Page 103 of Storm of Secrets and Sorrow

She went still, and for the first time, he felt like she truly looked at him. Not through him. Not seeing him as her master or her villain, but as if she was seeing some part of him she’d never realized was there.

Probably because he’d never let her see it before.

But her magic suddenly quieted, letting his darkness wrap around it. She took a shuddering breath, her brow falling to his chest, and his hand came to her hair, stroking it softly as he dropped a kiss to the top of her head.

He hadn’t realized the commotion had died down. He hadn’t noticed the wolves had lowered to their bellies, heads raised and keen eyes still watching. But Luka was suddenly dropping down beside him, and she turned her head to look at him. Something else in her seemed to settle in his presence.

“Are you back, little one?” Luka asked, and she nodded. “Good,” was all he said before his eyes flicked to Theon. “We need to deal with these two.”

“Who are they?” Tessa asked again, twisting in Theon’s hold to peer around him.

“We don’t know,” Luka answered tightly.

But he was wrong.

Theon knew exactly who they were. Or at least, whoshewas.

“Call Axel,” Theon said, eyeing the two across the arena. Standing among blood and bodies, the female tipped her head back and laughed, the male shaking his head, flaming sword still in hand. “Tell him the female from the mirror is here.”

20

TESSA

“How was your class with Cordelia?” Theon asked.

“Fine,” Tessa mumbled from where she stood at the window in the large kitchen of the townhouse.

“I’m hoping to have a new instructor lined up for you soon.”

“Great,” she answered, watching the sun sink lower and taking the light with it.

“I’m still not understanding this,” Axel cut in. “How and when is the female from the mirror going to find her way here?”

“Everyone knows where the family townhouses are,” Theon replied.

“Yeah, but if she really is the female from the mirror?—”

“She is,” Theon interrupted.

“All I’m saying is it doesn’t add up.”

Tessa was grateful for the interruption. The class with the other Sources was always dull, but Mother Cordelia had insisted her bands be put back in place as she “didn’t feel comfortable otherwise.” That was probably a fair statement. The problem was the bands had disappeared. They couldn’t find them at the training arena, and Theon had been forced to put different bands on her. Her magic hated these even more, immediatelythrashing and pushing against the restraints, making it impossible to focus. They were like the ones Lord Jove had put on her. She was still no closer to controlling her power, and to be honest, she was almost looking forward to her time in Faven. At least there someone should know how to help her control it.

Then she’d had to endure an hour of her private lessons. Every time she would fidget because of the damn bands, Tessa would find it hard to breathe courtesy of the Estate Mother’s air magic. Mother Cordelia had proceeded to lecture her on her behavior at the Samhain Feast and how much she had disrespected the family she served with her behavior. Tessa already knew all that.

After the Augury attack, they’d returned to the Samhain Feast for appearance’s sake. She’d taken one look at the Arius Lord and known he was not happy, but Theon had handed her off to Luka. She didn’t know what Theon had said to his father to placate him, but he’d obviously known the right thing to say. Part of dealing with him for years, she supposed.

But now they were waiting for the mysterious couple that had appeared and fought alongside Theon and Luka. Theon swore it was the same female from the mirror, but they hadn’t had a chance to speak to them. The couple had only said they would find them when it was safe to do so before disappearing as if they’d stepped through a rip in the air. Seconds later, sentinels were swarming the training arena, and they had gone back to the Pantheon to deal with Valter.

“I don’t know, Theon,” Axel was saying from where he sat at the kitchen island. “I’m starting to doubt you really saw her. Again.”

“Shut up, Axel. It wasn’t only me this time,” Theon retorted, brushing against Tessa’s arm as he passed her something. She looked down, finding him holding out a glass of wine.

“Am I to hold that for you?” she asked tonelessly, gaze flicking up to his.

That muscle in his jaw ticked before he said tightly, “I thought you might want a glass.”

Wordlessly, she took the wine before folding her arms, the stem of the glass at her fingertips. A message had been delivered a few hours ago that the couple would stop by tonight.

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