Page 152 of Storm of Secrets and Sorrow

She could feel his magic struggling too, pushing against her light, and a moment later, he was bellowing a curse as she sent lightning into her power coiled around him.

“Enough!” he snarled. “Father!”

But she put a hand over his mouth, his golden eyes widening in shock. “No one answers my calls for help,” she said simply. “You don’t get to scream for aid.”

“I think that is enough for today, Tessa,” came Rordan’s voice. It was calm, but full of demand and order, and she turned to him, her eyes narrowing.

Dex was at his side, a small smile on his lips. “You did well, Tessie.”

“No thanks to you,” she retorted.

“This was for you,” he replied, studying her magic still wrapped around Dagian.

“What does that mean?”

“It means you needed to know what you are capable of,” Rordan said, his own power appearing and slowly snaking forward once more. “You needed to understand the full depth of your gifts. I suspect there is more to them,” he added, his gaze dropping to the fissure in the ground, “But this will do for now. You can release him.”

“Release him?” she repeated, her power only tightening around Dagian, making him grunt in pain.

“Tessie,” Dex coaxed, reaching a hand out to her. “Let him go. You did beautifully. I’m so proud of you.”

She stared at him for a long moment, not sure what to do with his words. The entire chamber was tense. Dysani was circling, preparing to protect her Master. Sasha was fretting, not yet forced to fight for Dagian, but feeling her bonded in trouble. The instructor was standing off to the side, something Tessa couldn’t make out clenched in her hand.

“You are powerful, Tessa, but I am still more so,” Rordan said, his power slowly flowing over hers like a blanket. It wrapped around her magic, gently prying it back from his son. “We still have a few days left together. You can decide if they will be beneficial to you or uncomfortable.”

She pushed out a long breath, letting him guide her power back. It felt wrong. Nothing like when Theon would guide her magic. The bond thrashed at the thought. She’d been able to keep it subdued while here, the daily phone calls doing little to abate the discomfort of being so far from him. But in the end, Rordan was right. He was still more powerful than she was.

But as her power sank back into her, she could feel something else. Something that seemed to be waiting for her to call. Something more than her magic settling, content to let everyone believe it had been contained.

So for now, she’d let them tell her pretty words. For now, she’d let them believe her to be compliant.

Because she was learning secrets here, and there was more to discover.

“Breathe, Tessie,” Dex said, slinging an arm around her shoulders and giving her a squeeze.

“Right. Breathe,” she repeated, trying to suck in a breath. She felt like Mother Cordelia was here withholding her air. Each inhale was too short.

Dex looked down at her with a frown. “You’re going to hyperventilate.”

“You know what these are like,” she said, feeling the sweat break out at her brow and the nape of her neck.

She’d worked more with her magic that morning. It’d been a little easier after that time in the training chamber two days ago. Releasing her power on Dagian had taught her how to summon it. It had shown her where to go to find it. Now she just needed to learn how to release it in small amounts. Right now, it was like plunging a bucket into a well when all she wanted was a few drops.

“This will be different. I’ll be here the whole time,” Dex said.

Tessa didn’t answer, scratching at the skin where the IV was in her hand. It wasn’t even hooked up to anything. It was there justin case. This did seem different, but he wasn’t the one undergoing it. Normally they gave her something to make her lessresistant, but her power was flickering. It was feeling the same apprehension she was and preparing to protect her, just like Rordan had said it would.

“Can I have some water or something?” she rasped, attempting to force her lungs to expand more.

“Of course,” Dex said, motioning to a Fae to fetch some.

“You give other Fae orders now?” she asked, moving to the window and pushing it open.

“I don’t want to leave you alone right now.”

She didn’t say anything else as small raindrops fell, and she stuck her hand out the window, hoping the cool water would ground her some.

It didn’t.

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