Page 261 of Storm of Secrets and Sorrow

They’d come to fight for her, protect her, avenge her.

Turning back to the being, she extended the sword back to him. “I need the Arius Lord and his Source left alive. The rest can die.”

“As you wish, your grace,” he answered.

Her magic was prowling in her soul, angered by the bands. The sky was flashing with lightning that was striking nearby. Something in her winced as life was taken before her eyes, some part of her knowing she was the cause of this. They were going to kill her, but did that warrantthis?

This was what they were trying to stop and?—

She went still as Auryon appeared. Not from a swirl of smoke and ashes, but stepping from the very air with Tristyn Blackheart.

“I told you she could summon them,” Tristyn snarled as Auryon drew her bow and immediately nocked three arrows, letting them fly.

Tessa watched as they hit their target. The being hissed, whirling on Auryon, but then his mouth fell open, a wail of rageringing as white wisps poured out of it before the entire being faded away.

“What are you doing?” Tessa cried, racing towards them. “Stop! They are helping me!”

“No, Tessa. They aren’t,” Tristyn said, as Auryon disappeared among her ashes this time. More wailing filled the air mixing with the cries of the Augury.

“What do you mean they aren’t? I summoned them. They came to?—”

“They are Hunters,” he snapped. “They are not here to protect you. They are here to hunt down and kill any descendant of Arius.”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “That can’t be right because I—” She snapped her mouth shut before she said it aloud.

But she didn’t need to.

“Because you are a descendant of Arius?” Tristyn asked, and gods. He sounded furious.

“You… What?”

Everything around her faded until it was muted and muffled.

Tessa?

Theon’s voice echoed in her head.

And as she stared at Tristyn—yetanotherperson who had betrayed her, kept things from her,usedher—the sound of Theon’s voice echoing in her mind is what broke her.

The one who had started all of this.

The one who wanted her to use her.

The one who whispered pretty words and dressed collars up with diamonds.

The one who left her in the dark.

The one always meant to destroy her.

“You know,” Tessa said to Tristyn. “How long have you known?”

Tristyn wasn’t even focused on her as his gaze bounced around the amphitheater before he reached for her, slipping the bands from her wrists. “These fucking things,” he muttered. Then louder, he added, “I need to get you out of here.”

She lurched back. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

Suddenly seeming to remember the persona he’d always had around her, he turned to face her fully. “I know you have questions. I can answer some of them, but?—”

“No,” she snapped, backing away another step. “You have had so many opportunities to answer my questions.”

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