Page 121 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
Rordan studied him for a long moment, everyone in the room seeming to hold their breath before he pushed off the desk. He drew a dagger of his own, slicing it across his palm before clasping Theon’s hand.
“Speak it again, and let your blood reveal a lie,” Rordan said, low and vicious.
“I swear on my blood and the god I descend from, I do not know where my mother is,” Theon repeated.
Rordan gripped his hand, and Theon knew he was waiting for the blood between their palms to spark with lies, but all he would find was truth.
After several seconds, Rordan dropped his hand with a sneer. “This isn’t over.” Then his gaze slid to Tessa. “You deny everything you were meant to be. Achaz will see to it you pay for that betrayal.”
Bright light flared, and he stepped through a light portal.
“Rordan!” Cordelia cried, trying to follow, but Theon’s magic snapped out, wrapping around her throat and yanking her back.
She cried out—or tried to—but that darkness tightened. Cordelia sank to her knees, fingers clawing at the power.
“I know her death is yours to claim, little storm,” Theon said darkly. “But I am going to ask your permission to claim it on your behalf.”
Tessa looked up at him, and he could feel…something he didn’t know what to do with down the bond. It was twisted and wicked, but also warm and light.
“Will you make it torturous?” she asked, that eerie ring back in her tone as she tilted her head, watching her former Estate Mother struggle to breathe.
“I will make it as torturous as she made your childhood,” he answered, and Cordelia’s eyes widened. She abandoned her attempt at trying to claw at his magic, instead scrambling away from him.
The room shook as wind blew violently around them, trying to do the same thing he was and steal their air, but he’d been prepared for this. A shield of dark power was wrapped around him and Tessa. She was a fool to waste her reserves on this, but he’d let her do just that.
“Theon,” Tessa breathed, something sinfully nefarious on her face as she watched Cordelia panic and scramble on the floor, only able to suck in short, minuscule breaths.
“No one is allowed to touch you without permission, Tessa,” Theon said, removing his suit jacket and proceeding to roll his sleeves up to his elbows.
“Yourpermission?” she asked with a defiant sneer.
He paused, slowly turning to her. Then he reached out and took her throat, tugging her closer so his words fanned over her lips when he said, “No, Tessa.Yours.” Her eyes flared before that power winked out. He’d take care of Cordelia and then that godsdamn cuff. “Now be a good girl and get me that dagger.”
She gave him a sardonic smile before pulling out of his grasp, his power keeping her protected from Cordelia’s desperate and sloppy attacks. He strolled forward, coming to a stop beside the female, staring down at her. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, and Theon loosened his grip on her enough to let her gulp some air. She coughed and spluttered, gasping dramatically.
“You can’t do this,” the Estate Mother panted, her waning power feebly attempting to do something and failing.
“Of course I can,” Theon said, Tessa returning to his side, dagger in hand. “You are beneath me. That’s how this works, right? You tortured Tessa when you thought she was beneath you?”
“She is uncontrollable,” Cordelia said, malice-filled eyes swinging to Tessa. “She needed to learn control.”
“I would say the same for you,” Theon said coldly. “Because every time she is in your presence,youcan’t seem to control yourself. So by your logic, that requires some discipline, no?”
“This is my estate!” she cried, her voice becoming too high-pitched as dark, thin tendrils began creeping up her torso,her chest. “You can’t— I’m an Estate Mother! I was promised protection!”
“And I am giving you that,” Theon said calmly, his power crawling up her neck. “I am currently protecting you fromher. Aren’t you grateful for my mercy?”
Those inky strands rose up, hovering over her mouth, and Cordelia’s eyes were wide and frantic. Her terror was palpable, and Theon glanced down at Tessa. She was impassive as she watched her Estate Mother on the ground, but he could feel her. Could feel the wicked delight at the retribution. Could feel the feral need for vengeance. Could feel the tentative awe at someone caring enough to give her this, let her watch this, because it was all for her.
“I asked you a question,” Theon demanded, and Cordelia jumped at the harsh tone. “Aren’t you grateful?”
“Her power is locked down. She is nothing without it,” Cordelia sneered, and then he felt Tessa flinch inwardly. It wasn’t something anyone would see because she was a master at keeping her emotions out of sight, but hefeltit. And any leash he’d been keeping on his self-control snapped.
Those tendrils struck, going up Cordelia’s nose, and when she opened her mouth to scream, they went down her throat. He moved slowly, letting that darkness burn hotter than any dragon fire as it slowly seeped into her bloodstream. Death ravaged, slowly tainting her blood and letting it flow through her body. Her veins became stark, first an ashy grey, then slowly becoming black webs across her body.
And on the outside, he was making sure she couldn’t scream, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t see, couldn’t move. His power moved as an extension of him, forcing her limbs to twist and contract, not caring as bones snapped to force them into the positions he wanted. Small. Confined.
Able to fit in a fucking cupboard.
