Page 85 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

She nodded, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. “What can I help with?”

“It’s not so much what you can help with, but that I think you’ll want to be part of this conversation,” he replied. “Tessa came to see me today.”

That had all the Fae turning to him.

“But before we get into that, did you find something?” Theon asked, nodding at the book she held, a page marked with her finger.

“I don’t know,” she answered, shifting on her feet. “But I… This is going to sound a little crazy, but I don’t think Axel is doing well.”

“That doesn’t sound crazy. I am sure he is suffering,” Theon said, his brow furrowing.

“No, I…” She blew out a harsh breath. “It’s more than that. It’s like I canfeelhim sometimes. And then I found something. But I might have translated it wrong, and I?—”

“Let me see,” Theon said, moving closer.

“I’m sure I translated it wrong,” she said hesitantly, letting him open the book to the page she still held.

Inside was a sheet of paper with her transcription on it, and Theon skimmed the words before glancing back to her. She was worrying her bottom lip, watching him.

“This refers to a bond. The Source bond?”

Katya shook her head. “I don’t think that’s what it is. It seems similar, but also different.”

“Looks like I don’t need to push in any direction after all,” Tristyn said, and Theon turned to find the male with a small smile, his hands in his pockets. “And perhaps the Fates haven’t abandoned this realm as much as you think.”

“What are you talking about?” Theon asked. “What do you know about this?”

Tristyn appeared to debate the questions for a minute before he said, “I know some, but I believe your visitors would know far more than I do.”

“Razik and Eliza?”

Tristyn nodded.

“They’ve been here this whole time and said nothing?” Theon said, his annoyance and frustration already rising.

“They have to be careful about what they say,” Tristyn answered. “They do not know what is common knowledge here and what is not. Their purpose is singularly focused. They cannot deviate from it, or they risk?—”

“Tipping the balance. I’m aware,” Theon cut in. “At this point, I don’t give a fuck if it tips as long as Tessa isn’t the sacrifice for it.”

Tristyn fell silent, but the look on his face told Theon he’d stumbled upon something profound.

“No,” Theon snarled. “She willnotbe the sacrifice to correct this.”

But Tristyn didn’t speak another word.

“All this time she’s hated me and accused me of trying to use her for her power, when it’s been everyone else all along,” Theon sneered, stalking from the room and barking orders to the Fae to follow him. He didn’t stop until he was outside the suite that Razik and Eliza had been staying in, and darkness gathered around him as he pounded on the door.

“We need to talk about some things,” Theon called out, pounding on the door again.

It was wrenched open, an irritated female on the other side. “You are incredibly needy today.”

Theon didn’t reply to the taunt. Instead, he held up the book, still open to the page Katya had translated, and showed it to Eliza. She skimmed the page for only a few seconds before she said, “Razik?”

He appeared immediately, glaring at Theon. “What do you want now?”

“Raz, look,” Eliza said, pointing at the pages.

The male’s eyes narrowed. “Where did you get that book?”

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