Page 214 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
“Something she knows nothing about,” he retorted. “They have put a naïve child in charge of the Arius Kingdom.”
“And a treacherous thief holds the Achaz throne,” Tessa returned. Then she added with a sharp smile, “For now.”
“You are not more powerful than I am,” Rordan spat. “You cannot challenge me and win.”
Tessa only smiled in return. “As a fellow Lady, I find it my duty to inform the other Ladies of your transgressions. Do theyknow where powerful Fae disappear to? How you mark babes from the Sirana Villas to hunt down later when their powers develop? Do they know you take what does not belong to you in preparation for taking from them next? That you were planning to use me to do the same?”
“And now what?” Rordan sneered. “You will take it all forhim?All in the name of Arius, right? Now you will face the same fate that will eventually come for him.”
Theon cursed as blinding white light flared, and he dove for Tessa at the same time Luka did. But she was on her feet, her power shielding themandthe Ladies. The light faded, and Theon blinked, trying to regain his vision.
“Fuck,” Luka muttered, clearly having shifted his eyes and seeing what he couldn’t yet.
Theon could hear the wolves growling and snapping, and when he could finally see again, he was staring at a room full of seraphs. Feathered wings and weapons drawn, the warriors were in formation, ready for a battle, and standing next to Rordan was Dexter.
“I am so utterly disappointed, Tessie,” Dex sighed. He took a step towards her, but Nylah was there, snapping her massive jaw. He curled his lip in disgust. “I gave you every opportunity, and you still chose…this. You will have to beg Achaz for mercy for this betrayal.”
“You can beg Arius for mercy all you want when you greet him in the Pits of Torment,” she replied, slowly raising her bow, where she already had an arrow nocked. She must have summoned it when Rordan had blinded them all. “But I will ensure he makes your eternity agony.”
She released the arrow, but Dex Traveled a moment before it struck. Instead, it hit another seraph. The being froze before disintegrating into nothing but embers and ashes.
“So be it,” Rordan sneered. He turned to the Ladies. “She has started a war, and your kingdoms will be the cost of it.” With a look at the seraph to his right, he added, “Kill them all.”
Then he was gone, stepping through a portal of light as the seraphs attacked.
“You have got to be kidding me,” Luka growled, already throwing dragonfire at an incoming warrior. “This isnothow I expected this day to go.”
“Me either,” Theon muttered, drawing his short swords from his magic.
The Ladies and their Sources were fighting too, but it was the Serafina Lady who left first. Creating a portal and disappearing through it. She was powerful, but her Source was also missing.
Theon lifted his blade to block an attack as Tessa’s light arced from her palm. The seraph screamed, and he felt her shudder through the bond. Her power was taking, refilling her depleted reserves.
Keep going, tempest,he said down the bond.Luka, stay with her.
Before they could argue, he fought his way to the other Ladies. One by one, he told them to leave. That they would reconvene later and strategize. Kyra was last, her flames burning wings while Theon shoved a blade into the chest of a seraph.
Blazing amber eyes held his as she said, “Welcome to the revolution.”
Then she tugged her Source through a fire portal.
There were only a few seraphs left when he turned. The wolves took down one, and Luka was standing back, his arms crossed as Tessa?—
As she let her powerdevour. The seraphs screamed as their veins lit up, gold threads crackling along their skin. Blood dripped from their noses, mouths, and ears.
Tessa’s feet were off the ground, her wolves circling around her when the two seraphs finally crumpled to the ground. They were clearly dead, but Nylah and Roan pounced anyway, ripping out throats.
With a glance and a nod to Luka, they each sent their power to her, letting it tangle with her magic and brush along her skin. She turned, her head tilting to the side as she took them in, eyes and Marks glowing brightly.
Time to come back, little storm, Theon coaxed.
Time to go home,Luka added.
She blinked at the words, her toes touching the floor a few seconds later. They stood back, letting her wrestle with her magic and take back control, ready to intervene if she needed them. Until finally, she relaxed, her shoulders rolling inward, and she sucked in a shuddering breath.
Luka reached her first, taking her chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Are you back, baby girl?”
She nodded, stepping into him. His arms came around her, clutching her close. Resting her head on his chest, she met Theon’s gaze.
