Page 123 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
Felicity tsked, still turning as Tessa continued to circle. “Once again, Tessalyn, you saying something doesn’t make it true.”
“While I am an excellent liar, this time I speak truth. Ask him,” Tessa said, her smile growing.
Felicity spun to him. “Theon, I know she is your Source, but something needs to be done here.”
“Something is being done,” he answered, pulling his hands from his pockets, a small vial in one of them. He moved past Felicity and went to Tessa, taking her arm and pushing back thesleeve. Removing the stopper, he poured a few drops of blood onto the cuff, the contraption snapping open.
“How?” Tessa breathed, her eyes fluttering closed as her magic appeared, light flooding the space around her before flaring out again.
“Brecken,” he answered in a low voice, replacing the stopper and sliding it and the cuff into his pocket. The male had warned him not to leave the cuff lying around, and until they could figure out how to destroy it, he’d have to keep it with him.
Tessa lifted her palms, her brows pinching together as she studied them. “Something is wrong.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s not… Something is wrong,” she said again.
“Of course there is something wrong,” Felicity snapped, coming up beside them. She placed a hand on Theon’s forearm. “That’s what I’ve been saying. You’re?—”
But then she cried out as Tessa’s fist snapped out, connecting with her face.
“Stop touching things that aren’t yours,” she seethed, and while something might be wrong, there were still faint traces of light wrapped around her fist. And that power had left its mark on Felicity’s cheek, crackling and sending jolts of energy with each pulse.
“You can’t treat me like this!” Felicity cried, clutching her face. “I am a Legacy?—”
“As if I have ever cared about that,” Tessa seethed, and Theon lightly gripped her upper arm when she took a step toward her. “You care about power, like every other Legacy in this realm. That’s the only reason you signed that contract. Tell me, what did you and Cressida scheme to do these last months?”
“That is none of your concern,” Felicity flung back, and Theon could feel her power trying to wind around Tessa.
And he could tell when Tessa let her chaos bite back because Felicity flinched, a small cry sounding as her power retreated.
“Theon!” Felicity cried. “I know what you said before, but you still need me. You need a wife to become the Arius Lord.”
“And I have one,” Theon answered. “But I am curious. Whatdidyou and Cressida discuss?”
Her eyes widened, and she took a small step back. “She was guiding me. She’s been a Lord’s wife for decades. I’ve only ever wanted to be what you need, Theon.”
“How did she guide you?”
“She gave me advice on my role. Devram politics. How best to serve you and fulfill my duties,” she said, and now she was shuffling forward. She lifted her arms as if to reach for him, but she glanced at Tessa, and her features hardened again. Her hands dropped back to her sides, clenching into fists. “Fine. You want to know what your mother and I discussed? You are difficult, Theon. I was trying and offering myself to you, and all you wanted washer. But she can’t produce your heir. We’ve talked about this. So, yes, she gave me ideas on how to procure that.”
A harsh bark of laughter came from Tessa. “Are you saying you went to Cressida for advice on how to seduce her son?”
“He’s my husband!” she shrieked, her irritation peaking. “If I do not conceive an heir, I become nothing.”
“Then it is about the power,” Tessa said.
“It’s always about power,” Felicity sneered. “I was raised for this, yes, but I alsowantit. I want the status and the notoriety that comes with the position. I’m willing to do anything for it.”
“So you cozied up to Cressida?” Tessa asked. “Do you even realize Theon does not care for her?”
“I do not care,” she spat back, and Theon suddenly realized what Tessa was doing. Felicity was so riled up, she was speakingwithout thinking. Revealing secrets. Something he’d done to Tessa more than once. Clever, clever tempest.
“Theon wouldn’t give me the time of day, so I went to his mother,” Felicity was ranting. “We tried everything, but he never took the drinks I offered him. I made you think we were fucking until I could make it happen. Did whatever Valter and Cressida asked of me to make that happen. He never gave in, even when I presented myself bare and willing. I told him days ago he could have you and only use me to carry a child. I only needed him to give in once to bind him to me.”
Her brown eyes went wide as she realized what she’d said. A trembling hand came up, covering her mouth.
“Repeat that,” Theon said coldly.
