Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance (Legacy #3)

49. Tessa

49

TESSA

T he wall of the cell was smooth beneath her fingertips as she moved along the perimeter, dragging her fingers. The bands on her wrists bit into her skin, but the ring? Gods, the fucking ring was trying to sink into her power, and her magic was fighting back. It was a constant war within her being, the chaos driving her half-crazy.

Or fully?

Maybe Theon had been wrong this whole time. Maybe the only way to survive in a realm full of monsters and villains wasn’t by becoming one, but by giving in to the mania.

Humming a song from Axel’s playlist, she made another pass. Her bare feet left prints on the dusty floor of the cell. She could feel it humming with power. Not just any kind of power though. This was more than Fae or even Legacy. This was the power of the gods.

This was Chaos.

The very essence of it was infused into this cell. It called to her as if it was a part of her. So much power in one soul. Something so small was never meant to hold something so mighty.

She didn’t hear them approach, too lost to the call of it all, but she heard his voice.

“Tessa?”

It was tentative. Uncertain. So unlike him.

She turned to find the Heir of Death staring back at her. Could those emerald eyes see what lay in the center of her being? Could they see the chaos and the depravity? The sacrifices and the betrayal? The apathy and the hunger?

“No, but I can feel it all,” he answered as if she’d spoken the thoughts aloud.

She lurched forward, wrapping her fingers around the bars. “Does it call to you too? Do you understand it? Because I don’t, Theon, and I’m trying. I’m trying to understand.”

“I’m starting to understand, beautiful,” he said gently. “I’m starting to understand all of it.”

“Then you can help?”

“I can help,” he agreed.

Relief flooded through her, and it was only then she noticed the other figure in a cloak. The hood was down, revealing his face. His russet eyes had a sage glow to them.

“Keepers of the realm,” she sang. “You and your sister. Both. Together and separate. So many faces. So many secrets .”

“What is wrong with her?” Theon demanded, turning to Tristyn.

“We were all so worried about her siding with Achaz, we missed the obvious,” he said. “Even Cienna missed it.”

“Missed what?”

“Dark must bow and light must rule, but Chaos does not choose.”

“Control the uncontrollable, or to fury they both lose,” Tessa sang, dancing back from the bars. “Life must give and Death must take, but Fate requires more. So much more.” She sprang forward again, practically climbing the bars. “Fate requires balance.”

“Tessa, stop,” Theon said, his voice an order and a small piece of her settled at the tone. “We’re going to get you out of here, and then we’ll figure out the rest. All right?”

A wicked smile curled on her lips. “Destiny beckons, and sacrifice demands.”

“I know, clever tempest. I understand what’s demanded.”

“Who will be left standing when Chaos comes to reign?” she recited, her smile growing wider.

“Get her out of there, Blackheart,” Theon growled. “ Now .”

“I’m working on it,” he snapped. “I told you this would normally take a few days. These cells were designed to contain gods.”

“Why would you ever need to contain gods?” Theon demanded. “They can’t come here.”

“Yet,” Tristyn gritted out. “Now shut up and let me work. Keep her talking so she doesn’t fall any deeper.”

Tessa pressed her face to the bars, feeling the magic of them seep into her. She knew her eyes were glowing, could feel them doing so.

“He knows things,” she whispered loudly.

“Yeah?” Theon said, taking a step closer. “What does he know, little storm?”

“He knows the female in the land in the sky.”

He hummed in response, and it did something to her. Her eyes dipped to his mouth. “I know things too,” she murmured.

He stepped closer. Leaning in, his whispered words brushed against her lips. “What do you know?”

“That I am wrong. An imbalance,” she said, suddenly stepping back. Dragging her hand along the bars, a metal rasp echoed in the chamber as she began pacing back and forth. “Too wild. Too reckless. Too uncontrollable. Control the uncontrollable, but it takes more than one.” She paused, looking over her shoulder. “It takes two. I’m not meant to exist. We break all the rules, all the bonds. All the visions and dreams, dreams and visions. Balance and no balance. It’s all the same. Sanity and madness. Where’s the line?”

“Tessa, I need you to stay with me a little longer. I need?—”

She darted forward once more, her grip on the bars so tight her knuckles turned white. “We were always meant to destroy one another, but how do you destroy death when you want to drown in the darkness?”

“Blackheart,” Theon barked. “We are out of time.”

“I know. I know,” he answered. He’d been muttering and drawing symbols and Marks on the ground. He pushed to his feet to face Theon. “Here’s the thing: this area of the Pantheon is designed to keep things in . That is what we keep. Everything about it is designed that way.”

“By who?” Theon demanded. “Surely you weren’t here when Devram was created.”

“No,” he agreed. “But others were. Cienna and I are not the only Keepers. There have been others over the millenniums. Some have faded; others still live. One now leads the Apothecary District in the Underground. The point is, on the rare occasion something makes its way into Devram, a Keeper is here to meet it. Cienna and I were no exception. Neither were Xan and Luka when they brought Tessa.”

“What does any of this have to do with getting her out of here?” Theon asked.

Tessa was listening, but she was also restless. She started wandering the perimeter of the room again. No windows. She couldn’t see the sky.

“Because everything about it is designed to keep her in ,” Tristyn said in exasperation. “It’s designed to contain gods. It is why technology is not allowed in the Pantheon. It is too unpredictable, and we don’t know what those who make it through are capable of. We give them less to manipulate. I can get her out of that cell, but doing this quick and dirty is going to trigger other enchantments.”

“Such as?” Theon asked.

Tristyn sighed. “You already know we can’t Travel in or out of this part of the Pantheon. But if I break her out of that cell, she won’t be able to Travel at all until I can properly figure out how to break the enchantment.”

“She doesn’t need to Travel. You can Travel us,” Theon argued.

Tristyn shook his head. “You don’t understand. It is an enchantment to slow someone down. If someone comes through, the enchantments are designed to hold them until their intentions can be established.”

“Then how did Dex get through?” Tessa asked.

Tristyn’s gaze slid to her. “You know the answer to that, wild fury. The Achaz Lord.”

“He is not a Keeper,” she said, her head canting to the side, and she ran her fingers through her hair, tugging on the ends.

“Correct,” was all he said. Turning back to Theon, he added, “What I am saying is, if we get her out right now, you need to be prepared to walk out of here with her. Walk to your territory, and even then?—”

“Half the rulers of the realm want her dead,” Theon said. “Leaving her here for them to try is not an option, even if they are fighting among themselves right now.”

“Then be prepared,” Tristyn said. Turning to Tessa, he gestured to her. “I need some blood, wild fury.”

“My blood summons those who serve Achaz,” she said. Not a warning or apprehension. Just a statement of what was.

“Your blood can summon many,” he countered. “We don’t have time to debate this though. I need you to trust me.”

“You used me,” she hissed, her hands curling into fists. “For your own gain. I did not forget.”

“I won’t deny I have my own motives,” he replied. “But that doesn’t mean I do not care. I can have motives and still care. It does not have to be one or the other.”

“It doesn’t?” she asked in confusion, creeping forward.

He shook his head, a mischievous smile on his lips. “And when this is over, there’s some lull-leaf and pizza with our name on it.”

“Pretty words and promises don’t work with me, Keeper of Lies and Deceit,” she said, her answering smile dark.

“A blood vow then,” he said, the dagger he was holding gliding across his palm.

“A what?”

“A blood vow is a promise. An agreement made between two people. If either party breaks it, the results are unfavorable,” Theon replied.

“Isn’t that what the Fae do when they are Selected by their Kingdom?”

That muscle feathered in his jaw. “Yeah. That’s exactly what they are forced to do.”

Her gaze swung back to Tristyn. “Why would you do this?”

“To prove you can trust me,” he answered, gesturing for her hand once more. “A slice across the palm, and we merge our blood.”

She hesitated for a moment, glancing at Theon. He nodded in encouragement, and she wondered when she’d started looking to him for such a thing.

Finally, she stuck her hand between the bars, the slice of the blade stinging against her flesh. Tristin took her bloody palm in his, russet eyes holding hers.

“I vow and swear my loyalty to you, Tessalyn Ausra, Daughter of Wild and Fury,” he said.

A flare of white light emitted from their palms, and Tessa felt the vow settle in the depths of her being. Even the magic battling in her soul paused.

Then Tristyn was swiping a finger through her open wound before stooping and smearing it across all the Marks he’d drawn on the ground. He stood once more, the dagger in hand.

“I need to slice both palms, and you need to grip the bars,” he said. She offered her hands without preamble, and the male turned to Theon. “Are you ready?”

Theon only nodded, stoic and steadfast.

Another stinging bite of pain, and Tessa wrapped her hands around the bars. They flared, gold and silver ashes swirling around the bars—around her —and then the gate of the cell was swinging open. Theon was tugging her out before she’d even processed everything, and she sank into his chest as he stroked her hair.

His darkness wrapped around her, and the war in her soul calmed. Not completely, but enough that she could think clearly. She pulled back to look up at him, realizing once again it wasn’t his darkness, but his dark wings.

“You came for me,” she whispered.

“I told you I will always find you,” he answered. “I have some things to tell you, but it would be better if we get somewhere safe first. Is that all right with you?”

A choice.

He was…giving her a choice.

She swallowed thickly, nodding her head.

Turning to Tristyn, he said, “Give her your cloak.”

“Disguise her as a Keeper?” Tristyn asked, already pulling the garment from his body. “Brilliant.”

Within seconds she was swathed in fabric that was far too big for her, but they’d make do. The three of them walked side by side through the passages. They met no one until they reached the main foyer. Tessa tensed, but Theon moved ahead of them, darkness trailing his footsteps.

“Dagian,” he greeted.

The Achaz Heir looked from Theon to her, then back. “I assume that’s her,” he replied.

“The Keeper?” Theon asked. “No one knows their true identity.”

“I am supposed to alert my father whenever someone emerged with her,” Dagian said, ignoring the ruse. When Theon stayed quiet, only holding his stare, he added, “I was hoping it would be you that got to her first.”

“And why is that?” Theon asked, dropping the pretense. Tessa stepped closer, itching to stretch out a hand to touch him.

“Because I know you’ll do what needs to be done,” he answered. “Let them pass, Sasha.”

The Fae nodded, stepping to the side. Tessa hadn’t even seen her emerge to block their path.

“I don’t know what this is,” Theon started.

“It is the start of a genesis,” he answered.

Theon didn’t move for several seconds, then he reached behind him, grabbing her hand and pulling her to his side. Together, they walked out of the Pantheon, Tristyn at their side.

“Can you put a glamour on her?” Theon asked as they discarded the cloak in the shadows.

Tristyn shook his head. “The enchantments won’t allow it.”

Theon said nothing else. They couldn’t run. They didn’t want to draw attention to themselves. Theon led them down side streets, keeping to alleys and using his darkness to mask them whenever possible. It wasn’t until they were crossing into Arius Kingdom, the river coming into view, that she dug in her heels.

“They are waiting for us,” she said, trying to tug Theon to a stop.

He paused, looking over his shoulder. “What do you mean?”

“This…” She looked around frantically, taking in the now dark waters of the Wynfell River shimmering in the twilight of the dying sun.

Theon was suddenly filling her vision, taking her face in his hands. “Tell me, little storm.”

His touch grounded her, and she forced herself to hold his stare. “I have seen this. The Augury and Hunters. They are waiting for us.” Her voice caught in her throat as tears welled. “Luka does not come to help.”

“He will come,” Theon said resolutely, as if there was no other option, but Tessa knew. She had seen this before. She already knew what was going to happen.

He would not come. Her betrayal had been too deep.

“Look at me, Tessa,” Theon said. She hadn’t realized she’d looked away. He dropped his hands from her face, pulling the bands from her wrists, then the ring. Her power flared, her skin glowing. “We are going to fight,” he went on, beginning to pull daggers from swirls of black. “He has been training you, and you, Tessalyn? You are the most powerful being in Devram. No one decides your fate but you. Do you understand me?”

She stared at him, unsure of what to say. There was another swirl of black, and then he extended a gold dagger to her. The same one she had left in the study months ago.

“He’s right,” Tristyn said, and she turned to find him pulling weapons from his own magic. “You are wild and fury. Lean into it, Tessa. Let instinct guide you.”

She shook her head, her mouth drying out as she clutched the hilt of the dagger. “The last time I… Roan almost died because of me!”

“I’m here, Tessa,” Theon said, his darkness covering him like armor. “I’ll help you control it. Can you trust me to do that?”

“I… I don’t know,” she answered honestly.

He nodded. “Okay. I’ll work with that.”

She didn’t know what that meant, but then he pulled his two short swords, and gods. He looked like the god of death. Darkness drifted across his emerald eyes. His dark hair stirred in the wind as his wings stretched wide behind him. He held the swords as if they were extensions of him, and his power swarmed around him.

And her power wanted it all. Tendrils of light reached for it, winding into his darkness.

“That’s it, Tessa,” he coaxed. “Let them play. Let them become familiar.”

She cocked her head, her breathing coming faster as he let her power explore and take.

Then his darkness bit back, and she gasped.

He smiled. Dark and wicked.

“Someone they fear as much as me,” Theon said, and her gaze snapped back to his.

Maybe…

Maybe the villain had fallen in love with the monster in the end.

With a shuddering breath, she reached into her magic, her skin glowing brighter as her light wound around her in the way Theon’s darkness clung to him.

“That’s my girl,” he praised. “Whatever you do, no matter what happens, do not stop fighting. Luka will come.”

“He won’t,” she insisted.

“Until it comes to pass, the future can always change,” he replied. “Let’s go.”

Theon led the way, Tristyn falling back and staying on her right while the river rushed along to her left. It wasn’t until they crested a small hill that they saw them. Dozens of Augury members assembled in their cloaks and masks. Hunters hovered among them, and she knew none of those Augury members were Arius Legacy. They would have already been killed.

“Your mother is likely down there,” she said to Theon as they faced them down.

“Then she will die with the rest,” he said coldly. He looked down at her. “If Cordelia is here, will you let me kill her for you?”

Tessa blinked, her chest doing something it definitely shouldn’t be doing at the idea of murder on her behalf.

“Yes,” she breathed.

He bent, his arm wrapping around her waist and hauling her into him. His mouth landed hard on hers. His tongue licked at her lips, demanding access, and she let him in, taking from this kiss as greedily as her magic took from his power.

She didn’t have time to think about what any of it meant. Not as the Augury and Hunters surged forward. They stood their ground, letting them expend their energy.

When she felt Theon tug on her magic, she looked up at him. “Trust me and trust yourself,” he said, somehow looking at her like they weren’t about to fight for their lives.

She nodded slowly, and then she closed her eyes. Drowning out the din and cries of rage. She let her own fury flood to the surface, growing and festering, and she felt his darkness there, providing a stability she’d never known.

Thunder crashed, and she opened her eyes to watch lightning strike directly into the center of the fray.

“Yes, Tessa!” Tristyn cried.

The howling of her wolves sounded seconds before Nylah and Roan prowled from the surrounding foliage. They made it to her side at the same time the Augury and Hunters met them. Then all that existed was weapons clashing and powers colliding.

She sank into her power, light arcing and striking. Her power feasted, only strengthening her.

A Hunter advanced, his white eyes peering at her. “I cannot kill you, your grace,” he said in that voice that gripped her bones. “But I have orders to detain you.”

“You can try,” she growled in response. Then it was her tugging on Theon’s magic. Light and dark wound around her dagger, life and death, and she sank it into the Hunter’s chest. His wail rang out before he drifted away on the winds, nothing left but wisps of pale, translucent ashes.

“How did you do that?” Tristyn demanded, shoving his weapon through the neck of an Augury member.

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “But I’ll do it again.”

She bent, picking up the sword the Hunter had left behind.

“We’ll guard you, Tessa,” Theon said, falling into step on her other side. “Take what you need.”

It felt wrong. Not Theon, but Tristyn. That was not how this was supposed to be. Someone else was supposed to be there. She still felt off balance, but she gritted her teeth. She’d done this. Now she had to face the consequences of her own actions.

Roan and Nylah had her front and back, and Theon’s and Tristyn’s magic swirled around her, leaving her to focus on her power. It was all instinct at this point. Even Luka’s training had become part instinct. Her power sparked and flared as she swung her sword. Theon was a dark god beside her, his short swords cutting enemies down in quick succession. She could feel Tristyn’s power working too, lulling their enemies into a sense of calm and keeping them at bay until someone could end their lives.

But she wasn’t na?ve. It was the five of them versus Legacy and Hunters nearly impossible to kill. They couldn’t win. Not on their own.

“He will come, Tessa. Just keep fighting,” Theon ordered, his sword never ceasing its movements. He’d clearly heard her thoughts.

Tessa shook her head as she lifted a hand, power arcing from her palm and bringing an Augury member to the ground with a scream of agony. “He will not,” she panted, spinning to take on another. “He is too angry. He will not forgive?—”

“He will,” Theon snarled, cutting off whatever she was going to say. “He will come because we are his as much as he is ours.”

“You need to call Eliza and Razik,” she said. She was drawing up more power, her entire body glowing as gold and silver embers swirled around her. “He will not come, Theon. My betrayal was too deep.”

“Whatever you did— Tessa, move!”

Theon dropped one of his swords, reaching for her and yanking her into his side as an Augury member got too close. But he hadn’t seen the other one coming from the other side.

A moment before a blade met Theon’s side, Tessa’s hand connected with the person’s throat, and before he could scream, black webbing erupted all along his skin as she pulled Theon’s power into her and used it. She released the Augury member, and when he sank to the ground, her power flared even brighter.

Then Tristyn was cursing, and she turned, a gasp falling from her lips.

Because those were Night Children. Dozens and dozens of them.

“What are they doing out of the Underground?” Theon snarled, his eyes wholly black now as his power swirled.

As fast and strong as any Legacy, the vampyres were blurs as they moved. Even the Hunters were having trouble keeping up with them.

“There are too many!” Tessa cried. “We can’t fight them all, Theon.”

“We can, Tessa! Luka will come!” Theon replied, having retrieved his dropped sword. Darkness rolled from him like a wave, shrouding several vampyres. When it receded, they were dead on the ground.

“He won’t, Theon,” she argued, turning to him. “He’s too?—”

But her words turned into a garbled mess as pain seared through her spine. Blood bubbled from her mouth when she tried to speak again. She dropped to her knees, screaming as something was ripped from her back. She saw the vampyre from her periphery holding a sword dripping with blood.

Her blood.

Her magic was already swelling, working to heal the wound, but each breath burned in her chest.

Theon bellowed a roar, dropping down beside her and pulling her close. His magic lashed out, wrapping around the vampyre and dragging them closer. “You can’t kill her with a sword, but I will make you wish for death for even thinking you could achieve it.”

But the vampyre laughed. “It may take seven of those blades to kill a god, but only one should be needed for her.”

Luka heard the crack from where he stood as Theon’s magic broke his neck. His head twisted to the side at an unnatural angle before the entire being was ripped in half.

“No,” Theon said as death continued to rain around them. “No, no, no! Where the fuck is Luka?”

“I told you… He won’t…” Tessa tried, but she trailed off. She couldn’t talk and breathe around her magic clamoring to heal her.

She felt the blood drip from the corner of her mouth as Theon held her. His magic wrapped around her, and she clung to him. Unable to get the words out. Unable to tell him she’d be fine.

Unable to scream a warning as a Hunter approached.

She scrambled, trying to draw her magic to the surface, but she was still struggling to breathe and focus and?—

And the Hunter sank a gold blade into Theon’s back.

And still Luka did not come.