Page 125 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

“Why would they be?”

“You think I will allow all that power to be passed down to just anyone?”

Something in her stirred at those words, his comment to Desiray echoing in her mind.

All in good time.

“Of course, the plans ofthousandsmust now be altered because of what happened in Rosebell,” Rordan continued, the gold in his eyes brightening.

“What does Rosebell have to do with anything?”

“I’m glad you asked,” Rordan said, the fingers of his right hand curling into the upholstery of the chair.

Where was Dysani? The Lords and Ladies never went anywhere without their Sources, yet his was nowhere to be found at the moment.

“As you know, Sirana is the goddess of love and fertility. It has long been a struggle for Fae and Legacy alike to conceive children, which is why we keep our Sirana Legacy close and monitored. Their gifts make conception more likely. When two Legacy complete a Match Ceremony and are ready to try for a child, they go— Or rather, theywentto see Desiray. The magic of the Villas increased chances of conception by over fifty percent,” Rordan said tightly. “In addition to that, the Villas are located on the outskirts of the Dreamlock Woods. The power of SerafinaLegacy lingers there. Those who dream of having a child find more success when trying to conceive in the Villas.”

Okay, well, Tessa hadn’t known any of that, but it certainly didn’t negate the fact that those same powers and enchantments were used to force Fae to conceive children as well. That same magic that lingered in the woods and brought a Legacy’s dreams to fruition brought a Fae’s nightmares to life.

“And now the Villas have been destroyed, and Desiray is dead. Numerous other Legacy were killed, and dozens of Fae are unaccounted for,” Rordan said, rage seeping into his voice.

“It is truly a tragedy,” Tessa said, trying her hardest to sound sympathetic.

“A tragedy that could have been avoided if you had simply asked a question,” he snarled. He still sat motionless in that chair, and it was unnerving.

“What would me asking a question have changed?” she asked, the thing inside her sitting up straighter as Rordan clearly became more and more upset.

“Let’s not dance around this,” he snapped. “Few things can kill a Legacy. You went back there and murdered over a hundred Legacy because you misunderstood the purpose of the Villas.”

Her brows shot up. “Misunderstood the purpose of them?”

“I’ve let you have your fun. Let you explore your power and test your limits. I’ve given you a freedom you’d only dreamed of in the past, and yetthisis how you repay that?” he demanded, finally pushing to his feet. It took everything in her to hold her ground and not take a step back. “I have spent the last weeksdefendingthose choices to the other ruling Ladies, and with this one act, you have made me a liar. What am I to say to them when they demand you be locked up for this? When they argue you are too uncontrollable to be left to your own devices?”

“If you or anyone else tries to lock me up, you will learn precisely what I am capable of,” she snarled, her magic floodingout of her like a wave of light. Those gold and silver embers flickered among it, lightning crackling with the storm of power.

“You have a purpose, Tessalyn,” he spat out. “And you forget it.”

“You meanyouhave a purpose,” she countered. “And you are using me to achieve it.”

He struck then, his magic cutting a path through hers and wrapping around her chest, arms locked to her sides. She struggled, her own power latching onto his and sinking its claws in, ripping and tearing. But Rordan was strong, and while she might eventually overpower him, it would take time she wouldn’t be afforded.

And his Source wasn’t even here.

Slowly, she raised her eyes to his, a smug sneer on his lips. “Had I known this was all I needed to do to figure out your paternal lineage, I would have done this long ago.” He came closer, his magic pressing down on her and forcing her to her knees. He took her chin in his hand, tilting her face up. “Only Arius had the power to drain another’s magic. That whole god of endings thing. I’ve had my suspicions; now I need to figure out just how closely related you are.”

She was still struggling against his power, but at his words, she stopped. She didn’t want him to know just how strong she was or what all she was capable of. Those were secrets she needed to keep yet, so she stopped fighting, shoving it all down.

Just like she had so many other times.

“Very well,” he said, releasing her chin and loosening his power. “Telling me would have been a good start at an apology for your actions?—”

“I apologize for nothing,” she spat, not moving because his power still hovered too near. “Forcing Fae to carry children, then taking those babes from them? Using Fae in attempts to createstronger Sources? Fae being assigned topleasurethe Legacy when the Legacy can already take whatever they want from us?”

“Us?” Rordan interrupted. “You seem to have forgotten you are not Fae.”

“And you seem to have forgotten you are not a god,” she retorted. “I’d do it again. Iwilldo it again. Only I won’t stop at the Villas. I won’t even stop at Rosebell. Then I’ll come for you all.”

Rordansmiled. “I’m counting on it, Tessalyn. Until then, you do have debts to pay, don’t you?”

---