Page 215 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
“Do you feel okay? Your reserves are full?” Theon asked.
She sighed and nodded. “I’m fine, Theon.”
He moved to their side, saying, “Let’s go home and get cleaned up. I’ll have the kitchens prepare some food.”
“Nothing gross,” she sighed again as he dropped a kiss to the top of her head.
He hesitated. Not about the food. He’d deal with that later, but?—
“We’re going to the townhouse in the Acropolis, Tessa,” he said. “Luka went this morning and made sure it was vacant.”
She looked up at him. “You did?”
He nodded. “While you were sleeping.”
“But it’s only temporary,” Theon added. “Until we can be sure we can return to Arius House.”
She stared at him for a long minute, worrying her bottom lip. “Do I still get my own wing of the house and only have to see you when I want to?” she finally asked, batting her lashes.
“Oh, little storm,” he said in a low growl as he grabbed Luka’s arm, the male snickering. “As if you could ever hide from me now.”
“But I can run,” she crooned, mischief dancing in her eyes.
“Please do,” he answered. Leaning in close, he added, “But I’m not responsible for what happens when I catch you.”
38
TESSA
She blinked from her place on her knees in the mud. Her hands were at her back, and at her throat was a thick band of metal. She couldn’t see it, but she could feel it. Knew the thing was the same material as the cuff that Dex had put on her wrist that day in the mountains that absorbed her power. It would require the blood of three different First gods to remove it, and right now, it was containing and weakening her.
“Tessa,” Theon rasped. He was several feet away, and he was on his knees too. Blood was seeping from beneath his hand where it was pressed to his side. “Don’t listen to them. Don’t?—”
He hissed out a curse as a seraph appeared behind him, a fist slamming into his other side.
“Theon!” she cried, lurching to stand, but a hand gripped the collar at her throat, yanking her back.
“You’ve done enough,” Dex hissed. “For the love of Achaz, stay put and stop creating messes for me to clean up.” She glared up at him, and he smirked. “The attitude is pointless. Look around you. You’ve already lost.”
Her eyes swept the scene, taking in the…carnage. It was utter carnage. Broken bodies and bloodstained earth. Seraphswere moving among the fallen, making sure the dead stayed that way. There were some Legacy still alive, but she was certain none of them were Arius Legacy.
She sucked in a gasp when she recognized the bright red hair of the Anala Lady, the light gone from her amber eyes. Her Source was nearby, along with another female who had an arm outstretched toward…
Luka.
Luka and Xan were off to the side, matching white-stone collars at their throats where they knelt. Luka’s eyes were on her, and it was the first she had ever seen him look so…helpless as he looked between her and Theon. His wife and his Ward. Xan’s gaze was fixed on the female reaching for them.
A seraph stopped in front of Dex, standing at attention.
“Speak,” Dex barked.
“We’ve been searching everywhere and can’t find them,” the seraph reported.
“They have to be there. He rules the Underground.”
Oh, gods. They were searching for Axel. Axel and Kat?—
Her gaze whipped to Theon, where he’d been shoved face down. The seraph’s boot was on his back, but still he struggled. Still he fought, despite his power being completely depleted. He was the only one of them not yet bound.
