Page 63 of Storm of Secrets and Sorrow

“Yes,” Cienna answered. “That counts as one of your questions.”

“Cienna,” Theon said in disbelief. “You cannot be serious.”

“Yet I am. One question left. Perhaps let the females ask, since you refuse to let them speak,” she said sharply.

Yeah, that wasn’t smart. Axel knew the Witches were not particularly fond of males to begin with. Then they’d come in here with Kat, who he had to drag words out of the way it was, and Tessa, who Theon kept telling to hush.

“Do you have a question, Kat?” Tessa asked, and Axel’s eyes widened in surprise. All Tessa had spoken about was her question, yet she offered it to Katya.

“I always have questions,” Katya replied. “But you may ask yours.”

Tessa nodded, beginning to draw a random design atop a table with her finger. “The night of my Emerging Ceremony, I spoke with Rordan.”

The males in the room all went still, but Axel heard Theon’s low growl at her using the Achaz Lord’s first name. In true fashion, Tessa ignored him.

“He said something to me about questioning why I was in Devram at all,” Tessa continued. “With Theon’s revelation that he believes I am neither Fae nor Legacy, it all furthers the theory that I was not born of Devram.”

“No,” Theon interrupted. “The gods left this world and promised never to interfere. We are locked away and forgotten. You know this, Tessa. It was part of your studies.”

“It was also part of my studies that Sources must obey their Masters no matter what, and we have all learned that is not true,Theon,” Tessa said.

Axel turned to Cienna just in time to see the female’s lips twitch. “Speak your question.”

“If I am not from here, it stands to reason that others in Devram could… Are there others? Like me?”

Axel could swear her voice cracked at the end, and Theon was looking at her in a way that told Axel he could feel everything she was.

“While I doubt there are any like you… Yes, Tessa, there are others,” Cienna said, the Witch’s tone holding a touch of pity. “I cannot say more, or I will be tempting fate, but know this: just as you seek to find those others, they seek to find you. Lost for so long, but no longer. Tread carefully.”

Tessa’s brow furrowed, and she raked her teeth over her bottom lip.

“Why do you feel…apprehensive?” Theon asked.

Said apprehension instantly vanished as she glared at Theon, and Axel had to choke back his huff of laughter when she retorted, “I’m not. I’m annoyed. With you. Again.”

“You were very not annoyed with me yesterday. Multiple times,” he replied with a casual shrug, and Axel did laugh this time as Tessa’s eyes widened in disbelief. But before she could toss back whatever she was about to say, Cienna spoke.

“Leave. I will send for you again in three days’ time,” she said, already having moved to one of the pots and beginning to sprinkle whatever witchy things into it.

Theon was about to argue, but the pointed look Luka sent him saved them all from that. Thank the gods. The fact that Cienna was telling them to return in the same week should be a victory to Theon.

“Thank you for your time, Cienna,” Theon gritted out before making his way to the same passage they’d entered from. The messenger was waiting there to guide them back.

Luka herded Tessa towards the passageway, her face already pale at having to go back into such tight quarters. He fell into step beside Kat, but then Cienna called out, “Axel. A moment.”

Kat paused, looking up at him in question, and he gave her a quick grin. “Go with Luka. I’ll only be a minute.”

“You won’t get lost?” she asked uncertainly.

“Nah. I won’t be long.”

She nodded, hurrying her steps to catch up to Luka, who had stopped to wait for her. With a quick nod, they left the cavern, and Axel turned to the Witch. “Theon is anxious. Thank you for dealing with him today.”

Cienna waved her hand in annoyance. “Your brother has many trials coming. He will need to learn to let people in before he has all the pieces. And so will she.”

“Tessa?”

“Her as well,” Cienna answered, stirring the pot three times before setting the wooden spoon aside.

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