass cracked, spider-webbing in red and orange. Then he was throwing himself in front of Cienna as the window exploded.

His own flames burst forth, surrounding him and the Witch as it incinerated the glass shards raining down around them. Luka peered through the falling ashes, then he cursed. The flames hadn’t only incinerated the glass in front of Xan’s cell, but every cell down here.

Luka rushed forward into his father’s cell, glass that hadn’t been burned to ash crunching under his boots. His father hadn’t been spared either, cuts and burns marring his skin and clothes. Luka winced, reminding himself he would heal once they got that collar off of him. He didn’t know how they were going to manage that. All he cared about right now, though, was severing the chain connected to the wall. They could remove the shackle once they were out of here and safe.

“The chains?” he asked, avoiding looking at his father as he studied the silver links.

“Not the same, but dragon fire will not work,” Xan answered.

Luka nodded, once again finding himself useless as he stepped aside so Razik and Eliza could approach.

“You do it, mai dragocen ,” Razik said, keeping a healthy distance away, but he sent a small tendril of black flames to her. She wound her own magic around it, producing only the smallest amount, before carefully twisting their joined magic around the chain. It sparked, heating to a glowing orange, then red, then blue before it snapped apart.

Razik didn’t move, but Luka did, extending a hand to pull his father to his feet. His hand wrapped around his forearm, his touch far too cool for a dragon. He stumbled on his feet, as if he hadn’t stood in ages. Maybe he hadn’t. But surely he’d bathed recently, and his clothes didn’t look aged. They seemed relatively fresh, and there wasn’t an odor like he was sure he’d find with Valter.

Shit.

Valter.

His cell would be open too.

“Are you steady?” Luka asked, gaze darting down the hall.

“Yes,” his father answered. “I will be slow though. I apologize.”

He whipped his head to look at him. “Don’t fucking apologize.”

The answering smile was a grim one. “I fear I have much to apologize for, Luka. To you and your brother.”

“Our time is up,” Cienna said. Luka had no idea where she got it, but the Witch was holding a blade, twirling the hilt in her hand.

“We can’t Travel out of here,” Razik said. “I just tried.”

“So we need to get back to the main hallway,” Luka replied, throwing an arm around his father’s waist to take some of his weight.

Razik’s eyes grazed over them, but he didn’t offer any assistance. If that was how he was going to be, then he would need to take on the responsibility of getting them out safely.

“Either help our father or lead the way,” Luka said. “But expect company.”

Razik’s smile was sharp. “Eliza’s been dying to spill some blood.”

“I have not,” she scoffed, but that was excitement in her eyes as she drew her sword.

“Where did you get that?” Xan asked, eyes wide and fixed on her blade.

She smirked at Razik. “I was faster than a dragon and won it.”

“By mere seconds,” he snarled.

“It’s still mine ,” she tossed back.

“If I take out more guards in the next few minutes, I get to use it in the next fight,” Razik said, sauntering past her and drawing a blade from his magic.

“Deal,” she replied eagerly, darting past him.

Luka watched, more than a little confused at the interaction, but the clamor of feet told him guards were nearly here. He’d have to contemplate his brother’s relationship later.

His father hadn’t been wrong. He was slow moving, and Luka felt like he was dragging him along. Cienna kept pace on his other side. It hadn’t escaped him she would have known Xan was down here this entire time. She hadn’t said a word either, but the betrayal didn’t hit the way it had with Tessa. He had expected something like this from Cienna. She had always spoken in riddles. For all he knew, she’d dropped hints, and he’d just never understood them. But Tessa?

After these past months? After the slow building of trust and breaking down of walls? After finally giving in and accepting he was part of something unconventional but not caring because it meant he could still have her? After all of that, for her to not say a fucking word?

“I’m ahead by two,” came Eliza’s voice.

“One,” Razik growled, his flame-wrapped sword plunging into the gut of a sentinel. The dragon fire spread, turning the Legacy to ash.

“Luka!”

He paused at the gasped snarl, turning to face Valter.

“You will take me with you,” the Lord said, limping forward. And yep. He definitely smelled.

Luka stepped back, taking his father with him. “You’ve lied to me. For years. You’re lucky I’m not taking my time with your death right now.”

“As if you’d dare after all I have done for you,” the Lord scoffed, hazel eyes landing on Xan. “We all made sacrifices for the good of Devram. Isn’t that right, Xan?”

“Do not speak to him,” Luka snarled.

“Make a choice, young warlord,” Cienna cautioned. “If you stay for vengeance, we may not walk out of here, even if you make it quick.”

“As much as I wish I could, his death isn’t mine to take,” Luka answered. “He’s wronged my brothers far more than he’s wronged me.”

“Glad to see you still have some sense,” Valter said, foolishly attempting to straighten his shirt. “Let’s go.”

“I never said I was taking you with me,” Luka deadpanned. “I’ll leave you here for Rordan to find.”

“You can’t do?—”

But a wall of flames erupted, a curse sounding from Valter as Luka turned his back on him. He could have killed him. Maybe he should have. But Tessa had left him alive for a reason.

She always had her fucking reasons.

He couldn’t think about her right now. Right now, his focus needed to be on his father; so they made their way down the corridor, Razik and Eliza taking down any guards that crossed their paths. Eliza was a whirlwind of flame, her red-gold braid flying with every precise turn and strike. There was no doubt she was skilled as she threw a dagger before turning and plunging her sword into another. Razik followed her almost lazily, as if he trusted her to hold her own. If anything, it appeared he was letting her have her fun while still making sure he kept up with the sadistic competition between the two of them.

The Fates must have been on their side because they made it to the corridor, everyone Traveling out the moment they crossed the threshold. Luka helped his father lower onto a sofa, the male groaning.

“I haven’t had cushion under my ass in decades,” Xan sighed, sinking into the fabric.

Luka couldn’t help his chuckle. “What do you need? Food? Water? Something for the cuts and burns until we can remove that collar?”

“Liquor,” Xan said. “Valter’s good shit.”

Luka nodded, leaving to retrieve just that, and when he came back, Razik and Eliza were having a heated conversation on the other side of the room. Blood was splattered across her white top, blending in with her black clothing. She still held her sword, gesturing wildly with it.

“Put that away while we argue,” Razik muttered, eyeing the blade.

She sent him a dry look before sheathing her blade.

“I brought glasses for all of us,” Luka said, holding up the bottle and stack of shot glasses.

“See? Now we get alcohol,” Eliza said, gesturing in Luka’s direction.

“There is alcohol in our rooms, mai dragocen ,” he gritted out.

“Your dragocen ?” Xan said, nodding stiffly in thanks when Luka handed him a glass before pouring the amber liquid into it. His father knocked it back, careful not to disturb that stone collar too much, before immediately holding the glass out for a refill. “You have completed the proving ritual?”

Razik’s jaw clenched again, hard eyes sweeping over them.

“ Dragocen is a word from our home world,” Xan tried again.

“I’m aware,” Razik growled.

“And you know what it means?”

Razik looked visibly affronted. “Yes, no thanks to you.”

“What Razik means to say,” Eliza cut in, “is that we have not completed the Trials yet.”

But Xan shook his head. “You are blessed by the gods and Fates to have a twin flame bond, but that is not the same.”

“What do you mean?” Eliza asked, taking a few steps closer until Razik’s hand shot out and tugged her to a stop.

“What does dragocen mean?” Luka asked.

“It is an ancient language from the Beginning,” Razik replied, his tone pure arrogance. “Dragons hoard treasure. Their most valuable is called dragocen . Mai is a claiming. My most valued treasure.”

Luka looked at their father, who was sipping on his second glass of liquor. “That is true, but it is more than that.”

“By all means, enlighten us,” Razik drawled.

Xan’s lips twitched as though he was fighting a smirk. He’d already picked up on his son’s love of knowledge and was using it to pull him into a conversation.

Luka finally poured his own drink, settling into a chair. He still couldn’t believe he was sharing a drink with his father.

“ Dragocen is from an ancient language, but it refers to a bond that emerged with the Beings of Chaos,” he answered. “It is the bond the twin flame was modeled after when the gods created it as a gift to their children and the Fae who fill their magic.”

“Modeled after,” Eliza repeated, shrugging out of Razik’s hold.

Xan nodded. “I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you.”

“You don’t need to,” Razik snapped.

She sighed. “Eliza. My name is Eliza.”

Xan’s smile was warm. “I’ve only witnessed your interactions with Razik for an hour or so, but I can tell you are his inevitable.”

“That is the second time you’ve said that,” Luka said.

“At its core, it is what a dragocen bond is,” Xan explained. “An inevitable bond.”

Eliza stiffened. “You mean a forced bond?”

“No,” Xan said. “A bond can always be rejected. But if the proving ritual is done and accepted, it becomes inevitable.”

“What is a proving ritual?” she asked.

“I am assuming my son sacrificed greatly for you,” Xan said, his tone softening. “Perhaps nearly died? Proving he values you above all else?”

Eliza swallowed, looking over her shoulder at Razik.

It was the only answer that was needed.

“You will complete your twin flame Trials,” Xan said. “But you are his dragocen . A bond not created by gods or designed by the Fates, but born of the stars and chaos. A pull that cannot be denied? That appeared when you both needed it most? Am I correct?”

Eliza shifted on her feet, her hands pulled into her sleeves and curling around the ends. Razik said nothing, staring coldly at his father.

“We thought it was just the twin flame bond,” Eliza said quietly, and it was only when she spoke that Razik broke his stare.

He stepped forward, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her into his chest. “It changes nothing.”

“I didn’t intend for it to,” Xan replied. “I only meant for you to properly understand.” Then his sapphire eyes landed on Luka. “Both of you.”

“If this is a bond of all the Chaos beings, then why is it called dragocen ?” Razik demanded.

“That is simply what the dragons call it. Each of the Beings of Chaos call it something different, just as each being has adapted to it differently. Dragons become obsessively protective, guarding their chosen as the treasure they are. But in the end, it is the same. A chosen inevitable.”

“That is a contradiction,” Eliza said.

“That, my dear, is Chaos,” Xan replied.

“I must go,” Cienna said, striding back into the room. Luka didn’t know where she’d gone. He’d forgotten she was even here. “With Valter free, my movements must be guarded.”

Fuck. He’d forgotten about that.

“We have time,” Luka said. “His first move will be to find Eviana. She’s locked up in Faven. He won’t leave without her.”

“But she’s not,” Eliza said.

Luka’s brow furrowed. “Yes, she is. Tessa would often visit her there.”

“She’s locked up, but not there,” Eliza replied.

“She’s in the cells beneath this house,” Razik supplied.

“What?” Luka demanded, shooting to his feet. “The bond will lead him straight here.”

“We blocked it,” Eliza said quickly. “With a Mark. He will not be able to track her. We have experience with this.”

“What are we supposed to do with her?”

Razik shrugged. “Ask Tessa. She sent Lange and Corbin to free her.”

Ask Tessa.

As if that was some simple task.

A chosen inevitable.

Eliza was right. It was a contradiction.

But what if he didn’t want to choose it anymore?