Page 96 of Storm of Secrets and Sorrow

Russet-colored eyes met hers, and why did he alwayscare? From the moment she’d met him in a hotel lobby, she’d felt relaxed around him. Calm and composed, as if she could simply exist without the anxiety and expectations that constantly plagued her.

“You’re a Pax Legacy,” she said in realization.

He smiled softly. “Not quite, but close enough.”

“Pax is the god of peace and serenity,” she said warily. “That’s why I always feel that way around you.”

“I’m flattered, fury.”

“Don’t be,” she muttered, taking the bottle he extended to her once more.

“Can I sit?”

“I need to go back in there. Theon will be upset. His father—” Her eyes went wide. “Oh, gods. His father will be livid.” She scrambled to her feet, grabbing her mask and shoes. What the fuck had she been thinking?

Once again, she hadn’t been. She hadn’t been careful enough, no matter how justifiable her actions had been.

Reckless. Impulsive. Too wild.

Dex had tried to tell her; she hadn’t listened, and now she’d created yet another mess.

“Tessa,” Tristyn said, his hand resting on her elbow. Her anxiety bled out of her, but her power bit back too.

Tristyn yanked his hand back. “Should have seen that coming,” he muttered, shaking his hand out. “Those bands won’t contain you much longer.”

“How do you know that?” she asked, all her previous suspicion coming back in full force.

He bent to retrieve the mask she’d dropped at some point. Handing it back to her, he said, “Because chaos can’t be contained.”

Tessa took the mask from him just as the doors banged open behind them. She didn’t even flinch. She’d felt him coming.

“Of course it’s you,” Theon sneered, striding onto the balcony with Luka at his side. Both of them looked pissed.

Tessa didn’t have it in her to care.

“At least there’s no pizza this time, right?” Tristyn said with a wink as he tipped theagaveheartbottle in greeting before taking a drink.

Theon’s gaze slid to her, and before he could say whatever he was opening his mouth to chide at her, she said, “I know, I know. Discussions will be had. Expectations and consequences.”

But Tristyn was stepping in front of her. Startled, she stumbled back.

“Is there a reason you are standing between me and my Source?” Theon demanded.

“Is there a reason she hasn’t expended her power in, what I can only assume, is days?” Tristyn retorted.

“That is none of your concern.”

“It is when it’s consuming her to the point of near madness. It is when I had to intervene and get her outside before we experienced a repeat of her emerging in there,” Tristyn said, and by the gods, he sounded…terrifying.

Lethal.

Wicked.

“It’s fine, Tris,” Tessa mumbled. She reached out to touch him, but then remembered the shock thing from earlier and thought better of it.

“It’s not fine, Tessa,” he seethed, still holding Theon’s stare. “He’s supposed to be training you, not stifling you.”

“And what would you know of it?” Theon asked.

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