Page 150 of Storm of Secrets and Sorrow

“That is correct,” Rordan conceded. “But, if the Legacy continue to reproduce with mortals, the Fae continue to reproduce with other Fae, who will eventually become more powerful? And if two powerful Fae have children? It is the Chaos in your blood that determines how strong your gifts are.”

“Forgive me, but I don’t understand where this lesson is going,” Tessa said, working to tamp down on her frustration. She was here to learn how to control this power, not receive a history lesson on the Legacy. At least notnow. Couldn’t this be the dinner conversation tonight?

“It matters because Chaos is drawn to power itself. The more powerful one is, the more they crave it. Chaos always wants more, and you are powerful, my dear,” Rordan said, hislight reaching for her and causing her own power to tremble in anticipation.

It was too much. She couldn’t stop it as it responded, spilling out of her and racing to the power that was calling. But where she had no control, Rordan had complete control. In a blink, all traces of his power vanished, leaving only her light, crackling with flashes of energy and sparks of power in the chamber.

“Tell me a time you’ve had the most control over your gifts,” Rordan said, eyeing her lingering magic. He wasn’t wary of it. There was no concern or tension, but fascination and satisfaction as he walked among her light.

“I’ve never had control over it,” she answered, trying to pull her magic back.

“I don’t think that’s true,” Rordan said knowingly. “The night of the Emerging Ceremony?”

“That was not control,” Tessa said.

“And yet you used it to protect an Arius Heir,” he countered.

“I didn’t?—”

But she had.

Sentinels had been coming for her. For Axel. She’d thrown them backwards. Just like she’d done to Theon and Axel in a parking lot.

She’d had control over it by the river too. The first time the Augury had attacked. Sure, the bands had been on, but she also hadn’twantedto fight back that night. Luka had been right. She hadn’t cared if she lived or met her end, and her power had followed suit.

And when the Augury had attacked last time in the training arenas? She’dusedit that night. She’d known exactly what to do, exactly how to wield it. But she’d also given herself over to her magic, completely lost to it. She’d let her magic have control, and that was not what she wanted.

“You use it when you need to protect yourself,” Rordan said, somehow closer to her. “Whether that threat is physical or emotional. It is why when you are angry, it appears. Our power is connected to our emotions. It feels what we feel, and it will do whatever it must to protect you both. It is why our Chaos is drawn to more like it. Because the more power one has, the better one can protect themselves.”

“So I will only be able to control it when I’m threatened?” she asked, not liking the sound of that.

“No, but I think that will be the best way for you to learn.”

Her eyes went wide as she took a step back from him, remembering exactly what his power felt like coursing through her body. Then she downright panicked when Lord Jove said, “Dagian?”

The heir stepped forward, a smirk on his face, and all Tessa could think about was the assessment where he’d attacked her, berated her, and kept her on her knees in pain.

“No,” she said, shaking her head, her magic already swelling in response to her sudden trepidation.

“Would you rather it be a Fae?” Rordan asked. “Start with less power? Dex?”

“No!” Tessa gasped, her gaze darting to where he was standing stoically off to the side. He sent her a grim look.

“Proceed then,” Rordan said, gesturing to Dagian, who already had power pooling in his palm.

“Just wait!” Tessa cried. “Wait! Please!”

But there was no waiting.

Power slammed into her, sending her flying. She landed on her back with the air forced from her lungs the same way she always ended up when training with Luka. She coughed, trying to catch her breath.

Dex’s voice carried over to her. “Let your power protect you, Tessa.”

But she didn’t want to give her power control. Theon wasn’t here to bring her back from that place, and the longer she stayed there, the more she’d lose of herself.

More pain hit her, vibrating through her veins, her bones, her soul.

“Stop!” she gasped. “I’ll try harder.”

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