Page 70 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

Yes, she was stronger than Theon. Yes, she had a theory that she was the most powerful being in Devram, but she would have lost that fight with Theon in the end. All he’d done was defend himself. The little power he had used against her wasn’t the full extent of what he could do. That was evident by the way he’dlet it manifest around him, and that had been…intoxicating. It was the only word she could think of to describe how Theon had looked with his darkness drifting around him, shadow wings spread wide. She hadn’t been able to tear her eyes away. And her magic?

Gods, her power had wanted as much as she had, and it had tried to take. It had lunged for him, snapping any leash she had on it. Theon had met it blow for blow, wielding his darkness with a precision and skill she couldn’t even fathom having. It shouldn’t have surprised her. His goal was to have control over everything. Of course he would have complete control over his magic before he’d even reached thirty years. He wasn’t even that much older than she was. Five years at the most. She certainly couldn’t use the excuse that it was because her power was more extensive when she had just witnessed what still couldn’t have been the full extent of his. What would it have been like if hehadeventually drawn from her?

Mud was squelching between her toes. She'd worn a path where she was pacing next to the partially frozen river. Her dress was now not only wet, but dirty. Her power was still tangled around her. She usually loved it when her magic did this. It made her feel safe and guarded. She didn't need to depend on someone else to protect her. She had her light. That was all she needed. But now she felt…chaotic.

Out of control.

Impulsive.

Wild.

And the urge to just give in, to let her magic have its way for good, was so strong as it writhed in her soul, demanding more and more of her. Taking what it wanted. She remembered Theon once telling her that if she let it, her magic would consume her until there was nothing left.

Nothing left didn’t sound so bad…

That thought bounced around her head as she slowly turned to the river. The water near the banks was frozen, but the current in the middle was violent, breaking off chunks of ice as it moved. Could she even drown? How do you kill the daughter of a god?

No, Tessa, came a growl down their bond. At the same time a dark voice said,Don’t you dare, little storm.

She shook her head, the sounds of their voices quieting her chaotic thoughts. She didn’t want to cross the Veil. At one point in her life, maybe, but not now. Not most days anyway.

"What do we have here?" came a croon that had Tessa spinning. "A little Source where she shouldn't be?"

She watched as a tall, wiry figure slunk from the shadows, wearing some sort of long cape. It had a hood that was pulled up, keeping his face hidden from the sun. In fact, not an inch of flesh was visible, and that only confirmed to Tessa what she already knew: he was a Night Child.

"I'm not a Source," she retorted, her light converging in her hands, energy sparking.

"Maybe not to the Arius Lord, but you are a source of something," he answered, stalking closer.

"Who sent you?" she demanded, remembering how Theon had told her the vampyres were often hired as mercenaries.

The male tutted disapprovingly. "You know I cannot betray my employer. Even if I wanted to, a Secrecy Mark prevents me from uttering a single word."

The sound of snow crunching underfoot had Tessa turning to find another vampyre appearing. And another. And another. This was the Underground all over again, except this time, she was by herself.

Her heart hammered as they drifted closer, her power vibrating around her. She'd expended a decent amount with Theon, and now her magic was ready to feast and refill. She had no control over it, and a part of her didn't care. Her light flaredout in a wide radius, the Night Children hissing and flinching back.

"He betrayed his own people by bonding with you," the leader of the group seethed. “For a decade they have preached to us of freedoms. They have told us they see us as more than the rest of the realm views us. Then he bringsyouto the Underground with all that godsdamnlight,proving what we’ve always suspected.”

"So you turned on him and partnered with another?" Tessa sneered.

"Clever little source," he crooned, daring to slink closer. "I still won't tell you who."

She gave him a simpering smile. "Then I guess my light will search your darkness for the answer."

She tried to direct her power where she wanted it to go, like that day in the training arena when Luka had popped up behind her and talked her through it. She turned her hand, trying to get the positioning just right, but when the power arced, it hit too far to the left.

The vampyre stared at the spot for a long moment, and then he laughed, the others joining in. "Here we were worried," he replied, pulling back his hood and baring teeth with canines that were too long. "But I know you're going to taste divine as I drain the life from you."

"You can't kill me," she retorted. "I'm not a Legacy."

"No, but you are the death of this realm," he returned, and then they attacked.

Any semblance of an organized defense evaporated as she descended into panic. Her magic took over, and it tugged at her, begging her to give in and let it have complete control. She tried. Gods, did she try to hang on, but when she didn't willingly give in, it yanked itself free.

And while it protected her, it was terrifying. The last time this had happened, she'd loved it. She’d loved that people now feared her, feared what would happen when she appeared, but her power did not seem to care who or what it was devouring. She was fairly certain it would take from friend and enemy at this point.

Shrieks of pain rang out as her magic moved. It didn't take them all at once. It was strategic, going after them one at a time and reveling in their misery as it took and feasted. And with each death, it strengthened. With each life it took, her hope of regaining any semblance of control lessened.

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