Page 62 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

"That he made to make you happy."

"That he made because he thought he was outsmarting me." Then she added with a sneer, "Want to try again?"

Luka stood then, so suddenly it startled her, and she stumbled back a step as he approached. Her light had advanced, winding around her arms again, and he shifted his eyes, just to match her chaos because he could.

"You're right, Tessa. He took from you, manipulated you, and tried to cage you. But you did the same godsdamn thing. Call it revenge. Call it justice. Call it whatever you fucking want, but don't pretend you are the innocent victim in this. Maybe you started out that way, but not anymore," Luka said.

"Are you saying because I fought back, I, what? Deserved everything that happened?" Tessa fumed.

"No," he replied, leaning in closer. “I’m saying that it's a little paradoxical that you hated the monsters so much, you decided to become one only to employ the same tactics you hate. Who cares about the casualties as long as you get the ending you want, right?”

“Youtold me that the monsters take their happy endings and leave blood trails, Luka,” she cried, throwing up her hands in frustration. “I am doing nothing different from you or Theon. You believe in your purpose and will sacrifice for it.”

“You’re sacrificingAxel,Tessa,” he replied, his voice rising.

“Of course that’s your argument,” she scoffed.

His head tilted, a completely predatory move as his dragon paced, wanting to put her in her place but loving that she wasn’t afraid of him. Not like she once was.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Luka asked.

“If it was someone you didn’t know, if it was anyone else but Axel or Theon, would you even care, Luka?” she shot back.

He straightened, stepping back. Would he? Would he be this upset? Probably not, if he was being honest.

Her smile grew more wicked and confident. “I suppose that’s the good thing about not having anyone, notcaringabout anyone,” she mused. “Idon’tcare if it’s Axel or you or Theon. I don’t care if it’s Rordan or Tristyn?—”

“Katya or Lange? How about Corbin?” Luka interjected, knowing full well it was stupid to keep pushing her on this tonight. Her magic was already teetering on an edge.

"What is your problem tonight?" Tessa demanded, and Luka could swear her skin was glowing faintly.

"My problem is you showing up here whenever you want," he sneered, trying to figure out when, exactly, he’d started throwing fits like the St. Orcas brothers.

She barked an incredulous laugh. "Are you forgetting that I don't even want you here? You are the one who made that deal with Rordan, Luka. Blame yourself for that one."

“And yet, you haven't told him it's all a lie. Why haven't you, Tessa? If you want me gone so damn badly, that's the easiest way, and yet you insist on being diff?—”

"Call me difficult, Luka Mors," she interrupted. "I dare you."

Her voice was deadly and had that ring to it that always made him take pause. Her eyes were brilliantly violet, flecks of gold shimmering in them, and the power that wove around her arms was doing more than that now. Her feet were an inch off the ground. She hovered in the air, her golden hair floating on a phantom breeze, and what he could only describe as golden ashes were floating among the strands.

Gods, she was stunning with all that power and rage. If she could just learn to harness it, she would be unstoppable.

And before he knew what he was doing, he was back in front of her and taking her face in his hands. Hefelther heart stutter at the action, and his dragon was pushing for more. She was right here, in his hands, and he knew she wouldn't stop him.

"You're not difficult, Tessa," Luka said, his power lurking just beneath his skin and ready if she lost the little control she still held. "But you're trying so hard to be the villain, you're walking right into the very thing you're running from."

"I have a purpose," she said, holding his gaze, but there was a thread of defeat in her tone. "I have a destiny I cannot deny."

"Says who?"

"What?"

"Who says you cannot deny destiny? Fuck, who says thisisyour destiny?"

She shook her head, his large hands still framing her face. "I wouldn't expect you to understand."

"You've never let us try."

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