Page 138 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
“What if I do think that?”
“Good,” he answered. “That is my wife and child she threatened.”
“And it’smywife you’re threatening,” Theon retorted.
Axel nearly dropped the dishes of food as he held his brother’s stare. Not knowing what else to say, he blurted, “Does Luka know that?”
Theon shoved a hand through his hair. “Not yet.”
“Idiot,” Axel said with another huff of laughter. “You couldn’t just let me have this, huh? You had to go get a wife too?”
“By Arius, you are a prick,” Theon sighed, beginning to clean up the mess on the counter.
Axel kind of wanted to ask what his plan was from here. How this was all going to work with Luka now. But he was also moreconcerned with talking to Tessa about Kat and the possibility of the babe coming early. He’d leave Theon to deal with his own shit for now.
“Don’t follow me,”Axel called over his shoulder as he left the kitchen.
He climbed the stairs to the second floor. He and Kat had taken over the third floor primary bedroom so someone had Traveled Luka to Theon’s suite. And thank the gods for that. There was no way they would have been able to haul the male up the stairs. He would have had to stay on the living room floor.
Pushing open the door, he didn’t bother keeping quiet. Luka was going to wake up when he was well enough to do so, and he didn’t care if he woke or startled Tessa. As it happened, she was curled up in an armchair next to the bed, a blanket draped over her as she slept. Rounding the bed, he kicked the leg of the chair, making it shake, and Tessa jolted awake.
Her attention immediately went to Luka, and when she found him still sleeping, her gaze slid to Axel, eyes widening in surprise. He unceremoniously dropped the plate with the sandwich, fruit, and whatnot into her lap, a few grapes rolling to the floor. Then he let the water bottle drop beside her. Not wanting to clean up spilled soup, he opted to set the bowl on the bedside table.
“Thanks, I guess,” Tessa said, eyeing him as she reached for the water bottle.
His laugh was humorless and dark. “Oh, baby doll, don’t thank me quite yet,” he purred. Moving quickly, he was beside her chair once more, one hand braced on the back, the other on the arm as he leaned in.
She jumped, the water bottle crashing to the floor, but she managed to keep the plate in her lap. “Gods, Axel,” she snapped.
Ignoring her, he said, “The last time we spoke, you told me you were going to kill me and my entire bloodline. ButI’ve also just learned you’re my brother’s wife. Seems a little counterproductive. What’s changed?”
She glared at him, securing the plate in her lap. “A lot has changed,” she grumbled, immediately unwrapping the chocolate, breaking off a piece, and taking a bite.
“I’m going to need more than that, Tessa.”
“I thought it was my purpose,” she answered, eyes on her lap. “I thought…”
“You thought it was your purpose tokillmy entire bloodline?” he demanded. “Look me in the face and tell me that.”
Her head snapped up, eyes hard and glowing. “You know what? Yes, Axel. I thought that was my purpose. When you’re told something often enough, you start to believe it. I was told I was nothing. Worthless. Then I was told I was only valuable because of my power. So when someone came along and said I had a purpose that was more than being a vessel to funnel power, I believed them.” The plate had clattered to the floor, the food forgotten as she twisted onto her knees so she could be face-to-face with him. “This world taught me to hate. This world taught me how to seek vengeance. This world taught me that being the most powerful in the room is how you get what you want. So yes, I went where I could have all of that. I would have done anything to keep it.”
“And what the fuck changed?” Axel pressed, his tone as harsh as hers. “What’s stopping you from using that power you have and ending my existence right here and now?”
She sat back on her heels, her hands on either side of his on the chair arm. “No one controls us,” she hissed. “No one uses us. Not Theon or Rordan. Not Achaz or Arius. What do you want me to say? That I was weak enough to be constantly manipulated? That I was desperate enough to believe pretty words and lies because it made it hurt less? That it was easier to let them havecontrol because fighting for myself is hard, and I didn’t know if I was worth it? Because all those things are true.”
“None of that answers what has changed,” Axel snarled. “None of that is enough for me to let my wife and unborn child near you.”
“It’s because of your wife and child I’m still here,” she spat back, lurching forward and once again in his face. “It’s because of the Fae, forced to kneel and serve. It’s because of the children just like yours, who when discovered, will be handed a fate worse than a Fae. It’s for everyone forced to stay in the Underground simply because they don’t fit in the kingdoms. It’s because injustice shouldn’t be tolerated simply because that’s the way it’s always been done. Injustice wrapped in pretty words is still injustice thousands of years later. I claimed my power. Now I will use it for those who have none. Is that what you want to hear?”
“Is it true?” Axel asked, with a smile so dark and wide, the tips of his fangs showed.
She answered in kind, her power filling her eyes. “Every word.”
“Then, yes, baby doll. That’s exactly what I wanted to hear. I want to know that when I emerge from the Underground with Kat and my son, you’ll fight for them with all that power,” he answered. “But so we’re clear, if any of that was a lie, you’ll be my next meal.”
Her nose scrunched up. “Did you just threaten to eat me?”
“Yes, and not in the good way. You can get that from Theon,” Axel retorted, straightening.
