Page 192 of Rain of Shadows and Endings

But black flames around her throat, her chest, her legs had her stilling, and she realized that once again she was helpless. There was nothing she could do but let this happen. No one would save her. No one would protect her. No one would stop them, just like no one stopped Mother Cordelia. No one stopped the Priestesses.

And another piece of her soul shattered as she went lax in Luka’s hold.

The dragon’s brow immediately furrowed, his eyes snapping to her. “Tessa…”

But she was already going through song lyrics, waiting for it to be over.

One more second.

One more minute.

One more song.

That’s what she told herself as she felt the burning of the scion when Theon drew on her skin. There was no flinching. No screaming. No tears.

There was just nothing.

There was nothing when he passed the scion to Axel and let him draw a Mark on his hip in the same spot. There was nothing when the same was done to Axel and Luka. Three identical Marks that she could only assume matched the one Theon had given her.

There was nothing when Theon produced a dagger and reached for her arm.

There was nothing when he dragged the blade across her skin, and Luka caught her blood in a cup.

There was nothing when he passed the cup to Theon, and he drank the whole thing down, his entire body seeming to shudder in relief.

“It’s a Tracking Mark, Tessa,” Luka said, finally snuffing out the black flames that were still keeping her immobile. “Last night, I came to collect you from the instructor, but you were gone. I had to waste time tracking down Theon so he could use the bond to track you down, and even then… This will be faster. For all of us. Axel and I can find you now too.”

Her gaze slid to Axel. “This was your idea?” she asked, her voice hollow.

“To better protect you, Tessa,” he answered helplessly.

“I didn’t ask you to make it pretty for me, Axel. I asked if it was your idea.”

His features went tense, his eyes shuttering with a mask she rarely saw from him.

“Yes,” he answered.

She only gave a sharp nod.

“Tessa, you need to calm down,” Luka said carefully.

Her head tilted as she met his gaze. “I am calm.”

“I know, but…” His eyes dropped to her hands, and she followed his gaze.

There was faint light flaring from between the fingers of her clenched fists. She slowly raised her hands, uncurling her fingers, and light seemed to crackle and spark at her fingertips. Not like fire, but like—

“You’re too calm, little storm.”

Theon’s voice cut through her thoughts, and her head snapped up, meeting his gaze. There was more color in his features, and he seemed more awake. With a start, she realized it was because of her blood. Legacy needed Fae blood to replenish their magic. He’d used a lot of his gifts last night with the flying and the killing and the apparent shadow fucking.

“One wants me calm. One wants me wild. Your expectations are becoming impossible, Master,” she said, getting to her feet, and her voice sounded strange even to her. It was laced with something dark.

It was laced with something powerful.

The three of them were surrounding her, but they were all also several feet away, as though afraid to come closer.

As though they knew something she didn’t.

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