Page 49 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

Leave this forsaken world behind forever.

Answer him, temptress, or I’ll be banging on your door in minutes to see for myself you aren’t dying,came Luka’s rough growl down the bond.

Don’t bother, she retorted.I won’t be here.

So you’re not hurt?Theon asked, and he sounded…distracted? What was he doing?

It didn’t matter. She couldn’t care.

No, I’m not hurt, but even if I was, I’m not yours to worry about anymore,she sneered in response.

The silence stretched on for so long, she thought he’d actually given up on her for once. But then?—

You’ve forgotten,Theon said.

Forgotten what?

That I’ll always fight for you. You’ll forever be mine.

She made her way down the cool, white marble steps, her fingers dragging along the wall. The orbs of golden light lit herway, Roan and Nylah padding along at her sides. They were a comforting presence in the chaos of her world.

She’d showered and gotten ready for the day. Not in training clothes as would be expected of her, but in a pair of leggings and a soft grey sweater. For a moment, she’d contemplated putting Luka’s shirt back on just to spite Dex at this point, but his scent would distract her from what she had to do today.

Oralia had never shown up in her room like she had every other morning. Tessa could only assume that Dex had told her not to. She hadn’t missed the way he’d paused mid-bite when she entered the dining room, her bare feet soundless on the floor and her hair loose and still damp.

She also hadn’t missed that he was sittingatthe table, a premade plate for her beside him. Rordan wasn’t there, but Dagian was. Sasha, his Source, was seated beside him, her eyes fixed on her food. The Achaz Heir didn’t say a word the entire meal. No one did. The tension in the air had been thick, and when Tessa had excused herself after only a few bites of food, no one tried to stop her.

Training with Odessa was usually next in her new daily routine, but she wasn’t about to go train with Luka this morning. She may have slept beside him all night, but she was still furious he’d gone around her to Rordan. If he thought she was just going to accept this arrangement that had been made, he was sorely mistaken.

Lifting her hand, she pulled the feather from a swirl of light, twirling the quill between her thumb and forefinger. She passed several of the glass cells, most of them empty, before coming to a stop in front of Valter’s.

The Lord’s hair was a little longer now, resembling his younger son more than his eldest. His dark hazel eyes glared at her from where he sat on a small cot. The bands on his wrists had made the skin around them red and raw, and her lips tippedup at the sight of it. He had a little more room to move about compared to the prisoner at the end of the passage. Valter could at least pace the length of his small space and have his piss bucket on the other side of the cell.

“Where is Eviana?” Valter demanded, still sounding like the Lord he no longer was.

“I already told you she is fine,” Tessa replied, tilting her head as she continued to twirl the feather. “I know you can communicate with her.”

“I want to see her,” he replied.

She huffed a small laugh. “And draw from her in a useless attempt to try to get out of this cell? I think not.”

“What I do with my Source is not your concern,” he retorted.

“Apparently it is since I can control if you see her,” Tessa said. “Do you know what this is?”

Valter’s eyes darted to the feather she waved in front of the glass, but he said nothing.

“I suppose my question should be: do you know of any beings with feathered wings? Beings who can banish their wings like you can banish yours?”

He gave her a dark, dry look. “Surely you are not this stupid.”

“Not at all,” she replied with a simpering smile. “In fact, your son finds me quite clever.”

“Then why in the realm would you expect me to answer a question when you will not let me see Eviana? This is about negotiations, Tessalyn,” he said.

Nylah let out a low growl at his tone that was somewhere between menacing and conceited, and Roan pressed against her leg.

“Negotiations,” she repeated, sending the feather away with her magic before placing a hand against the glass of the cell. It flickered, light and energy dancing across the pane, but sheabsorbed it, drawing it all to the space beneath her palm. “You would like something in return?”

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