Page 276 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

Tristyn’s gaze slid to her. “You know the answer to that, wild fury. The Achaz Lord.”

“He is not a Keeper,” she said, her head canting to the side, and she ran her fingers through her hair, tugging on the ends.

“Correct,” was all he said. Turning back to Theon, he added, “What I am saying is, if we get her out right now, you need to be prepared towalkout of here with her. Walk to your territory, and even then?—”

“Half the rulers of the realm want her dead,” Theon said. “Leaving her here for them to try is not an option, even if they are fighting among themselves right now.”

“Then be prepared,” Tristyn said. Turning to Tessa, he gestured to her. “I need some blood, wild fury.”

“My blood summons those who serve Achaz,” she said. Not a warning or apprehension. Just a statement of what was.

“Your blood can summon many,” he countered. “We don’t have time to debate this though. I need you to trust me.”

“You used me,” she hissed, her hands curling into fists. “For your own gain. I did not forget.”

“I won’t deny I have my own motives,” he replied. “But that doesn’t mean I do not care. I can have motives and still care. It does not have to be one or the other.”

“It doesn’t?” she asked in confusion, creeping forward.

He shook his head, a mischievous smile on his lips. “And when this is over, there’s some lull-leaf and pizza with our name on it.”

“Pretty words and promises don’t work with me, Keeper of Lies and Deceit,” she said, her answering smile dark.

“A blood vow then,” he said, the dagger he was holding gliding across his palm.

“A what?”

“A blood vow is a promise. An agreement made between two people. If either party breaks it, the results are unfavorable,” Theon replied.

“Isn’t that what the Fae do when they are Selected by their Kingdom?”

That muscle feathered in his jaw. “Yeah. That’s exactly what they are forced to do.”

Her gaze swung back to Tristyn. “Why would you do this?”

“To prove you can trust me,” he answered, gesturing for her hand once more. “A slice across the palm, and we merge our blood.”

She hesitated for a moment, glancing at Theon. He nodded in encouragement, and she wondered when she’d started looking to him for such a thing.

Finally, she stuck her hand between the bars, the slice of the blade stinging against her flesh. Tristin took her bloody palm in his, russet eyes holding hers.

“I vow and swear my loyalty to you, Tessalyn Ausra, Daughter of Wild and Fury,” he said.

A flare of white light emitted from their palms, and Tessa felt the vow settle in the depths of her being. Even the magic battling in her soul paused.

Then Tristyn was swiping a finger through her open wound before stooping and smearing it across all the Marks he’d drawn on the ground. He stood once more, the dagger in hand.

“I need to slice both palms, and you need to grip the bars,” he said. She offered her hands without preamble, and the male turned to Theon. “Are you ready?”

Theon only nodded, stoic and steadfast.

Another stinging bite of pain, and Tessa wrapped her hands around the bars. They flared, gold and silver ashes swirling around the bars—aroundher—and then the gate of the cell was swinging open. Theon was tugging her out before she’d even processed everything, and she sank into his chest as he stroked her hair.

His darkness wrapped around her, and the war in her soul calmed. Not completely, but enough that she could think clearly. She pulled back to look up at him, realizing once again it wasn’t his darkness, but his dark wings.

“You came for me,” she whispered.

“I told you I will always find you,” he answered. “I have some things to tell you, but it would be better if we get somewhere safe first. Is that all right with you?”

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