Page 243 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
A hand brushed his arm, and he looked away from his father to find Tessa looking up at him in curiosity. Her eyes were still glowing, and she was still a little lost to her power when she asked, “Are you going to fly with him?”
“What?” Luka asked.
“Go fly with him,” she said again.
“Go, Luka,” Theon added with a grin.
With a grin of his own, he shifted and was in the sky with his next breath. The air was cool against his heated skin, and he let out a roar when his father flew higher, twisting and turning as he chased the thrill of flying. Luka couldn’t imagine not being able to do this for twenty-five years. He got in a mood if he went two days without flying, let alone twenty-five fucking years.
Luka banked in midair, and then stalled, hovering in place as he spotted the male perched on the roof of Arius House. He still only had his wings, but he was watching them both, his features expressionless. His wings flared, and Luka waited, willing him to join them. He was the reason this was even happening after all.
Razik’s head tilted, and Luka knew Eliza was speaking to him down the bond. But Razik shook his head, and Luka wondered if he’d ever get to a place where he could admit he wanted a relationship with Xan. Maybe someday, but he wouldn’t let his brother keep him from enjoying this moment. For twenty-five years, he’d thought he was the last of his kind, and now he was in the sky with his father while his brother watched on.
He looked down, finding those on the ground watching them. He could make out Tessa’s smile where she was tucked into Theon’s side. Without her, he wouldn’t have any of this. It all went back to her.
The female he’d told Theon not to Select.
The one he’d swore wasn’t the one for this.
Too wild.
Too impulsive.
The perfect one for chaos.
43
EVIANA
There was a burning sensation beneath her skin that she couldn’t shake. A constant ache that pulsed with each beat of her heart and with every drop of magic that drained away with the bands. More than that, she was exhausted. Between Valter’s demands of her and sneaking off to Caris’s prison room every chance she could, she knew she was making it worse. Knew she was only helping Valter’s cause of weakening her to the point of restoring their bond. If it got to that point, she was fucked.
“Sit, Eve,” he said, pointing to the chair at his right.
She sank into it with as much grace as she could muster. “Thank you,” she murmured, knowing if she didn’t, she would be reprimanded and possibly made to stand once more.
Valter reached for a small plate in front of him laden with mixed fruit, scrambled eggs, and a chocolate chip muffin. Sliding it across the table, he placed it in front of her before returning to the reports he was looking over.
Eviana froze, unsure of what was happening here. He’d given her things like this in the past, but that was before the betrayal and the running and the blocking of the bond. Since they’dbeen reunited, it had only been bland foods. Oatmeal. Plain rice. Unseasoned vegetables.
“Eat, Eviana,” he ordered, his shadows snaking out and nudging her silverware closer to her.
Tentatively, she picked up the fork, scooping up a bite of scrambled eggs. This was a trap. Food restored her reserves, kept them from depleting. It was a trap, but by the gods, she washungry.Forcing herself to go slow, she took measured bites, despite wanting to shovel everything into her mouth. She hadn’t had a proper meal since before they’d left Raven Harbor for the Serafina Estate.
She saved the muffin for last though. A treat she rarely got, even when Valter had thought she was under his thumb. She nearly moaned at the first bite, the sweetness of the chocolate dancing across her tongue. Try as she might, there was nothing slow and measured about the way she ate that muffin. Valter didn’t say a word. Didn’t even look up at her. One would think it a blessing to have his attention diverted elsewhere, but one would have to be favored by the gods to receive blessings. She was most certainly not favored by the gods or the Fates, or anything else for that matter.
The doors to the dining room opened, and Priya came skipping in. She was in a lavender dress with flowers along the hem, and her hair was braided in two plaits that hung over her shoulders.
“Good morning, Valter,” she sang, climbing onto the chair to his left.
Valter immediately put the reports aside, giving the child his full attention. “Good morning, my sweet Priya,” he greeted with a smile. “How has your morning been so far?”
“Great,” she answered, shifting to the side so the nursemaid could place a breakfast plate before her. The girl frowned as she studied her plate of toast, eggs, fruit, and sausage.
“Is something wrong, my sweet?” Valter asked, a plate being placed before him as well.
Eviana hid her confusion. Had she been served before him? He had waited to eat with Priya?
“I just thought…” She looked up at him, her turquoise eyes somewhere between disappointed and upset.
