Page 268 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
“End of discussion, Eliza. I am not drawing from you right now.”
Her eyes flashed with anger. “Cut me off and tell me ‘end of discussion’ again, Razik Greybane. I dare you.”
“Be violent with me later,” he retorted, kissing her hard before she could reply.
“My Lord! Or— My Lady?” a panting Arius captain gasped out, his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath.
“What is it?” Theon snapped.
“At the front. There are— We couldn’t stop them,” he gasped.
“Godsdammit,” Luka growled because Tessa was already moving. So much smaller than they were, she slipped through the crowd practically unseen while the rest of them had to shove people out of the way. Her wolves prowling in a radius around her helped some, but not enough. He looked up, trying to spot Xan, but he was nowhere to be seen. Where the fuck was he?
“Tessa, wait!” Theon called, having to stop and use his sword or magic every few steps.
“Tessa!” Luka hollered. He couldn’t simply send a wave of dragonfire. Their own forces were too intermingled now. They couldn’t afford to lose any more.
She kept moving, and he and Theon kept fighting to get back to her. She was in so much godsdamn trouble when this was over.
Finally, they burst through a throng of fighting, only to go completely still as they took in the scene before them.
Tessa stood there, her aura swirling with light and dark, while Nylah and Roan were at her sides, teeth bared and growling. Across from her stood Rordan Jove, light undulating and crackling around him.
Seconds later, Razik and Eliza pushed through the crowd too, Dagian and Sasha at their heels.
“Well done, Dagian,” Rordan said with a small smile.
Luka slowly turned to the male, eyes narrowed. “If you betrayed us?—”
“I didn’t,” Dagian spat, his eyes fixed on his father. “And he knows that.”
Rordan’s smile turned dark. “He speaks the truth. I raised him to take what he wants. If only he wasn’t as big of a disappointment as Tessa turned out to be.”
“If only you’d loved me and coveted my loyalty the way you did hers,” Dagian returned. “Your entire existence has revolved around finding her to gain Achaz’s favor. I was a necessary inconvenience until you found her.”
“You would have been given everything,” Rordan said calmly. “A kingdom to rule. A Source for your power. A wife to warm your bed and give you powerful heirs. I blame your mother for the way you turned out. She coddled you too much. Intervened too much.”
“You tortured her!” Dagian roared. “You used me to manipulate her into giving you more and more power. She?—”
“Loves you?” Rordan interjected, his features all cruel amusement now. “This is Devram, son. Love doesn’t exist here, and do you know why?”
Dagian held his tongue, his jaw clenched so tightly Luka could hear his teeth grinding.
“The gods didn’t want it to. They know how useless it is. How it sways kings and queens. How it causes wars and breaks alliances. And look just how accurate that is,” Rordan continued, gesturing to Tessa and Theon. “Five kingdoms that have worked seamlessly for centuries are now broken.”
“You did that,” Theon retorted.
“No,” he countered. “Lovedid that. Why do you think we take the Fae to Estates as babes? So mothers do not have the chance to love and sacrifice for them. Why do you think Matches are contractual obligations? Sothisdoesn’t happen. Everything we do is to make sure none of that can flourish, and yet, despite our efforts, it does. Look at Maya? So distraught by the death of her Source, she can’t think clearly,” he said with disgust. “So no, Dagian, I’ve never loved you. The only thing I’ve ever wanted from you was your loyalty, and instead, you’ve brought me betrayal. I can see it well enough on Theon’s finger.”
Luka glanced over, seeing the ring Dagian had delivered back on Theon’s middle finger where it had sat for years.
“The payment for that betrayal is your Source’s power,” Rordan said.
“No,” Dagian snarled. “You will not take that from her. You’ve taken enough. You have enough!”
“So be it.”
It happened so fast, no one could do anything. Not as Rordan’s light struck precisely, coiling around Sasha and yanking her violently to the space between them.
