Page 48 of Storm of Secrets and Sorrow

But beneath it all was determination.

And anger.

So much fury.

He grunted again as her power yanked on his, and with a start, he realized he would not be strong enough.

They’d known she was likely just as powerful as they were, but they’d never voiced the idea that she might bemorepowerful than them. He knew Luka had thought it though, just as he had. If he were being completely honest, it just hadn’t seemed plausible. How could a being more powerful than a ruling family member be hidden in the realm for decades?

But there was no denying that her power was taking what it wanted.

“Luka,” he rasped out.

He was still holding Tessa by the shoulders, keeping her anchored on the sofa while maintaining a shield around the priestess.

“She won’t let me—” He grunted again at another vicious yank from her magic. “I won’t overpower her.”

“What do you mean you won’t overpower her?” Luka snapped in a low whisper. “She has a band on.”

Theon shook his head. “You need to help.”

“I can’t help.”

“Our magic. Together,” Theon gasped, feeling his magic weaken as hers only seemed to strengthen.

“Theon, that’s not how this works,” Luka argued, still keeping his voice low so the priestess wouldn’t overhear.

“None of this is how it was supposed to work,” Theon snapped. “Not a fucking thing has gone the way we’d planned. Why would this be any different?Fuck.”

The curse came as Tessa screamed again, Theon having to fight back with everything he had at this point.

“Luka!” Theon snapped. “Now!”

Then Luka’s hand was beside his own. When and how he’d sliced his palm, Theon didn’t know, but he could feel the heat of his black flames. Tessa’s power seemed to stutter. It wasn’tmuch, but it was enough for Theon to wrench his shadows from the grip her magic had on them. Completely in sync, darkness and black flames merged, bearing down on her power, forcing it to submit.

Finally, that cord of obsidian black and gold appeared, a silvery-blue faintly interwoven among it. It hovered above their hands, over Tessa’s heart before sinking back into them. Theon knew there’d be consequences for what they’d done, but they’d deal with that later.

He sat back on his heels, utterly drained, but more than that, he could feel everything Tessa was feeling. Her emotions were so volatile, he couldn’t entirely discern which were his and which were hers. He was too exhausted to try. Or maybe that was her exhaustion.

Coughing and spluttering, Tessa rolled off the sofa. Luka caught her before she fell flat on her face. He immediately passed her over to Theon, and he pulled her into his chest. The bond was frantic, vibrating wildly, and Tessa curled into him. This was nothing like the last Mark where she’d fought against him.

“I need to see her Mark,” came the priestess’s voice.

Theon had forgotten she was here.

He tried to ease Tessa back, but her fingers were curled into his shirt and her face was pressed to his chest.

“Come on, beautiful,” he murmured. “Just for a minute.”

She shook her head. He could feel her tears soaking through the fabric of his shirt, but more than that, he could feel her weariness.

“Tessa, we show her the Mark, and then we can get out of here,” he coaxed.

With a shaky exhale, she lifted her head and pushed away from him. The bond immediately panicked, and he saw her flinch.

No.

Hefelther flinch.

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