Page 245 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

Goodbye, my Lord.

Eviana!

It was a cry of rage and panic rather than any type of mourning at losing her. He was losing power, not her.

But she couldn’t feel him. She could feel…

Nothing.

There was no voice rattling around in her mind.

No commands or orders.

No feelings.

Just blessed silence.

“I hope you understand that we still need to keep you locked up for now,” Tristyn said tentatively.

“You cannot be serious!” Eliza cried in outrage.

“I compromised on the Mark. I cannot compromise on this until we speak to Theon,” he replied in a tone that said he wouldn’t budge on this. “There is too much happening right now. Too much unknown with Dark Haven and the rest of the kingdom.”

Eviana didn’t care. They could lock her up. It was fine.

“Can I have some paper and a pen?” she asked.

“Yes,” Eliza answered immediately, going to secure the items.

They led her down the stairs, and she already knew where they were going. There were a few small cells in the basement. She wasn’t surprised to pass Ford sitting along the wall in one of them. His gaze followed her.

The sound of the bars clanging shut behind her didn’t bother her. Neither did the uncomfortable cot that Eliza promised to bring down extra blankets for. She waited until the footfalls faded. She waited until there was nothing but still quiet.

Then she sat on the floor, smoothing out the paper, and started to plan.

43

TESSA

“I’ll let her know. Let me know if you can get away for an hour tonight,” Luka was saying, his phone pressed between his ear and shoulder as he cut something at the kitchen counter. “I know that,” he added, before grabbing the phone and tossing it aside.

Tessa didn’t know how he’d managed to make this place not feel like a cave, but it suited him. The decor was similar to his spaces at the Arius holdings. The mattress on the floor with too many pillows and blankets. The leather sofas and large overstuffed chairs.

And all the frames.

So many fucking frames of all sizes.

She was surprised she hadn’t found drawers full of rings in this place.

He even had running water here. It was impressive, and she’d been grateful as the water had rained down on her after all the sex.

Thereallygood sex.

That had been going on for a few days while she’d been hiding from the rest of the world.

The only other person she’d had sex with likethatwas Theon. It’d been different, but equally intense, andgods.Just thinking about any of it—Luka, Theon, both of them—had her pressing her thighs together.

She looked up to find Luka smirking at her, still chopping whatever he was preparing in the kitchen. She huffed, crossing her arms. For the last few days, she’d hardly worn clothing, slipping on one of Luka’s shirts if needed. When she’d come out of the bathroom this time though, she’d found a set of neatly folded clothes waiting for her. A fitted long-sleeve black top and pants.

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