Page 107 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

“Yes, Tessa. I know what the Villas are.”

Her features hardened. “The ones behind the manor house too?”

His brow furrowed. He didn’t know there were villas behind the manor house. Whatever his expression told her, it had her relaxing the smallest amount.

“Tessa…who did you kill?”

“Two Legacy.”

“Did they hurt you?”

“They wanted to. One touched me.”

The growl that sounded was more dragon than male.

“I cut off his fingers before I killed him,” she added.

“Good girl,” he said, starting to understand what was happening. “Did you just get back?”

She nodded. “The others are still there. I came back.”

“Alone?”

“With Brecken.”

“And now?” he pressed, crossing his arms and leaning against the back of the sofa.

“Now I…” She shifted on her feet, her hands opening and closing at her sides before she reached up and brushed back hair from her face. Red smeared across her cheek. “My magic is— I can’t—” She released a frustrated sigh. “Everything is heightened. I feel…out of control.”

“It’s the adrenaline,” he said. “For mortals, it fades, but when you’ve just fought and come out on top, your magic wants more. You need to expel the energy.”

“Just let my magic out?”

“Fuck, no,” he balked. “Your magic will take until there’s nothing left.”

“Then what doyoudo?” she sneered.

Luka shrugged. “Something to distract me. An intense training session. Spar with Axel or Theon. Fuck.”

He couldn’t tell if that was a wince or a flinch of surprise.

Pushing off the sofa, he added, “Go clean the blood off, and I’ll take you to the training arena.”

“I don’t want totrain, Luka,” she grumbled.

“Then what do you want to do?”

She shifted again, and he knew exactly what she was feeling. It was exactly how he felt every time he won a sparring match. Every time he’d completed a mission for Valter. Every time they fought Night Children. He knew Axel and Theon experienced it too, but he’d always thought his experience was heightened due to his Sargon blood. His post-fight high always seemed more intense and savage than theirs did, and apparently Tessa experienced it that intensely as well. He could see it in her rigid limbs and the inability to stay still. The way she couldn’t process what was happening or put it into words. The way she was struggling to keep control of her magic, but he was so fucking proud of her for doing it. A week ago, she wouldn’t have cared. She would have let her power have her because it was easier than fighting for control.

“I want… I need…” She trailed off, another frustrated sound coming from her, this time accompanied by a flare of her power. He straightened, his flames ready to meet hers, but she got herself back under control. “Just tell me what to do, Luka.”

“If that’s what you need, go to Theon,” he replied.

“I can’t go to Theon.”

“Why not?”

“Because I can’t,” she spat, her power flaring again.

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