Page 312 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
Each step was purposeful, calm and slow as she made her way into the melee. Weapons clanged around her. Warriors from both sides crossed to the After. But as she sank deeper and deeper into her magic, everything seemed to slow. She ducked as swords swung above her, her power unfurling from her soul. It crackled out, an intricate network of light spreading beneath her feet.
Theon?she gasped down the bond, her power yanking for more of her.
Tessa? Where are you?
Do you see it?
See what?There was a pause.What are you doing?
Can you use your power to shield our own?
Tessa?
Please, Theon.
Fuck,he muttered.Yeah, tempest. I’ve got it.
She sucked in another breath as her power pulled enough to distract her, and it cost her. Someone wrapped an arm around her waist, lifting her off her feet as the air was pulled from her lungs.
Until she heard gurgling sounds, and she was dropped back to the ground.
She quickly rolled over, reaching for her dagger while struggling to hold back her magic, only to find Axel with blood dripping down his chin. He dropped a body beside her, the male that had held her now missing half his throat.
“Vicious,” she murmured with a smirk.
Axel only winked, yanking her to her feet. Then he was shoving her back down as his hand wrapped around another throat. “They don’t fucking stop,” he snarled, his fingers flexing.
“I got it,” Tessa said, scrambling out from under him and shoving her dagger deep into the chest of a female.
For the next few minutes, it was the two of them. Axel’s strength and her blades, her magic moving with her.
“What is Theon doing?” Axel gritted out, snagging another Legacy as he ran by.
Tessa sank a dagger into his back. “Helping me,” she panted.
Because everyone on their side standing atop her net of light was being draped in darkness, and gods, she hoped it was going to be enough.
“Go find Kat,” Tessa said. “Stay off the light.”
He looked down, seeing what she meant, and nodded. “You good, baby doll?”
Roan was slinking to her side, always knowing what she needed, and Tessa nodded. “Tell her to burn them all.”
He smiled darkly. “Will do.”
Then he was gone, moving faster than she could track. She didn’t know how he would find Kat, but she knew he would.
Ready, Theon?
Now, Tessa. This is a lot to hold.
She turned her face to the sky, letting the rain splash against her face, and when the next flash of lightning came, she let the leash on her power snap. It latched onto the energy, pulling it closer. It struck the center of her net of power, all the cracks sparking and exploding out. Anyone not covered in Theon’s protection was on their knees, then their backs, screaming while the energy jolted through them over and over.
While her power took and feasted and devoured.
Theon was suddenly at her side, pulling her back to her feet. She didn’t even know when she’d dropped to her knees, but now that she’d let it out, her power didn’t stop.
“Take some,” she panted, clutching Theon’s arm. “Take some, Theon.”
