Page 325 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
Tristyn was leaving with Razik and Eliza, going to their world. Apparently there was something he was working on with Razik, and in return, his brother had agreed to help him track down the Witch he loved.
Tristyn led Tessa back to Theon, handing her off, and Theon held out a hand to Tristyn as well. He’d already said goodbye to Cienna, who was staying here to be with Gia and to help them all rebuild Devram.
“Blackheart,” Theon said tightly. “Thank you. For everything.”
“Especially the pizza and lull-leaf, right, wild fury?” he said with a wink.
Theon stiffened. Tessa laughed, but the sound quickly faded. “I’ll miss you, Tris.”
He reached out, thumbing her cheek once more. “If you are weak enough to fall…”
“You are strong enough to rise back up,” she whispered through her tears.
“It’s been an honor to witness.”
Her tears came faster now, and it took her a minute to get them under control. But when she did, she turned to where Scarlett and Sorin were waiting quietly near the mirror, as if they understood the pain of these goodbyes all too well.
“Achaz came for your world?” Tessa asked.
Scarlett’s brow pinched. “He tried.”
“And now? How do you keep him at bay?”
The female’s smile was pure wickedness. “He would have to get past me. He is a god, but I am more. I suspect he will try again at some point, and when he does, we’ll be ready as the guardians of our realm.”
“You control the mirror gates?” Theon asked in that tone that told Luka he was putting something together.
“I do, lordling,” she drawled. “It’s why I’m here, after all.”
“Is there more than one in your world?”
“There is.”
“And you don’t find that to be a risk to your world’s safety?”
She sighed. “Only World Walkers can activate the mirror gates for traveling between the worlds. As I am the only one left, no, I don’t find it a risk.”
“So we could leave the three remaining mirrors here. In case,” Theon said, gaze flicking to Tessa.
“In case what?”
“We can ever be of assistance to you. Or another realm. To return the favor,” Theon answered, straightening his cuffs. “I am told the battle for Devram was only one of many in an Everlasting War.”
“You would be correct,” Scarlett said. “And yes, the mirrors can remain. The gods still cannot come here, or Achaz would have done so already. But I would monitor them.”
“Noted,” Theon said with a small dip of his chin.
“We should go,” Sorin cut in.
Suddenly there was emotion clogging Luka’s throat, and he didn’t know why. But Eliza approached, uncharacteristically apprehensive. “He cares,” she whispered. “I promise he does.”
Luka nodded, and the female pushed up onto her toes to wrap him in an unexpected hug. She stepped back, and Razik was there, two packs in hand and that impassive look on his face.
“If you ever find yourself alone again, you know where to find me,” Razik said stiffly. There was a swirl of black flames before the male was holding out an empty frame, small and silver.
Luka’s eyes narrowed, and he snatched it from his hand. “This is mine.”
Razik shrugged a shoulder.
