Page 212 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

She didn’t.

She made her way to the same balcony Luka had found her on the night of the Selection Ceremony, and she stayed there until someone finally came to take her back to Faven.

She ran her hands through her hair now that it was fully down. Her fingers tangled in the ends as she tugged on them, feeling the burn in her scalp. She didn’t even realize that Luka had appeared in her room until he spoke.

“Tessa?”

She whirled around, light filled with gold and silver embers swirling around her. “What?”

He looked her up and down, concern etched into his features. “You’ve been back for nearly an hour, and you haven’t changed. You still have your shoes on.”

She looked down at her dress, pulling up her skirt to peer at her feet that were indeed still in heels. Had she truly been back in Faven for an entire hour?

Luka had changed out of his tuxedo and into loose pants and a short-sleeve shirt that clung to every muscle. Just like muscles she’d traced through fabric mere hours ago.

No!

No, no, no.

She tugged on her hair again as she turned away from him, pacing across the floor.

It was another few seconds before he growled, “Tessa, stop.”

But there was no stopping. Because she hadn’t been confused before tonight. Well, notthisconfused. She’d had firm control over this godsdamn bond. Shoved all the unnecessary burdens of it so deep, they’d become background noise. She was an expert at repressing feelings, and that was what she’d needed to do to focus on her purpose. Do what needs to be done and show no remorse. That was what villains did. That was what?—

“Tessa, stop.”

The words were gentler this time, and they were accompanied by words just as soft down the bond.

Breathe, little storm.

She took a shuddering breath, but any tension that was ebbing from her body stopped abruptly when the door was thrown open. Oralia strode in, her features pinched with displeasure and annoyance.

“What is he doing in here, Tessa?” she asked, her hands on her hips as she glared at Luka.

“Where is Dex?” Tessa asked instead.

“The Achaz Lord wanted to discuss some things with him after your display at the gala this evening,” she answered with a pointed look. “So I was sent to stay with you tonight.”

“Get out.”

Oralia clicked her tongue in annoyance. “You did this, Tessa. Once again, Dex is trying to fix?—”

But she was cut off by Tessa’s hand wrapping around her throat and squeezing. A glow emitted from between her fingers as her power appeared, Oralia gasping under her hold. Thefemale’s hands came up, clawing at Tessa’s wrist, but Tessa only smiled.

“Dexter does not need to fix anything, and I do not require anyone to watch me anymore.Thatis what you can report back to Rordan,” Tessa said, an icy calm settling over her.

She loosened her grip just enough to let Oralia splutter, “The Achaz Lord wants someone with you at all times.”

“You can tell him that after whathepulled tonight, if he wants to come to detain me, he can certainly try. But unless he comes here himself, there will be no one else watching my every move,” Tessa replied. “Get. Out.”

Energy spiked from her fingertips at the same time she let her magic sink into Oralia, taking and feeding. The female’s supposed Fae power of water never appeared, and Tessa waited, hoping whatever magic she’d stolen would show itself. After several seconds of nothing, Tessa released her with a shove.

“This is your fate,” Oralia sneered, pressing a hand to her throat.

“And you’re about to alter yours if you don’t get the fuck out of my rooms,” Tessa replied, one of the bands at her wrist winding down her fingers before unfurling into a whip.

Oralia scurried from the room, the door slamming shut behind her, and Tessa sank to the floor. She reached for the heels, unbuckling them before throwing them across the space. Then she flopped onto her back, stacking her hands on her stomach.

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