Page 285 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

“Akira,” he growled, his power flickering around him.

Her magic snapped to attention, lightning crackling around her as gold and silver embers flared.

“You chastise me for not having control, and yet you…” She sank down onto the railing, hooking her knees over it and hanging upside down. “You have no control, do you?”

“Akira, stop this,” Achaz ordered, and she felt him step closer.

So foolish.

She stretched her arms, toying with her hair where it hung in the air, swaying in the wind.

“Power can drive us mad though, can’t it?” she murmured. “We’re drawn to it. Crave it.Sacrificefor it. It wants us, and we want it, and what are we to do?”

In a flash, she pulled herself back up, once again balancing on the railing. “You cage me up here. Wards and enchantments.” Her lip curled up at the words.

“For your own safety,” Achaz gritted out.

Her head canted to the side. “Do you think that is what they tell my mother as well?”

“Gehenna did her duty,” he retorted.

“Yes, yes. Lay on her back and spread her legs. Gave her power so you could take what is not yours,” she sang, pushing onto her toes and spinning, her arms out at her sides.

“And what of you, daughter?” Achaz sneered. “Did you not do the same?”

She leapt from the railing, each step echoed with energy that skittered along the balcony, charging the air around them. “I am the daughter of creation and magic.Youmade me more. I wasn’t enough for you.”

“I wanted to give you more,” he retorted.

“And you did,” she purred, circling him. “You createdFury.”

“Akira—”

She shot forward, pressing a finger to his lips. “Shh,” she hushed. “You are not the calm to my storm. You took him from me. Then you took her. You created this. Sparked every bit ofit. You thought you would use this against me?” The laugh that fell from her lips was pure mania. “Did you know I could see forward in time? A gift from my mother.” She practically floated backwards from him. “Would you like me to tell you a story?”

“No,” he barked.

“Too bad. You have no control here,” she sang, the rain falling harder now.

“I have no control here?” he retorted. “I am not the one trapped in this tower, Akira.”

She held up her hand. A silver band encompassed her pointer finger, a large, black onyx stone in the center. “Not for much longer,” she returned, her power thrumming at the idea of freedom.

“I can never let you free,” Achaz said, the words laced with power and dominance. “You are too…”

“Impulsive? Reckless? Uncontrollable?” she offered.

“You refuse to let me help you.”

“Help me?” she scoffed. “Father, you only wish to use me.”

“No, I?—”

She lurched forward, power in her palms, and Achaz caught her wrists, halting her a moment before her hands landed on his chest. “If you wished to help me, you wouldn’t have separated him from me. The only one who understands is wild and untamed. The only one who helps me control Chaos.”

“I can have Anala come back. I know I’ve waited too long to send her to you?—”

“No, no, no!” She cried, shaking her head and her eyes falling closed. “We can harm her, and she is a friend. Taika understands, but she is busy. I need him. Only wild and untamed, and you—” Her eyes flew open, hard and merciless. “Youtook him from me.”

---