Page 335 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
“Vixen,” Temural greeted, and Akira was before the mirror, her hands under her chin as she looked up at him. The god’s gaze flicked up, landing on his Guardian. “Xan. Well done.”
Xan bowed his head. “Like they were my own.”
Tessa wasn’t sure what that meant, but she suddenly found those pine green eyes on her. Theon and Luka were at her back, but she lifted her chin as she beheld her father for the first time.
“I’m Tessa,” she said lamely, because what else was she supposed to say at this point?
“I know who you are,” he replied. “The fury of your mother and the wildness of the untamed.”
“She was alone, Temural,” Akira said, fingers in her hair. “All alone this whole time. We could do nothing.”
His eyes flicked to Xan, who sent a swirl of dragonfire to Akira a moment later.
“I know, Akira,” Temural said, far more softly than he’d spoken to any of them. “As soon as I found a way in, I sentAuryon and the Trackers.” His eyes came back to Tessa. “I sent you every advantage I could and bargained with the High Queen of the World Workers to send additional aid.” Tessa nodded, still not knowing what else to say. “Will you be coming home with your mother?”
“Thisis my home,” Tessa said. “So, no. I will be staying where my home is.”
Temural nodded as Nylah and Roan appeared, slinking to her sides and lowering to their bellies. “Keep them close then, daughter,” he said. “And know should you ever need it, there is always a place for you here.”
“Thank you,” Tessa said softly.
“I’m sorry,” Scarlett said around a grimace. “But it is getting difficult to keep the mirror gate stable. They need to go.”
Aiyana hugged Luka one more time, and Xan did the same. Tessa hugged her mother, and then Akira was breezing through the mirror gate, headed for the calm to her storm. The one who could silence her Chaos and let her breathe.
Aiyana went next, and before Xan stepped through, he met Luka’s gaze one last time. “We are proud of who you’ve become, Luka, but more than that, know that we love you, even across the stars.”
Then he was gone, and Tessa was stepping back into Luka as he pulled her back to him.
“No offense, but I hope I don’t see your faces for quite some time,” Scarlett said, drawing from Sorin before she opened the mirror gate one last time.
Tessa huffed a laugh as Theon said, “The feeling is mutual.”
The female tossed him a smirk over her shoulder. “Until next time, lordling.”
Then they were gone too, the mirror gate once again a stagnant piece of glass. She turned in his arms, looking up at him when she said, “Luka?”
But he just pulled her back into his chest.
We can be lonely together,she whispered down the bond, and Luka held her tighter.
For a long time, they stood there like that in the middle of the Dreamlock Woods until they heard footsteps and the chattering of a little girl.
Corbin winced, finding the three of them still reeling from the goodbyes.
“Sorry,” Corbin said, a glass box in one hand. “She was getting restless.”
“If anyone understands that, it’s me,” Tessa said, wiping the last of the wetness from her face. “Hello, Priya. Did you find the perfect place like I asked you to?”
The girl nodded her head, eyeing the wolves still on their bellies. They’d perked up at the sound of their approach, but they’d since relaxed once more.
“There are trees and flowers deeper in the woods. The Sprytes showed me,” Priya said. “Lots of flowers.”
Tessa gave her a sad smile. “That sounds perfect. Can you lead the way?”
Priya smiled again, grabbing Lange’s hand and pulling him down another path.
“She has adjusted well,” Tessa said, falling into step with Corbin.
