Page 63 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

Her eyes darted to the side, and he felt her reinforce her shields, blocking the bond.

“I told you that monsters take and leave blood trails,” he said in a low growl. Her eyes flew back to his at the words. “But I also told you it didn’t have to be like this, so right now, I’m calling bullshit on all of this. Everything you’ve just said. All the fuckery about destiny and promises, sacrifices and purpose.”

“You can’t call bullshit on fate, Luka.”

“I just did,” he answered, and before he could second guess the action, he closed the space between their mouths.

A small, surprised sound came from her, and she went still for a few seconds before she was kissing him back. This was so much better than their first kiss had been, when she’d barely been awake, let alone comprehended what was happening. She understood now. That was evident when her tongue slid out to touch his, apprehensive and unsure. Fire burned through hisblood, and he was swallowing down the growl that was clawing at him.

One of his hands stayed on her cheek, cupping her jaw, while the other slid into her hair. His fingers twined into the golden locks, tugging just as he’d told her it would be if things had been different. A soft moan came from her in response, and that small growl slipped free from his throat.

He pulled back just enough to murmur onto her lips, “Let me train you, Tessa.”

"No," she said. The response was breathy, but it was a firm rejection.

And it broke whatever had just happened in that kiss.

“Then you can't sleep here tonight,” he said.

“Fine.” She stepped back, his fingertips dragging along her jaw as she did, his other hand slipping free from her hair. Then she shoved the shirt at him that she still clutched in her hand.

"Take it," he said, trying to hand it back to her.

"I don't want it," she replied, that hardness back in her features. "I don't want anything from either of you."

Blinding light appeared behind her, making him wince and turn away. By the time it dimmed, she was gone.

Another choice where there was no one to catch him when the consequences came.

It took him several seconds to figure out where he was. This wasn't the Arius Kingdom, the Underground, or any other territory he knew intimately. No, he'd only been in this space a handful of times. This was a large lounge in the Pantheon where the ruling families gathered before a SelectionCeremony. Not the last time, of course. He'd been in the Grand Hall with Theon trying to talk him out of choosing Tessa.

But Tessa was here now. All the ruling families were. Anala and Falein. Celeste and Serafina. Rordan still headed Achaz. In fact, the only difference from the Selection five years prior was the absence of Valter.

Theon was here, clearly the ruling Lord now, and at his side was a very pregnant Felicity. Her chestnut hair fell down her back in waves, a Union Mark visible on her hand. Her eyes darted between Theon and where Tessa sat in an armchair. Violet eyes were taking everyone in, and the air was thick with tension.

“Axel and Brigid are the only two Selecting this year,” Rordan was saying, “so the Ceremony itself should be relatively short."

“I still do not understand why she is here,” Felicity said, looking up at Theon, a hand resting protectively on her stomach. Her tone held nothing but disdain, and it was clear she was referring to Tessa.

His eyes were on Tessa where they’d been this entire time. “We have been over this. There is a collective understanding.”

“Is that what it is?” Tessa asked, shifting and stretching her arms above her head. Everyone tensed, and she smiled a sharp, pointed thing. The silver wolf lying at her feet didn’t move, but his glowing eyes watched the room.

Theon sent her a look that would have made her cower the night he'd Selected her, but while Tessa still bore four Source Marks, Theon also still sported the Achaz Mark on the back of his hand too.

“It is more than you deserve after what you did to our kingdom. You should be in the Underground,” Felicity spat.

“I wish I were,” Tessa purred in response.

“Enough,” Theon hissed, his darkness appearing and making his wife flinch back. Tessa, however, didn’t even blink. “Unless you are suggesting you know better than the Lords and Ladies standing in this room with you, you will accept the consequences agreed to.”

Tessa clicked her tongue as she said mockingly, “Someone forgot their place.”

“Tessa,” Theon warned.

But Felicity’s smile turned as pointed as Tessa’s when she replied with faux sweetness, “And yet my jewelry was a gift.”

Tessa glared, and it was then that Luka realized Tessa had rings on six of her ten fingers. The type of rings that blocked power, keeping it trapped within. The same type Valter would use on them to keep them weakened during punishments. What the fuck had happened, and why would Theon agree to this?

---