Page 249 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

“Theon did mention she had seemed upset by all of that,” Luka said, rubbing at his jaw. “Dex is working against you then?”

“Dexter has been working against me from the beginning,” she said derisively. “It has always been one big long game for them and Rordan.”

“Them?”

“Rordan. Dex. Oralia. I’m unsure about Brecken, but he is still one of the light guardians,” she replied.

“A light guardian? You said that phrase before.”

She nodded, scooping up another bite. “Xan said they are basically the counterpart to you.”

It took her a moment to realize Luka had gone so still she could swear he wasn’t breathing.

“What?” she asked in confusion.

“What did you just say?”

“I said that light guardians are your counterparts. Arius and Sargon created Guardians. Achaz got mad and created light guardians in answer,” she explained.

“Andwhotold you that?”

His tone was too calm. Too dark. Too deadly.

And in that moment, she felt the blood drain from her face.

Oh, gods.

The bowl slipped from her hands to the floor, yogurt and berries spilling onto the rug.

“Luka, I?—”

Her hair was still wound around one of his thick fingers, and she could feel him vibrating with fury. “Who. The fuck. Told you that, Tessa.”

She swallowed, the yogurt threatening to come back up. “Just let me explain?—”

“Say it!” he yelled, and she flinched back, her hair slipping from his hold.

“Xan,” she whispered. And to make sure there was no doubt, she added, “Your father told me.”

Luka pushed to his feet, and she scrambled after him, keeping her distance as his eyes shifted and his wings tore free. She could see him trembling from where she stood, and she was certain he was fighting a full shift.

“Let me explain,” she tried again.

He’d never looked at her the way he did in that moment. His lip curled back, baring his teeth, as he snarled. “Explain it to me, Tessa. Explain to me how you’ve spoken to my godsdamn father and didn’t say a fucking word to me. Where is he?”

She swallowed again. “I discovered him by accident.”

“Where is he?” he growled again.

Tessa took a few more steps away from him before she said, “In Faven. In the cells beneath the palace.”

“When?”

“When what?” she asked, only because she didn’t want to answer the wrong question and make him more upset.

“When did you— How did you say it?Accidentallydiscover him?”

“Luka, please—” But she snapped her mouth shut at the look he sent her.

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