Page 116 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
He pulled back, a low groan coming from his chest. “I have to go, Tessa. We need to pretend for one more day.”
“One more day,” she repeated, but her gaze lingered on his lips because this damn bond was more than excited about what had been transpiring.Thatpart of the bond was back to working just fine.
He tapped her chin, forcing her eyes to his. “You do not regret last night?”
She shook her head.
He smiled. “I’ll see you at dinner,” he said, pressing one last kiss to her brow before going out to the living room to meet Brecken at the allotted time. Every morning before sunrise.
It was gross to be awake this early, so she rolled over, determined to sleep a little longer. But it never worked. She could never fall back to sleep, and if she did, it was fitful and not worth it in the end.
Grumbling, she flung back the blankets, showering and getting ready for the day. Of course, she’d only been provided with bright white and gold clothing, and she spent a good hour “altering” a dress into something she could actually wear and move in. Deep slits up the side. Hollows at the waist so she could breathe properly. She couldn’t find anything black to add, not even a curtain or sheet she could cut up, so when her power lingered, faint and weak, she sent it to the dress. Silver and onyx settled against the white garment, accenting with gold, and shesmiled as she twisted to look at it from all angles in the mirror. Even she could see the madness in that tilt of her lips.
Her gaze fell to the cuff, and despite having tried it every single day since speaking with Brecken, she sliced her finger with the scissors, careful not to let a drop of blood hit the floor. Instead, she smeared it across the cuff, watching the thing pulse faintly, the red absorbing into the thing, and then…nothing. Just like every other day.
With a sigh, she pulled her sleeves down, covering her wrists, and made her way to the living room with two minutes to spare before there was a knock on the door. Pulling it open, she flashed a dark grin to the seraph who stood waiting for her.
“Are you always so punctual?” she asked, tilting her head and studying the male.
Eyes that were a few shades darker than his soft grey wings stared back at her. His raven hair was neatly trimmed around his ears. He was handsome in that warrior way with muscles that showcased how intensely he trained.
Stepping to the side, he gestured for her to go in front of him, and she sighed. “So where are we going today?” she asked, her bare feet silent on the marble floors as he brushed past her to lead the way.
Of course, he didn’t answer her. She’d never heard him speak.
She watched his wings rustle slightly as he walked, back straight and head up. Not for the first time, she wondered what being the male had killed and what magic he now possessed. She hadn’t seen him use any power. Not that such a thing mattered. Dex had been using his power around her for years, and she hadn’t realized it.
They crossed the courtyard to the main estate building, and it wasn’t until they turned down an all too familiar hall that she stopped.
Digging her heels in and stepping back a few paces, she said, “I’m not going in there.”
The seraph stopped, turning to look her up and down before arching a brow. Tessa only crossed her arms, glaring at him. He’d have to throw her over his godsdamn shoulder and haul her to that office himself.
“Go tell Rordan or Dex, whichever one is waiting for me, that I will not be joining them there,” she said, the magic on her dress swirling in her agitation.
The male noticed it though, cocking his head and peering closer.
“Go tell them,” she repeated.
The seraph shrugged, turning away and continuing down the hall to the end. She watched him push the door open and gesture in her direction, and for the first time, she wondered if he actuallycouldn’tspeak.
Then Rordan appeared, casually strolling down the hall in his dark navy suit, blue eyes pinned on her in disapproval.
“Come, Tessalyn,” he said, stopping a few feet from her. “Breakfast is waiting, and we have sensitive matters to discuss.”
“I am not sitting in that room for hours today,” she replied, unease prickling in her gut at his words. “Pick somewhere else.”
“Everything is already set up and prepared. It will be a waste of everyone’s time to move things now.”
“That is not my problem,” she retorted, turning on a heel and going in the opposite direction. She ignored his barked command, making her way down another hall to one of the formal meeting spaces, where she plopped her ass in a chair at the head of the table.
When Rordan finally appeared, her elbow was on the table, chin in her hand. “I knew you’d see it my way,” she said, her tone dripping with faux sweetness as the seraph appeared behindRordan, laden down with a tray of breakfast items. “Thank you,” she added when he placed it on the table before her.
She immediately reached for the coffee carafe, pouring herself a cup and adding cream and sugar while Rordan stiffly set up his own things to her right, a few chairs down.
Studying the tray, she found it contained a platter of three doughnuts, all of them with chocolate frosting, a bowl of strawberries, hard-boiled eggs, and a small bottle of orange juice.
Ignoring the doughnuts, she pulled the strawberries closer before picking up a hard-boiled egg and taking a bite. She knew Rordan was watching her, but she ignored him, instead twisting to look out the window.
