Page 127 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

“How do you know that?” he demanded, and she could swear he was trembling.

“What is your name?”

He shook his head. “No. Tell me how you know I have another child.”

“You told me to ask you your name the next time I found myself here.”

“Tessalyn,” he snapped.

But Tessa only arched a brow, leaning back on her hands. “Who would have the power to sense what gifts another has and how strong they are?”

“That is a power of Arius,” the male answered. “That is the only question I will answer until you answer mine. How do you know I have another son?”

“An answer for an answer then?” she replied with a smirk.

“Done.”

“I met him,” she answered casually.

“Where?” the male demanded.

She clicked her tongue. “It’s my turn. What is your name?”

He stared at her, clear displeasure filling those sapphire eyes. “Xan. My name is Xan Mors. Where did you meet my other son?”

Tessa hummed for a moment before she said, “Met probably isn’t the right word, but he looks remarkably like Luka. I saw him at Arius House with Theon.”

“He is here? In Devram?” Xan asked, color draining from his face.

“What is a light guardian?” she asked instead. It was her turn after all.

Xan stared at her, that familiar annoyance that often accompanied his son filling his features. “You should ask Rordan these questions.”

“Rordan will lie to me. Or make me pay for an answer,” she snapped.

Xan’s stare turned piercing, as if he was seeing something in her she couldn’t. “Your loyalty is wavering.”

“My loyalty is to myself,” she said sharply.

After another few seconds, he said, “The descendants of Sargon become the Guardians of the Arius bloodline. Achaz did not like this, so he created guardians of his own from beings known as seraphs. Some seraphs were given additional power, like the ability to Travel and banish their wings, but their primary magic must be stolen.”

Tessa’s face scrunched in confusion. “How can one steal magic?”

“My turn,” Xan said in a smug tone. “Is my other son in Devram?”

“I saw him a few days ago, but yes. At that time, he was in Devram.”

“Has he met Luka?”

“My turn,” she simpered. “How can one steal magic?”

“When they reach a certain age, the light guardians select a being. Leading up to this point, they have been watching and observing countless magical beings—Fae, Legacy, Shifters, Witches. They study them and try to determine which power would serve them best.”

“Wait,” Tessa cut in, sitting up straight. “They watch beings for years, and when they reach a certain age they…selectone?”

Xan nodded. “Only they kill them and steal their magic.”

“You can steal magic by killing someone?”

---