Page 255 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
Bree’s eyes were bright with surprise and delight. “And their son?”
Tessa shrugged again. “I grew up with no one. I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
Bree’s eyes narrowed. “My agreement requires their son.”
“Fine, fine,” Tessa sighed in irritation. “We take them first, and then I get the babe. It makes no difference to me. I don’t understand why everyone is so enamored with it.”
“Tessa,” Axel snarled again, because he knew this was an act. It had to be, right?
But she’d never once held Maddox. Always slipped to the other side of the room or left the room entirely if she could. But Kat. She at least cared about Kat. She wouldn’t…
“And I can take care of these two,” Tessa added, gesturing to Cade and Rayell, who were as frozen as Axel and Kat. All four of them were being held with her chaos.
“Then do it now,” Bree demanded, lifting her chin.
Tessa clicked her tongue. “I’d think long and hard about trying to give me orders,” she replied in a deadly calm. “But why would I give you something without a guarantee in return?”
“What do you want?” Bree snapped.
“I already told you,” Tessa retorted sharply. “I need a place to keep these two for the time being. Until Theon and Luka understand why this has to be done.”
“And why, exactly, is that?”
Tessa’s answering smile was all power. “I do not want the Fates stepping foot here, Miss DelaCrux. I can only assume you desire the same? There are too many distractions right now, and they are keeping me from destroying the mirror gates. Once the mirror gates are dealt with, we can deal with…an Arius Heir that is not mine.”
“Tessa!” Kat gasped in horror.
“You don’t mean that!” Axel said, feeling the blood drain from his face.
“You think I have spent all this time taking the Arius seat only to have a potential rival heir?” Tessa spat. “I will have the Arius Kingdom and the Achaz Kingdom. I will have this realm. Not Achaz. Not the Fates. It is mine.” She turned back to Bree. “And if you wish for a place in it, this is the time to show your allegiance. I have no need of the Underground. Only of someone to keep it under control.”
Cade and Rayell were on their knees now, gasping as her power wound around their throats. Kat had two tears sliding down her face, and he was staring at Tessa in complete and utter loss. How could she have deceived them all?
But then she turned to him, her lip curling in a sneer as she said, “Injustice wrapped in pretty words is still injustice thousands of years later. Even the Fates can understand that.”
“I will help you,” Bree said, striding forward, that blade still at her side. “But I want your word I will not be harmed.”
“Done,” Tessa said, her attention back on the vampyre.
“Valter has holdings just inside the Leisure District. They are warded and can only be accessed by him, so I’m not sure how we’ll get them in,” Bree said, drifting closer.
“Leave the wards to me,” Tessa said. “Just take care of them.”
Bree stopped in front of Kat. She reached up, twirling one of Kat’s curls between her fingers. “Looks like I win the game, poppet.” Her gaze slid to Axel. “And you’ll regret betraying me.”
Then her hand was in Kat’s hair, yanking her head to the side as Bree’s fangs snapped out.
“No!” Axel bellowed, struggling against Tessa’s magic, but to his surprise, he could move.
And Bree was thrown back a second before her fangs pierced flesh. Axel was beside Kat in the next blink, but then he was lurching back as flames coiled around her, leaping for Bree. His wife stalked forward, letting that fire wrap around Bree where she lay on the floor. Tessa’s power had created a ring around the female, keeping her trapped.
He glanced at Tessa, and she jerked her chin to Kat. Axel didn’t need to be told twice. He stepped through the chaos to stand at Kat’s side, looking down at Bree.
“You will pay for this,” Bree snarled on a rasp, the flames around her throat burning. “Fire cannot kill me.”
“Oh, we’re aware,” Axel said coldly. “We have a special place waiting just for you. Cold. Dark. I’m told the craving can be such a bitch.”
“I have lived hundreds of years. I will live hundreds more, and I will come for you. Both of you. And your son,” she spat.
