Page 164 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

When I get out of here, you and I will take our revenge in flesh and blood,Valter snarled down the bond.

Sounds perfect, my Lord.

And by the gods, did it ever.

Only she dreamed of vengeance againsthim. For forcing her to do all manner of things with all manner of people.Toall manner of people.

For forcing her to become the monster she was.

For forcing her to bring something innocent and perfect into this damned world.

For forcing her to love.

For forcing her to care.

He knew what he was doing, and she knew what he had planned.

A knock on the door had her getting to her feet. It was too early for dinner. She’d been served her midday meal only an hour ago. Standing in the middle of the room, she slipped into the role she’d been playing for decades now. Hands clasped. Eyes on the floor. Ready to serve.

Good and demure.

The perfect Source.

She was under no delusions it would keep her safe. She was a Lord’s Source. Eventually they would come for her. Try different methods to get her to spill her master’s secrets. Truly, she was surprised they hadn’t already done so.

The door opened, and bare feet stepped in. It had her head snapping up as she found Tessalyn Ausra standing in the small space, the door closing behind her. The last Source Mark was in place on her hand. Her golden hair was loose around her shoulders, and she wore a cream dress, the hem stained with dirt because the female never wore shoes unless she was forced to. And as she looked into those bright violet eyes, Eviana recognized the mania staring back at her.

“Hello, Eviana,” Tessa said, an eerie ring to her voice that had Eviana taking a step back.

“Tessalyn,” she said carefully. “I cannot tell you anything. The bond forbids it.”

“I’m aware,” the female said, taking in the space. “Are you comfortable here?”

“The space is more than enough.”

“But you would be more comfortable with him?”

It was a loaded question, and she wasn’t sure how to answer it. Was she trying to get information out of her? Did she think she could trick her? Stupid girl. She’d been doing this far too long. She’d learned the secret to survival and that was to not care.

About anything.

Not even oneself.

Until Valter had forced her to care about someone.

“I find the space suitable,” Eviana finally answered.

The light around Tessa’s wrists flickered with energy, and it had her own magic shifting where it was trapped beneath her skin.

“So you do keep secrets from your Master,” Tessa said, her head canting to the side.

“I don’t know what you speak of.”

The female hummed a response. “Did you hear news of the Sirana Villas?”

Wrath and fury immediately filled her, and she swallowed down the emotions. “What of them?”

“There was a massacre,” she said simply, but the wicked smile that tilted at the corner of her mouth said more than enough.

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