Page 296 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
“You have a wife and son?” she called after him.
He paused, turning to walk backwards down the street. “I do.”
“What are their names?”
“Kat and Maddox. What’s yours?” he tossed back.
It was small, but her lips curved up at the corners. “Kasdeya, but everyone calls me Dey.”
“Let me know when you’re ready,” he repeated. “Mads will need someone to teach him to wield his shadows when the time comes.”
“Me?” she asked, her brows flying up.
He shrugged. “Who better than family?”
Her power writhed beside her until a panther of shadows took shape. He grinned, and she smirked back. And in that moment, he knew they’d see her again.
51
LUKA
It was late afternoon when they walked along the streets of Idalia, back from their trip to other areas of the kingdom. Along with the Fae city to the west, they’d been taken to the Anala Estate. Axel had gone to see Cressida while the rest of them had gone to a city farther south. They were headed to their rooms to relax and get ready for the dinner they’d be having later this evening with Kyra and her family.
His father was anxious where he strolled at his side, while Razik hung back several paces behind them with Eliza. All three of them were lost in their feelings as they waited for the same person to appear.
“Are you warm enough, Tessa?” Luka asked.
“Mhmm,” Tessa hummed from his right, lifting a hand and letting her power drift along her fingers. The bands of light on her arms glowed brighter too, and she sighed. “It’s beautiful here.”
And it was. It wasn’t the sleek and modern buildings of the Arius Kingdom or the opulent marble architecture of the Achaz Kingdom. The Anala Kingdom was grand brick structures with a simple and practical elegance. Lamp posts lined the streets,burning even in the daylight, and he was certain that even in the winter months, the chill was never truly felt here.
Theon was a few steps ahead with Axel and Kat, listening as Axel filled him in on his visit to Cressida and meeting Kasdeya, but he’d glanced back at Luka’s question. Tessa had lost her gloves and coat, Theon carrying them now. She was left in a long-sleeve dress that matched the color of her eyes. She’d lost her shoes at some point too, those now dangling from Theon’s fingers.
The sun was out and shining, and Kyra had commented more than once about how unusually warm it was today. Luka was pretty sure it had to do with the mother and daughter in their company.
Akira had stayed close to Xan’s side, but since her arrival, Tessa had made an effort. He’d seen it. Theon watched it. They’d both monitored it down the bond. Tessa was still hesitant, keeping her distance, but there was a relief there too as they watched Akira struggle with her magic and fury.
“Will you stay here, Xan?” Tessa asked suddenly.
Luka went rigid, and Xan nearly stumbled at the question.
“What?” Xan asked.
“When this is over, if we all survive, will you stay in Devram?” Tessa clarified, her chaos now twisting in her palm.
“I…” He glanced at Luka sidelong before looking away once more. “I can’t answer that. To have children in different worlds and a Ward in yet another, not to mention a home world that will someday be reborn, I don’t know.”
“What do you mean a home world that will someday be reborn?” Luka asked in confusion as they approached the building they were staying in.
But Xan didn’t answer him, and it took Luka a second to realize why.
Why the male was shoving past them. Past Theon and the others ahead of them. Why his strides were long and purposeful. Why he was moving like a dragon locked in on his prey.
Because that was a female doing the same. Her brown hair was pulled back and tied up, and she was tall. Creamy skin a few shades lighter than Luka’s own slightly tanned complexion. She was toned, carrying herself with the grace of a trained warrior in fitted black pants, shirt, and boots, with only a single dagger strapped to her thigh.
Neither his father nor the female spoke. Xan only grabbed her face in his hands and brought his mouth to hers.
When he finally pulled back, his brow pressed to hers, and Luka could hear him murmuring. He didn’t understand what was being said though. The words were in a different language, but whatever he was saying had her turning to look in their direction. Her eyes moved from him, then past him and back again, and Luka watched as tears filled her eyes.
