Page 254 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
He could only stare at her because words were failing him. She couldn’t be serious.Thankher?
“She’s right, Axel,” Kat said suddenly. “We should be thanking her.”
Bree’s gaze slid to Kat, her eyes lighting up with intrigue. “That’s right, poppet. It’s because of me you learned to use that little bond.”
“I know,” she said softly. “Because of you, I at least got to feel that bond for a little bit before it was lost to us.”
“So tragic,” Bree said with mock sympathy.
“Kat—” Axel started.
“Don’t be rude, Axel,” Tessa interrupted with a pointed look. “Please introduce me properly.”
“Tessa, this is Bree DelaCrux, a leader of the Night Children,” Axel said slowly, trying to catch on to what these two were up to.
“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Tessa replied, and her voice made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. He knew that eerie ring that was slipping in.
“All dreadful things, I’m sure,” Bree said with a sharp smile.
Tessa tipped her head back and forth, as if debating. “Not necessarily dreadful, but interesting nonetheless. I’d thank you for saving him, but at the time, I didn’t really care.”
Axel’s gaze snapped to her because what in the actual fuck?
Bree’s smile grew. “And why is that, my dear?”
“An ex-Legacy? Now powerless? I didn’t need him. Eventually, I’d have to find him to kill him,” she said plainly. “But for the time being, what was there to be concerned about?”
Bree’s head tipped to the side as she studied her. “Chaos come to reign indeed. And now?”
Tessa shrugged, letting some of her magic pool around her, spreading across the floor in a slow crawl. “I still seek power.”
“I hear you’ve taken two for your own,” Bree said.
Tessa sighed. “And they are fairly attached to him despite what he now lacks, but I can’t say he’s entirely useless.”
“That he is not,” Bree agreed, stepping closer to Tessa.
“I’m assuming that’s why you took him from Valter to begin with.”
“Finally, someone who understands,” Bree purred.
“Saw the potential,” Tessa continued. “The way fate could play out.”
“Not like I once could, but perceived powerlessness can be so deceiving.”
Tessa hummed in agreement. “And what of these two? Were they once like you?”
Bree let loose a bitter laugh. “That’s insulting.”
“So they don’t matter?”
“Not in the slightest.”
Tessa nodded. “And Kat and Axel? Is there someplace we can…keep them for the time being?”
“Tessa?” Kat asked, her eyes going wide as Tessa’s power started winding up Kat’s legs.
“Tessa!” Axel barked, lurching forward, only to be ensnared by her magic too.
