Page 165 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

“And you still breathe?” Eviana asked, taking a single step closer.

“I do,” Tessa answered, making her way to the sofa and dramatically plopping down. “Let’s chat, Eviana.”

She stilled, debating what to do. The conversation could be kept from Valter. Her Master was too arrogant to realize she’d long ago learned how to keep him out of her head and block the bond. She simply made sure he was always feelingsomething. Right now, she was making sure he felt the unease of what this conversation could be, but the thrill of it? The downrightgleeat hearing of murders at the Villas? She made sure he wasn’t feeling an ounce of that.

“My loyalty is to him,” Eviana said carefully.

“Of course,” Tessa replied.

What is going on, Eve?

Ugh. She hated when he called her that. That and ‘my flower.’ She supposed they could be considered affectionate names except that Valter was the opposite of affectionate in every way.

Is someone hurting you? They assured me you were not being harmed,he went on as if he actually cared about anything other than power.

I am well, my Lord,she answered, still staring at Tessa across the room.Only discomfort from being so far from you,she added, soothing his ego.

She didn’t listen to his false reassurances, letting them be background chatter as she sat on the end of the bed. When a flare of light appeared, it had her flinching and turning away, and when she turned back, Tessa held a bottle of wine and two glasses.

“Drink?” the female asked.

When was the last time Valter had let her have alcohol?

Probably the time he’d given her to the overseer of Raven Harbor for a night as part of the Match Contract arrangements between Theon and Felicity. He always said it was to help ease the discomfort of the bond at them being separated. She didn’t care. She let them do whatever they wanted to her. The alcohol just let her dissociate even more, for a little while at least.

It was the same when Valter told her to kill someone.

Or fuck someone.

Or torture someone.

It was the same whether she was eating or sleeping, serving or guarding.

She’d stolen for Valter. Tormented his own children. Maimed and murdered. Crawled across glass and danced across ashes. All to prove her loyalty and keephersafe.

Tessa poured the two glasses of wine, setting one aside before holding the second out to her. Eviana took it, but didn’t take a drink. All her instincts were on high alert. Was this a test? A trap? Would failure result in a punishment?

“Don’t be nervous,” Tessa said, a look of pity crossing her face.

“I’m never nervous,” Eviana said flatly.

“Never?”

“No. I’ve seen and heard too much to let anything make me nervous.”

“Fair enough.”

The seconds turned to minutes, the two of them sitting in silence, and Eviana couldn’t help but wonder why she was here. What was this accomplishing? What was her motive?

“Are you lonely in here?” Tessa finally asked, sipping on her wine.

“No,” Eviana answered immediately. “I enjoy the solitude.”

“That’s understandable,” Tessa mused, tapping a nail on her glass. “But you’ve been with him for decades, right? Is it different without him now?”

“Of course it is different. What kind of question is that?”

Tessa arched a brow. “You are a little more outspoken when he is not here.”

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