Page 264 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

Hazel eyes zeroed in on him, and the Lord lurched to his feet, stopping just short of the glass. He looked…terrible. The linen pants and top hung off of him, showcasing how much weight he’d lost. He had bands on his wrists keeping him separated from his magic. A cot and a bucket to piss in were all he had in his cell. His hair was long and a full beard had grown in.

“It’s about fucking time,” Valter snarled, his voice hoarse from disuse. “Did you bring Eviana?”

Luka didn’t know what to say. It was surreal to see him in there. The bane of his existence for so long. The tormenter of his chosen brothers. The male who had forced him to take life after life after life.

He wished Theon and Axel were here to witness this moment.

“Luka!” he snapped. “Get me…”

But he trailed off as Razik and Eliza came to his side, and then he was cursing when Cienna appeared.

“You traitorous bitch,” he rasped. “I see he rescinded the death order as the acting Lord.”

“Did you know?” Luka asked, but a part of him already knew the answer. Handing his father over to Rordan was absolutelysomething the male would do. Force Luka to become completely dependent on him and hischarity. Force him to be grateful for a place in his home. At his side.

Valter obviously understood what he was asking, his lip curling into a disgusted sneer. “I gave you everything.”

Luka nodded slowly. “Including misery and regrets.”

The male tsked, his gaze sweeping over Razik once more. “Who is this?”

“None of your concern,” he answered.

“Are you going to free me?” he demanded, nearly slamming his palms to the glass again.

“Sure,” Luka said. “In about twenty-five years.”

He turned his back on the male as he screamed curses after him. His heart beat faster with every step down the corridor. Then his chest seized, and Luka momentarily forgot how to breathe when he saw him. There were no shackles. Only a collar of white stone at his throat. There was scarcely enough room for movement. He’d been given the same accommodations as Valter, and all Luka could think wastwenty-five years.

His father had been here for twenty-five years, and he hadn’t known.

He could feel Razik and Eliza beside him, but he couldn’t look at them. Had no idea if his brother had figured it out yet. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from his father.

The male’s eyes had gone wide, bouncing back and forth between him and Razik. He opened his mouth, then closed it, as though he couldn’t find the words.

Then Cienna appeared at his other side, and his father’s gaze slid to her.

“Cienna Blackheart,” he said, something akin to relief filling his features.

“Xan Mors,” she returned in kind.

“It is finally time,” his father said, and Luka could swear there were tears glimmering.

Cienna nodded. “If you can convince him.”

Xan’s eyes went wide, and his gaze skipped over Luka, swinging to Razik. “Him?”

“What is happening here?” Luka asked. “We are running on very limited time.”

“There was a prophecy given when I arrived here with you and Tessa,” his father answered, but his eyes were still fixed on Razik. “When a son learned truth, a genesis would commence. That’s when my imprisonment would end. I just always assumed it was whenyoulearned I still lived, not that…”

He trailed off, staring at Razik, and Luka shifted, a jealous sensation creeping up. Hewasthe one who had learned the truth.Hewas the one who had planned all this.Hewas the one who had come to get him out of this place, and all his father could do was stare at Razik. The one who wanted nothing to do with either of them.

“How do we get him out?” Luka asked, turning away from him and facing Cienna.

“There are powerful enchantments here, and that stone around his throat prevents him from not only accessing his magic but shifting as well,” she answered.

Horror washed over him. “He’s been unable to access his magic or other form for twenty-five years?”

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