Page 15 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
So much fury as he had walked away from her.
“Stay with us, Tessa,” came a low murmur, and she blinked, finding Xan standing in front of her. He had a knowing look on his face, sapphire eyes searching hers. “Let him help you. The deeper you sink, the harder it will be to pull you back.”
Her lips pulled up at the corners. “Maybe I want to drown.”
If he was surprised she’d spoken, he didn’t show it, and he didn’t balk at her words either.
“I know that’s easier,” he said with a nod. “It’s easier to give in, but in the end? That’s all it will be. An end.”
Then he moved away as Luka approached, eyeing his retreating father suspiciously. “Are you all right?” he asked, still watching his father. When she didn’t reply, he finally turned to face her fully. “Before we go, Tristyn and Cienna need to remove the enchantment that was put on you when he freed you from the cells. We don’t know where we’re going to end up, and we need to be able to Travel in case we find ourselves somewhere unfavorable.”
She nodded because it would be nice to have the enchantment removed. It made her feel caged not being ableto portal anywhere, and she didn’t like feeling trapped. More than that, they could have all simply Traveled here rather than walking these last few hours. Roan nudged her hand, his nose wet and cold where he sat beside her. Nylah was pacing the perimeter of the chamber.
“It is easier to remove here,” Tristyn said, coming to Luka’s side. “Especially down here, where magic is stronger and more prevalent.”
“Why?” she asked.
Tristyn blinked, unable to conceal his surprise like Xan had, but a pleased expression quickly replaced it. “Because the Pantheon is located at the center of the continent. It is already a more powerful location because of its position as a nexus. Beyond that, this chamber is the center of the Pantheon, making it more powerful still. That is why the cells you were in could contain you. There is more magic here.”
“You mean more Chaos,” she supplied, her fingers winding into Roan’s fur once more.
Tristyn nodded slowly and almost seemed to hesitate before he said, “Yes, and because of that, I do not know how you will be affected. It will be easier forusto remove the enchantment, but I fear it will be harder onyou.”
“What does that mean?” Luka demanded, edging closer so he was partially blocking her from view.
She almost scoffed. She didn’t need physical protection. Only protection from those who tried to take from her. Control her with pretty words. Use her.
“She is already…immersed in her power,” Tristyn said. “Undoing this enchantment will require us to draw on the magic here, and her magic is drawn to…”
“Itself,” Tessa supplied, slipping past Luka and venturing deeper into the chamber. She kept her back turned to the passage she’d watched him walk down, leaving her behind.Instead, she focused on the mirror, where Eliza and Razik were speaking in a low tone.
“Stand in the center,” Cienna said in her usual harsh tone, and Tessa moved to the middle of the room. She reached up, pushing back her hood and removing the stocking hat Luka had given her, tossing it to the side where everyone had placed their packs of belongings.
She could feel it. The power Tristyn had referred to. It buzzed in the air, frenetic and enticing. Or maybe that was her own power? It didn’t really matter. They were one and the same. But the magic in her veins was seeking. The thing in her soul was stretching. She could feel it all. Everyone’s power. The dragons and the fire. The calming that Tristyn was pushing on her. The magic of the realm and the stars beyond.
The power of that mirror.
Cienna was circling her, drawing Marks on the ground as she went. Tristyn was standing before her, concern etched deep into his features.
“Luka will be here, wild fury,” Tristyn said, trying to muster his cocky smile. He truly was worried about this. How interesting. “As soon as we’re done, he’ll be here to pull you back.”
Her head canted to the side. “Back from where?”
“The madness,” Xan supplied. “Temural would often have to do so for your mother.”
Tessa blinked. For the first time in two weeks, she actuallywantedmore information. Despite her parents abandoning her, she was still curious. She didn’t know how she’d react if she ever met them. Would she be cold and distant like Razik? Or would she be tentative and open like Luka?
Probably more like Razik. He’d been intentionally abandoned; Luka had been a victim of this realm.
“Ready?” Tristyn asked, looking more nervous than Tessa had ever seen him. He was always cool and collected, snapping at Theon and putting people in their place.
Tessa nodded, once again wishing she’d taken her boots off before they did this. She curled her toes, hating the feeling of the socks.
“He can’t be in the circle with you,” Tristyn said. “You need to listen for his call.”
Tessa glanced at Luka, who stood with his arms crossed. Holding her stare, he said, “I will come for you, Tessa.”
One would think he’d felt her hesitation and uncertainty about that statement, but she knew that wasn’t the case. The bond was broken. It had broken the moment Theon had left this chamber. All three of them were broken, and there was no fixing them anymore.
