Page 94 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

She sent him a sharp smile. “I’m better without you, Dexter.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Tessa,” Oralia chided, her voice grating. “Dex has saved your ass more times than you can count.”

“Then maybe he should stop if it’s such a hassle,” she retorted before striding across the courtyard, heels clicking on the stones.

She heard voices murmuring, and she caught Dex telling Brecken to stay with her. She didn’t care if anyone followed her, as long as it wasn’t Dex. And she knew he wouldn’t. He’d want to avoid a scene. Would likely run to Rordan.

The Fae at the doors bowed when she approached, neither of them questioning her as they opened the doors for her. Stepping inside was once again like being transported to another realm. If outside was quaint and welcoming, inside was dark and luscious. Dim lighting along the edges of the floor led her deeper into the villa until it emptied into a large room lined with booths, curtained areas, and a stage in the center.

A brothel.

This was a brothel.

“See anything to your liking, my lady?” came a male voice, and she looked up to find a Legacy standing beside her.

“I, uh…” She trailed off, watching a male and female Fae on the stage, wearing nothing.

“Not to worry. That’s why I’m here. We’ll find you what you like,” he went on. “Do you prefer male? Female? Both? An element preference?”

She suddenly couldn’t find her words. Not because she didn’t know what to say, but because she wasangry.

“She is looking for a private room. Second floor,” Brecken cut in smoothly.

The Legacy straightened, looking down his nose at Brecken. “With you?” he said with a sneer.

“If the lady still desires,” Brecken said, eyes fixed on the floor and playing the role they’d been trained to play for two decades.

Submissive.

Subservient.

Docile.

Meek.

Clearing her throat, Tessa said, “Yes. That is what I desire.”

“Of course, my lady. Right this way,” the male said, leading them past booths where Legacy had Fae on their knees and in their laps.

More Fae were being led to the curtained areas, glimpses of Legacy waiting for them as the curtains parted. Grunts of pleasure, soft whimpers, and more assaulted her ears. The more she heard and the more she saw, the more her fury built. A spiral staircase was in the corner, and she followed the Legacy up and along a hall overlooking the activities below. She forced herself to look. To see the tired Fae. The greedy Legacy. Gods, there were evenmortalshere. The villas apparently catered to every taste and desire.

Placing his palm on a door, she heard it unlock before the Legacy pushed it open and stepped to the side. A lavish bedroom lay beyond, and she couldn’t make her feet move when the male asked, “How long, my lady?”

“What?”

“How long are you booking the room for?”

What was an appropriate answer? She didn’t know. But she couldn’t just stand here or they’d begin to suspect she shouldn’t be here. So, much to her dismay, she thought about how she’d expect Theon to act in this situation.

Her light flared, golden arcs swirling around her. She knew lightning flickered in her eyes and echoed her footsteps as she swept past the male and into the room. “Until I’m done,” was her response, cold and demanding.

The male’s eyes widened a moment before he sputtered, “Of course, my lady,” and hastily shut the door behind him.

The sound of slow clapping had her turning to Brecken.

“Nice job, Tessie,” he said. “For a moment there, I thought you were going to fuck this all up.”

“Shut up,” she snapped, taking a single step towards him. Her entire being was vibrating with fury. “Are all the villas…this?”

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