Page 11 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

“Keeper,” Tessa interrupted. “Take me as far as you can go.”

He nodded, and Tessa stood, turning away while he got dressed. It wasn’t until he was leaving them at a passage that he stammered, “Thank you for… Just thank you…your grace.”

“Tell whoever you will of this,” she answered. “And let them know that should anyone else touch you in such a manner, I will return to bestow the same fate.”

The Fae’s face paled, but she was already striding down the narrow passage, the wards crackling against her skin but ultimately doing nothing to stop her.

Wards had never been an obstacle for her.

The Hunter was silent as they made their way deeper into the Pantheon, Roan having stayed outside. They’d had to avoid priestesses in the halls the Fae had led them down, but these passages were completely deserted. It wasn’t until they started winding downwards that her breathing grew shallow as she realized they were descending underground.

“Your grace?” the Hunter asked, pausing when she did.

She ignored him, breathing deep. She could feel them. They had felt her sudden spike in emotion, and both of them were pacing on the other side of that bond she was blocking. With another deep breath, she bent and removed her socks and boots, leaving them in the passage. Her toes curled against the cold stone beneath her, and she brought her hand to the wall, dragging her fingertips along the uneven surface.

One step in front of the other. Just focus on the next step.

Luka’s words from the Underground echoed in her mind, and she inhaled once more before she took that next step and the next and the next. The coolness of the stone kept her grounded, but she became so focused, her mental shields slipped.

That’s our girl.

She hissed out a curse as Luka’s voice clanged in her mind once more, and she realized her shields had slipped the moment she’d known she was going below ground. Those words hadn’t been memories, buthim.

How do you even know where I am?she retorted down the bond. These were the first words she’d spoken down the thing since she’d left Theon on his knees in his room. Actually, the last time she’d exchanged words with Luka, they’d been coaxing her along as Augury members had led her through damp tunnels.

How fitting.

I don’t know where you are,Luka replied.But I do know when you are panicking, Tessa.

I don’t need either of you.

Ignoring that comment, he said,I do need to speak to you though. In person. Where are you?

I am not going to see you.

Tessa, it’s important.

No.

And with that, she hauled her mental shields back into place, blocking him out once more. It wasn’t lost on her that Theon hadn’t said a single word. She’d felt him there the entire time though. So had the bond. She’d spent these last weeks becoming so accustomed to the longing of the thing that it was more of a constant ache now. Something she’d become numb to, but she felt it now. Which was annoying.

Looking around, she found the passage they’d been following had emptied into a large chamber, and with another start, she realized she’d been here before.

No, wait.

Not here, but somewhere similar.

The Augury members had led her through a chamber like this, only there had been an altar in the middle. This circular chamber was much smaller and empty. There was nothing in here except for a large mirror.

Large probably wasn’t accurate.

It was taller than a doorway and arched along the top. Bordering it were various markings. As she ventured closer, she recognized some of them as the symbols of the gods, but there were other symbols she didn’t know.

“This is what the Keepers guard so heavily?” Tessa mused. “A mirror?”

“Things are not always what they appear,” the Hunter said, gliding forward.

“That is true,” she conceded, stepping closer still. Theon claimed he’d seen Scarlett in a mirror after all, but that mirror had been in the Underground from what she understood. She ran her fingertips along a few of the symbols, tracing them.

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