Page 67 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

“Tessa, I?—”

“You know I could have this seat if I wanted it, right?” she interrupted, stabbing her dagger into the desktop before lowering into his father’s chair. The thing was overly regal, like all his father’s decor was, and she leaned back in it, running her hands along the arms. She looked like a queen more than his father had ever looked like a king.

“That seat’s not yours, beautiful,” he said, his darkness starting to drift around the light that bound him.

She didn’t seem to notice as she said, “It could be if I wanted it.”

“You can’t handle the responsibilities of that seat.”

She went still, violet gaze snapping to his. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“That job requires caring for those in the Arius Kingdom. I think you’d find that hard to do if your goal is tokillall the Arius Legacy.” When she only narrowed her eyes, he pushed on. “I know you are the granddaughter of Arius, Tessa, but there’s more to ruling this kingdom than merely being the mostpowerful. Why do you think I wanted to take the role from my father? I’ve never lied about that.”

“No,” she snapped. “You’ve only usedmeto try to reach that end.”

“And you’re any different?” he retorted, his magic gently winding into her light.

“Why does everyone keep berating me for this?” she seethed, and Theon stilled as her bands of light started rapidly winding up her arms.

The air around her stirred, charging with chaotic energy, and her next words were said more to herself than to him.

“They made me into this. They tried to make me small. Too wild. Too impulsive. And now when I join them? Become a monster? Be one of them?” Her gaze snapped back to him. “I am exactly what you wanted me to be,” she said, a maniacal note to her voice. “Someone they fear as much as you.”

“Together, beautiful. I wanted them to fear what we would be together,” he corrected, every part of him going on high alert as what appeared to be flecks of gold and silver ashes—or maybe they were embers?—flickered in the air around her. “And not at the expense of my people. Not at the sacrifice ofAxel.”

“You made me what I am, Theon,” she snapped, getting back to her feet. She wrenched the dagger from the desk, sparks of energy flitting down the golden blade. “You and Luka. Your father. Mother Cordelia. This entire fucking realm. You do not get to pick and choose the villains. You don’t get to choose the sacrifices.”

“And you do?”

“It is what fate demands of me,” she replied sharply.

“Fate doesn’t get to own you, Tessa.”

“And you do?” she parroted.

“You saying this is fate is no different than the Lords and Ladies saying it is the destiny of the Fae to serve,” he said, his darkness seeping into the light a little more.

Her laugh was a harsh sound. “Are you telling me you suddenly believe the Fae should havechoices, Theon St. Orcas?”

Was he saying that? The days had been so busy and hectic, he’d hardly had time to speak with Corbin and Lange about what they knew, and when he did, they were vague. Which was infuriating in and of itself, but he was trying to… Build some trust maybe? He didn’t know.

In all of this, he wasn’t entirely sure what to believe anymore. But he knew he needed to protect his kingdom and the innocent people who had no idea they were about to be casualties in a war they didn’t even know was playing out. He believed this as much as she believed it was her purpose to destroy it.

We were always meant to destroy one another.

He shoved the echo of her words aside, and switching tactics, he said, “I’m saying it seems a little cowardly to not care about someone who cared so deeply about you. And so we are clear, I’m referring to Axel here.”

The quick clarification had that fury in her features stilling. “Do go on,” she purred. “Tell me more about howcowardlyI am.”

He forced himself to rein in his own emotions just a little longer as he felt his darkness carefully prying her light from his wrists. “He fought for you, Tessa!” he snapped. “He gave you time to run from Pavil and Matias. He tried to save you the night of the Emerging Ceremony. He took you running, and— He fuckingcared, and you clearly did not.”

He got his hands free just in time to stop the explosion of power she threw at him.

Darkness met light.

He felt the force of that collision as it flared outward, but he managed to keep his feet planted. His darkness had immediately settled over him like armor. Tessa might be stronger than he was, but that didn't mean she could easily overpower him. He'd never truly fought back against her, and because of that, she seemed to think that overtaking him would require little effort. Her look of shock at him being free of her bonds was proof enough of that.

His darkness drifted along the floor, a thick, inky fog that was knee high. His shadow wings had appeared, spreading wide behind him, and he knew his eyes were more black than green right now. Orbs of black hovered near his hands, ready for him to pull weapons from a pocket realm, while his magic coiled in his palm, waiting for him to issue an order.

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