Page 282 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

“My magic healed me,” she supplied. “Or still is. I’m not fully fine yet, but I don’t think I need…that. A Night Child stabbed me. The Hunters are forbidden to harm me.”

“Can you walk?” Luka asked, turning back to Theon.

“Maybe? Where are we going to go?” he answered.

“Back to the Pantheon,” Tristyn said.

“There is no way we simply walk back into the Pantheon,” Theon said, testing the mobility of his limbs.

“There is a hidden way. Once inside, we can go back to the center and decide our next moves. I think it’s our only option right now.”

So they went back the way they’d come, far worse for wear now. Tristyn stayed at Tessa’s side, where she remained silent and withdrawn. Roan was on her other side while Nylah prowled ahead of her. Razik and Luka flanked Theon. No one spoke while they made their way back into the Acropolis. Theon was used to making sure he was seen, his power announcing his arrival. Sneaking down dirty alleys and trying to blend in was not an easy feat.

Finally, Tristyn drew a Mark in blood on a wall, and they all ducked inside. Tessa was tense in front of them, her movements stiff, but she didn’t stop as they moved through the narrow winding passages. It was another twenty minutes before they all emptied into a large circular chamber. Theon immediately recognized the mirror on the opposite side. It was the same as the one in the Underground. What he hadn’t expected to find was Eliza and another male with a white stone collar around his throat.

A male that looked an awful lot like?—

“It’s my father,” was all Luka said. “Tell me what the fuck happened.”

“You mean what the fuck happened while you were busy brooding and ignoring all my attempts at communication?” Theon shot back.

“Gods, you’re pissy when you nearly die,” Luka muttered.

“He didn’t nearly die,” Razik said, crossing the room to Eliza. “He was slowly becoming paralyzed.”

“No one asked you,” Luka retorted.

“You did,” Razik deadpanned. “After I stopped the poison from spreading.”

“You freed him?”

Those were Tessa’s soft words as she stared at Xan, the male looking back at her almost with a fondness.

“Yes, and freed Valter in the process,” Luka replied. “We need to come up with a plan?—”

“Actually, we don’t,” Theon cut in, leaning against the wall.

“What do you mean we don’t?”

But his gaze was fixed on Tessa, who was staring back at him. “You asked me if I understand what is happening, and I didn’t until recently. Or maybe…” He sighed, swiping a hand down his face as he prepared to do this. “Maybe I just refused to accept it.” For the first time ever, he watched hope flicker in her violet eyes. “The decree was never about ruling Devram; it was about saving it.”

Immediately, that hope disappeared, everything about her hardening.

“Saving Devram,” she repeated. “You mean what the Augury believes?”

Theon nodded. “They are not wrong, Tessa.”

“They believe my very existence will be the end of Devram unless I am killed,” she deadpanned.

“And they are correct,” he said again.

“Theon, what the fuck are you talking about?” Luka cut in, watching Tessa, who was dutifully avoiding eye contact with the male.

“The balance,” Theon said. “In all things there must be balance, and when the balance is left uncorrected for too long, the Fates are forced to intervene.”

“I don’t understand,” Eliza said, stepping forward. “The Fatesdon’tinterfere. They often refuse to, letting natural consequences follow actions.”

“Until they are forced to,” Razik interrupted. “If the imbalance becomes too great and threatens the realms, they step in. Ultimately, that is their purpose. To make sure the balance is not allowed to tip too far to one side.”

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