Page 56 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

The male only nodded, his eyes never leaving her.

“Yes,” she answered. “He said Theonsenthim to me, but I do not know if I believe him.”

“Either way, there is only one instance that would allow him to put another before his Ward.”

“And what is that?”

The male tipped his head back, his eyes falling closed. She could swear a small smile played on his lips as he murmured more to himself than her, “She is going to hate this.”

“What, exactly, isthis?” Tessa snapped.

“I thought you had to go?”

She swallowed her scream of frustration before spinning on her heel and making her way back up the stairs, her wolves on her heels. She slipped through the door and into a deserted hall. There was truly nothing remarkable about the passage or the door. It was why she’d stumbled upon it by accident, but it was still odd to her there were no sentinels guarding this door. She could only assume it was warded, which was why she was able to pass without detection.

Nylah was in front of her as she often was, while Roan prowled at her side, always staying close. When the darker wolf paused, her ears perking up, Tessa paused too. Seconds later, Luka rounded the corner.

“Where have you been?” the dragon demanded.

She took her time looking him up and down. Which was a mistake because he was in black pants and a black button-down, both of which hugged muscles she didn’t want to be looking at. And why the fuck was this suddenly such an issue? She’d spent months with this male. Sure, she’d noticed he was attractive, but it hadn’t been like this, even once the three of them had been bonded. She hadn’t been constantly drawn to him. Theon had always been there, demanding her attention.

“Tessa?” Luka snapped. His hand grabbed her wrist, spinning her so her back was against the wall.

Then he went still as deep growls reverberated through the space. Nylah was a few feet away, her paws planted, head down, and the hair on the back of her neck standing on end. Her teeth were bared, but Roan was right next to them. His massive jaws were snapping, and he was already crouched, preparing to attack.

And Tessa smiled, something dark and serpentine. Her head tilted, waiting to see what Luka would do next. His eyes shifted to those vertical pupils, and he stared down Roan as he exhaled a stream of smoke. Tessa was kind of impressed.

Okay, she was more thankind ofimpressed as Luka held his ground against her wolves. It did things to her, and?—

Gods-fucking-dammit.

If Luka felt any of her inner turmoil, he didn’t let it show. His eyes were still on Roan, his muscles coiled tight as he gritted out, “Call them off, Tessa.”

“Let me go,” she sneered.

She felt him hesitate, his fingers flexing where they still held her wrist against the wall by her head. With another shuddering breath, he released her and took a step back. Roan immediately moved forward, putting himself between them.

“I didn’t mean to— You get lost in your head sometimes,” he finally said. “I was only trying to bring you back. That’s all I’m trying to do.”

“I don’t get lost to fury,” she said tightly.

Luka blinked, those vertical pupils studying her. “I didn’t say you did,” he said slowly, as if unsure if he should say anything at all.

“I can’t— I don’t— What do you want anyway?” she stammered, reaching for her hair. But when Luka tracked the movement, she buried her fingers in Roan’s coat instead.

“People are looking for you,” he said.

“Why?”

“I’m assuming they want to keep track of their unpredictably powerful possession.”

“Fuck off, Luka,” she spat, shoving past him and continuing on her way, but he easily caught up to her with his long strides.

“Come now, Tessa,” he said, a hint of mocking to his tone. “You can’t see this for what it is?”

“Theon viewed me as a possession. That’s not how it is here. No one fuckingownsme here.”

Luka didn’t answer as they turned another corner, and she winced when she spotted Dex, Oralia, and Brecken at the other end of the hall. It was a wince Luka clearly felt down the bond because he looked down at her with a sardonic curl to his lips.

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