Page 214 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

“Faster, Eyal,” she urged, and as if the horse could understand her, he raced onward over the rocky terrain.

Her wolves were growling and snapping as Hunters descended, no longer answering to her. Her magic flared, lashing out, but it wasn’t nearly as strong as it should be. When had death last taken?

She screamed when Eyal skidded to an abrupt halt, his hooves kicking up rocks that skittered over the edge of the cliff they’d come to. He turned, facing the way they’d come. Nylah and Roan planted themselves in front of them as the Hunters formed a half circle, trapping them all. Then they were dropping to a knee a moment before golden light flared so brightly, Tessa had to look away. She blinked several times as the light faded, her grandfather standing before her.

His smile was too wide and cunning while he looked up at her. “You did well, granddaughter.”

“You promised to tell me who my mother is at the end of this. Where is she?” Tessa asked, lifting her chin.

“I did,” he agreed. “Akira is in my home world where she belongs.”

“You promised to take me to her.”

“No, child,” he said, slowly shaking his head. “I promised to take you from this world. I never said where or how.”

Eyal backed up at the words, his hooves causing rocks to skitter over the edge of the cliff.

“You used me,” Tessa said, her soul breaking all over again. Always something to be used, never loved.

“You have fulfilled your purpose, Tessa,” Achaz said calmly. “All that’s left is to correct the balance.”

“Correct the balance,” she repeated, her fingers tightening in Eyal’s mane.

“You cannot continue to exist.”

“I am your granddaughter!” she cried.

“You are also theirs.”

Nylah and Roan snarled, snapping their massive jaws, and Achaz glared.

“These mutts of your father’s cannot save you here.”

Her father.

Half light. Half dark.

“You cannot outrun fate,” Achaz chided with mock sympathy, power surging around him brighter than the sun.

She glanced over her shoulder, staring out over the dark cavern, before she turned back to Achaz. “Perhaps not,” she agreed. “But I can alter it.”

Eyal turned faster than a horse should be able to, leaping into the air. Nylah and Roan followed.

And they fell into the dark.

39

AXEL

“Kitten, what are you doing?”

Kat looked up from where she was on her knees, scrubbing the kitchen floor.

“I spilled a glass of orange juice,” she answered, huffing a curl from her face.

“So you decided to scrub the entire floor?” Axel asked in confusion.

She looked around. “No one else is here to do it.”

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