Page 163 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
“All beings with power have Chaos,” Xan said. “There are beings of Chaos who emerged directly from the Chaos, such as the First gods and goddesses, but Chaos is the undercurrent of all magic. It is Chaos that determines how powerful one’s gifts are. Legacy are powerful, but that power is diluted by mortal blood. Fae have traces of Chaos, created to balance the Legacy but never overpower them.”
“But it could happen,” Razik added. “We’re seeing this in our realm. If two powerful Fae come together, their children could be…”
Xan nodded. “Yes. The Fae are monitored closely in all realms.”
“In our realm, there is contention about powerful Fae joining,” Eliza said.
“For good reason,” Xan replied. “If children came to be, they would be sought from all the realms if they were powerful enough.”
Eliza and Razik shared a look, but Theon didn’t have time to try to decipher it. “Fine. We’ve established why Tessa can…feelDagian, but how was it hidden?”
“Elowyn is skilled, just like your own Witches,” Dagian said casually, casting a look at Cienna and Gia.
“A tonic then,” Tristyn said, toying with an unlit roll of lull-leaf in his hand.
Dagian nodded. “But returning to your previous question,” he said, his attention back on Tessa. “You are not the only imbalance because, like I said, my father has been collecting power. Power that one has been bringing to him.”
He jerked his chin at Brecken, and they all turned to the seraph. Well, most of them. Luka kept his attention fixed onDagian, not willing to give him any chance to catch them off guard.
“Brecken?” Tessa asked, her power lingering around her as she held his gaze.
“You knew this, Tessa,” he answered solemnly. “You knew I was tracking down powerful Fae. Part of that was a search for you for a while, but after…”
“You knew this? That Rordan was taking their power?”
He nodded. “I saved as many as I could,” he said with a pointed look at Katya.
Kat started, struggling to sit up straighter. “What do you mean, you saved me?”
“I wasn’t supposed to take you to the Celeste Estate,” he answered. “I was supposed to take you to Faven. Same with Corbin and Lange.”
“Why didn’t Rordan just come take them?” Tessa asked, drifting closer. It took everything in Theon not to reach out and tug her back. Tuck her behind him and protect her, but he couldn’t protect her from truth.
“Once they entered the Celeste Estate and were processed as a completed transfer, it would have been too noticeable to move them again so soon,” Brecken answered. “If they disappeared during transport, it was easier to cover up. There were other dangers, but that one, at least, was stopped. And then there was you. He wouldn’t risk revealing himself before it was time. You became their safeguard.”
“How is he taking their magic?” Razik cut in, studying Dagian. “The only way that can be done in our realm is if a goddess does it.”
“Only a being of Chaos can transfer magic from one to another,” Xan said. “The process is agonizing for the one losing their power, but if not willingly given, they do not survive.”
“But the gods cannot come here,” Axel interjected.
“There are other beings of Chaos,” Theon answered, his attention back on Dagian. “Aren’t you a being of Chaos, Xan? The son of a god?”
Xan shook his head. “My mother was mortal. As we discussed, that dilutes the power. To transfer magic, especially from someone unwilling… That would take a great deal of Chaos. A god or goddess. A Fate. A World Walker or a?—”
“Seraph,” Tessa said. “A seraph is a being of Chaos.”
“Not all of them,” Xan said. “Just like not all dragons are beings of Chaos. They didn’t all emerge from the Chaos behind the gods, nor were they created from it like the Lessers.”
“Does it really matterhowhe is doing it?” Dagian interrupted. “What matters is that heis. He is powerful. He’s taken so much power, he cannot be taken down by the other Ladies. Or a Lord. Even Tessa will find it a challenge. She might be more powerful, but defeating my father will drain her to the brink of death. She might not survive it.”
“Then we find another way,” Theon said immediately. There was no way in all the realms he’d let Tessa get to that point.
A dark grin lifted on Dagian’s lips. “I’m glad you say that,” he answered. “Because that brings me to my proposal. I will help you, but I require something in return.”
“What is it?” Theon asked, eyes narrowing in suspicion.
“When this is over, my life is spared, along with Sasha’s. I want my family’s home in Coveyll.”
