Page 68 of Storm of Secrets and Sorrow

“We will have to pay in some way for more answers,” Theon answered, feeling her entire body tense as they neared the first tunnel. “You’ll be fine, little storm.”

“Can Luka go in front of us?”

“We have this formation for a reason,” Theon said, feeling her begin to dig in her heels. He could feel his own frustration growing, and he worked hard to keep his emotions from filtering down the bond to her. “You’ve done great today, Tessa. We’re almost done.”

“One step in front of the other, little one,” Luka said. “Just focus on the next step.”

“One step,” she murmured to herself, moving forward. “One step.”

Theon didn’t care if she had to say it for every step she took, as long as they got through this.

“One step. One step. They won’t let me go. One step. Trapped. No sky. One step. One step. No air.”

They were nearing the end of the passageway when her head snapped up and panic flooded down the bond.

“Stop!” she cried, yanking her hand from Theon’s. She stumbled back, Luka catching her in his arms.

“Tessa? What is wrong with you?” Theon demanded. Axel and Katya had both paused, turning back to see what the commotion was.

“We have to go back,” Tessa said, clawing at Luka’s arms, but he held her firmly.

“Go back?” Theon repeated. “We’re almost through the passage, Tessa. You’ll be fine in a minute.”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “No, no, no. I’ve been here— We can’t. You were here,” she twisted, looking up at Luka. “And you. And— She knows. She knows too. Oh, gods.”

Theon reached for her as she continued to struggle in Luka’s hold. “One step in front of the other, beautiful. Just like you’ve been doing.”

“They’re waiting for us,” she whispered.

“Who is waiting for us?” Luka asked.

“I don’t know,” she said, her voice full of foreboding.

“Everything will be fine, Tessa,” Theon said again, taking her trembling hand in his. “One step. Good girl,” he coaxed as she took a shaky step forward. “We’re almost out.”

“So much blood,” she muttered. “There’s going to be so much blood. Kat wasn’t here, but you were. And Luka. And Axel.” Her other hand drifted to her chest, and he felt the dread coiling there.

Looking back at Luka, his friend shrugged, but his eyes kept darting around, searching for whatever had spooked her.

The moment they stepped into the crossroads cavern, though, he knew.

He released her hand, letting Luka tug her into him. Then he was stepping to Axel’s side, shielding Katya.

“Hello, Jagger,” Axel said. “Something we can help you with?”

“Hoping you can clear something up for us,” the Night Child said. He wore loose pants and a shirt that hugged his muscled torso.

He’d once been a Celeste Legacy, but had fallen to the curse decades ago. The last Theon had heard, he was under a clan runby a Night Child named Cade. There were four main ones in the Underground. Axel had told Theon a few smaller ones had formed, but they still seemed to fall under one of the main four. And all of them answered to the Arius Lord. Or their heirs, as it so happened.

“If I can’t, I’m sure I can find someone who can,” Axel replied, toying with the shadows at his fingertips.

“Word is spreading that you brought a Fae to the Underground,” Jagger said.

“She is not for any of you,” Axel said darkly, and Theon side-eyed his brother. There was an edge to his tone that he rarely heard from him.

“There is also a rumor you brought an Achaz Legacy,” Jagger continued.

“She is also not for you,” Theon said, his darkness spreading at his feet.

---