Page 230 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

And Auryonsmiledup at her. “It is in your blood. The life you seek. What you desperately want. Many have sacrificed to give you a choice, Tessalyn. The costs have been great because of love foryou. You only need to accept that you are worthy of such a thing, then take what is yours to claim.”

This time, the female’s arm trembled when she lifted the bow to Tessa.

“Slice your palm and grip the bow in blood. Speak the words of the Huntresses to bind it to you,” Auryon said before reciting words in an old language. She coughed then. Tessa wished there was blood. It would all feel more real. This was like a cruel joke with no wounds and no agony. “And when you see your father, tell him I never served out of purpose or duty, but out of honor and friendship. Tell him—” She sucked in a sharp breath. “Tell him thank you for allowing me the privilege.”

“Auryon, stop.” The words were a whispered sob, and she didn’t understand it. She wasn’t close to this female. Yes, she had guarded and protected her, but she didn’tknowher. This shouldn’t shred her soul like it was doing.

A swirl of smoke and ashes had her rocking back in shock, and the sound that ripped from her throat was echoed bythunder. Because when the smoke and ashes waned, there was nothing left but two ashy footprints and a bow.

Movement caught her eye, and Tessa looked up from her knees, her gaze connecting with white eyes.

TheHunter.

Their leader.

And his smile was one of victory.

Before Tessa could move, an arm wrapped around her waist. She tensed for the briefest of moments before she recognized the touch, the chaos in her veins calming a fraction.

“I’m taking you somewhere safe, but he is there,” came Luka’s gruff voice in her ear. “Tell me you are fine with that.”

She nodded once, scrambling to grab Auryon’s bow. In the next breath, she was tugged through a rip in the air.

But not without vowing to destroy the very beings she’d summoned here.

41

LUKA

He kept her held tight to him, her back to his chest, when they stepped from the air. Her heart rate was still fast, her emotions too wild and chaotic. They had lessened some when he’d finally been able to get to her. There was no doubt this had all been a meticulously planned setup. The thing they hadn’t been able to sit down and figure out yet was why and who.

“Nylah and Roan,” she gasped out, her breaths as rapid as her heartbeat. Her inhales too short as if she couldn’t remember how to breathe.

“Were already making a run for it. They will be fine. They are somehow always fine,” Luka said. “I need you to take a breath, baby girl.”

She shook her head, the movement violent and erratic as she tried to break from his hold. What the fuck had happened there? And why was she holding a bow?

“Tessa, just—” Luka started.

“Tessa, stop.”

The command rang out in the space. An order from someone who was used to being obeyed.

An order from a ruling Lord.

Her head whipped to the side where Theon stood, emerald eyes narrowed on them.

“I don’t take orders fromyou,” she sneered. “Not anymore.”

A dark smirk curled on one corner of his mouth. “Beautiful, you took orders from me just a few weeks ago when you crawled across the floor.”

“Only because I knew it would hurt you to know I was sucking off your best friend when I never did that for you,” she snarled back.

Theon shrugged, slipping his hands into his pockets as he rocked back on his heels. “I’ve always said I’ll take whatever you’re willing to give me, and I got off to all the lust flooding down the bond between the two of you. There was nothing painful about that, clever tempest.”

Tessa tsked in annoyance, rolling her eyes.

But it had worked.

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