Page 262 of Storm of Secrets and Sorrow

“You never asked them,” he said, and there was an agonized plea in his voice. “You never asked the right questions, Tessa. I’m sorry I couldn’t?—”

“I’m asking now!”

“In the middle of a bloodbath,” he replied. “It’s not safe for you.”

“I’ve never felt safer,” she retorted as Niylah slunk to her side, baring her teeth at Tristyn.

The Legacy’s fists curled at his sides. “This isn’t how it’s supposed to go. It can’t go this way,” he said. He extended his hand again. “Come back to Lilura Inquest with me. I’ll?—”

“Lilura?” Tessa repeated. “How do you know that name?”

“It is the name of my company. You know this.”

“Your company,” Tessa said, as more and more betrayal sank into her being. “How did you come up with it?”

She saw his throat work and watched as he formed the lie right in front of her. “It is just a name,” he said hoarsely.

“So if I tell you Lilura lives, that will mean nothing to you?”

She could swear his knees almost buckled at the words, and he lurched towards her. “You’ve seen her?”

“Who is she?” Tessa said, her voice low and cold and detached.

“A Witch.”

“Who is important to you?”

He swallowed again, russet eyes holding hers. “Who is everything to me.”

“Everything,” Tessa echoed. “Someone you would do anything for.”

“Yes,” he said. “But it’s not what you’re thinking.”

“You know nothing about what I’m thinking,” she hissed, Niylah growling at her side again and coming between her and Tristyn.

“They serve you because of whose you are,” Tristyn said, glancing at the wolf.

“I am no one’s,” Tessa sneered.

“I meant the blood in your veins.”

“You mean the blood you’ve known about this entire fucking time? The reason you sought me out to begin with?”

Regret filled his features, and if she wasn’t so used to being lied to and manipulated at this point, she’d almost believe it was real.

As it happened, he only confirmed everything she already knew.

Ashes swirled, and Auryon appeared. “We need to go,” she said, breathing heavily. “There are too many. I cannot kill them all.”

“You don’t need to kill them,” Tessa said, Roan appearing from the fray along with one of the beings. A Hunter if Tristyn was to be believed.

“My grace, we have him,” he said in that eerie rasp. “We await your orders.”

“You can control them?” Auryon demanded.

The Hunter spun towards her, hissing like a mountain cat at her presence. “You cannot stop this, Huntress.”

Auryon smiled, smoke swirling and leaving a dark dagger in her hand. “I can end you. That will leave me satisfied for now.”

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