Page 31 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

“Tessie,” Dex snapped again. “I don’t know what I did to deserve your attitude this morning, but we can discuss this later.”

Tessa arched a brow just as Oralia came rushing down the stairs. “Sorry!” she cried, and Tessa winced at the shrillness. Theglare Dex shot Oralia told Tessa all she needed to know: Oralia’s job had been to keep her busy while he’d dealt with Luka.

“Tessa, let’s get going. Odessa is waiting,” Oralia said, ignoring Dex and dropping shoes next to Tessa on the stairs.

“Great. Luka is coming with us,” Tessa said, not bothering with the shoes as she stood.

“He is not,” Dex said. “Lord Jove will have my ass, Tessie.”

“I’ll take the blame,” she replied.

“That won’t matter. I’ll still bear the punishment. You’ll subject me to that?”

Her gaze slid to Luka’s, finding him watching her, his arms still crossed. “If you’re that worried, put some bands on him.”

“That’s not—” Dex let out a frustrated sound.

“He doesn’t think I’m going to hurt you,Tessie,” Luka said, and she glared at him. “He thinks I am somehow going to talk you into coming back to the Arius Kingdom.”

Tessa blinked a few times before sliding her attention back to Dex. “After all this, you think Luka can say some pretty words to me, and I’ll go back to Theon?”

“No, but I—” Dex started.

“You really have such little faith in me?”

“That’s not what I said?—”

“You do not trust me to fulfill my destiny?”

“Stop, Tessa,” Dex barked. “You know I only want to protect you.”

“I do not needprotectionfrom Luka,” she sneered, descending the final few steps and striding past him. “I will let Rordan know of the situation. You need not worry about your own wellbeing.”

“Tessa, wait!”

But she was already out the front door. She didn’t need to look to know that Luka was following her. She could feel it down the bond. Neither of them spoke as she led him across thegrounds to a small training building. It was a miniature version of the training arenas at the Acropolis, enchanted to contain the magic that was practiced within. She’d been told this was where Dagian had mastered his gifts, and Rordan before that.

Odessa was waiting for them. Her dirty blonde hair was tightly braided as always, and she wore the same attire Tessa was wearing. Well, almost. She had shoes on. Tessa was still barefoot, which was fine. She usually ended up barefoot by the end of training anyway.

“Who is this?” Odessa asked, faint light already emanating in her palms while she stared at Luka, her dark blue eyes narrowing.

“No one you need to worry about,” Tessa said with a dismissive wave of her hand, calling forth her own power that flared far brighter than Odessa’s.

“Did Lord Jove authorize him being here during your training sessions?”

“Rordan does not need to authorize anything for me,” Tessa said, energy sparking within her light.

“Perhaps not for you, but for me, he does,” Odessa replied. “He must leave, or I cannot proceed with our lesson today.”

“He’s not leaving.”

“Then I will,” the instructor countered.

“Then leave.”

Odessa blinked in surprise, and it took a few moments before she hesitantly said, “I don’t think that would be wise.”

“Either proceed or leave,” Tessa said.

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