Rain of Shadows and Endings (Legacy, #1)

by Melissa K. Roehrich

The worlds are no different. Beings emerged from the Chaos to create such a thing. Among those to emerge were six Firsts: Falein, goddess of wisdom and cleverness; Celeste, goddess of the sky and moon; Anala, goddess of day, fire, and the sun; Serafina, goddess of the stars and dreams; Achaz, god of beginnings; and Arius, god of endings.

“I, um…” She trailed off when her gaze landed on who had spoken to her. She could swear darkness swirled faintly in the dark emerald green eyes that were studying her, a slight frown on his full lips. His ebony hair was messy for the formal occasion they were about to attend, and a couple strands fell forward, brushing dark brows. His hands slid into the black pants that were clearly tailored to fit him perfectly, along with the black shirt and black vest that clung to his torso. He didn’t wear the formal suit jacket that the other males had been wearing as she’d watched them slowly filter in. The top two buttons of his shirt were undone, and there was no tie in sight. This night definitely called for a tie. His head tilted to the side, and Tessa swallowed thickly, her mouth suddenly too dry. The thing inside her lifted its head, and she shoved it back down. That was the last thing she needed right now.

“I am Theon St. Orcas, Heir to the Arius Kingdom. You are Tessalyn Ausra. I have Selected you to be my Source. You obey me above all others. My desires are your desires. You are mine.”

His brows rose. “You are…unexpected.” “Then you should have selected someone else.” Her tone was not as sharp as she’d intended. She hoped he didn’t hear the small thread of defeat in it. “I am certain I chose perfectly.”

Be what they want you to be now, so you can be who you were meant to be later. That’s what Dex always said to her. It helped. Sometimes.

Tessa pushed away from him, tumbling onto the floor. “Don’t touch me,” she gasped, and at the words, something in her chest jumped and began vibrating violently within her. The back of her hand started throbbing, drawing her attention to it. Like black ink against her fair skin, a Mark stood out. Swirling lines that wove together, and in the center sat three inverted, interlocking triangles. The symbol of Arius. Branding her. Claiming ownership of her.

He’d watched as she’d slipped from that side door, looking stunning in that black and emerald gown that fit her body like a glove, showing off every dip and curve. And then she’d flitted into that alcove faster than a hummingbird, piquing his curiosity even more. She’d been tucked so far back that if he hadn’t seen her go in there, he wouldn’t have noticed her when passing by. He couldn’t believe his eyes when he’d found her smuggling chocolate of all things. He’d been irritated when she’d acted surprised at getting caught. He’d been annoyed when she wouldn’t speak, more than ready to walk away and choose Jaxson. Then he’d been intrigued beyond all reason when she did open her mouth and wave that piece of chocolate in his face. Five minutes in that alcove with her and he’d known she’d be coming home with him. He’d lost track of her when she’d gone back to the grand hall. When he’d told Luka of her, Luka had insisted they look over the files one last time. But when Theon’s gaze had landed on her, when he’d found her leaning against another male and he’d felt the prickle of irritation at seeing another’s hands on her, he’d known it was over.

“Fuck, Theon. Think with your head, not your dick. I get that she is more desirable than a male. Maybe you can still fuck her before we leave, but she is not the one for this,” Luka had argued. “Think about this before you make your choice.” And he had. He’d thought about what he knew about the bond. He’d spent as many hours researching the bond as he had debating options. It would demand closeness— emotionally, mentally, and physically. He knew the Source and Master craved each other on an intense level. More than once he’d caught his father and his Source in…intimate situations. If this bond was going to come to that, he’d rather have it with her than Jaxson Caeso. The bond would make her want that too, so he’d Selected her.

“You are stunning, Tessa.” His hands were still on her waist where he’d placed them to turn her, and now they slipped down a few inches to her hips, his thumbs running along the upper swells of her backside. “Simply stunning.” Her eyes narrowed on his in the mirror. “I look like a gutter rat, Theon,” she replied, noting her limp and messy hair and tired eyes. “No, beautiful,” he said, shaking his head. “You look like salvation and temptation all rolled into one.”

broth and fresh bread. Fantastic.

She heard the door clicking as she took a bite. Assuming it was Luka, she was planning on dutifully ignoring him, but when the door opened, it was not Luka who came in. The male who walked through the door was devastatingly beautiful, as attractive as Luka and Theon. He had thick dark hair with auburn undertones to it rather than the inky black of Theon’s hair. His hair was a little longer too. His eyes, though, were as green as Theon’s. He was only an inch shorter than him and appeared to be close to her age of twenty-three. That meant he’d already undergone his Staying so she couldn’t say what his age was for sure. Most Fae and Legacy went through their Staying in their early twenties, when the magic in their blood would keep their bodies from further aging. Tessa had undergone her own Staying at twenty years.

“Tessa,” Theon called after her as she walked into the bedroom. She heard the door click shut, and she heard someone else comment something about the thunder that was rumbling outside, but she didn’t slow.

No one ever knew what to do with her except shove her aside. Lock her away. Too wild to be something, so forced to be nothing.

She wouldn’t survive this. It would break her. And she didn’t burn when she broke. She shattered, and the world shattered with her.

“I’m not staying in here while you shower, Theon,” she protested. “You are, Tessa. You will stay where I can see you the entire time,” he replied, striding farther into the bathroom. “I’m not going to go anywhere,” she muttered. Theon gave her a dry look that had Tessa shrinking back. “Do not leave the bathroom, Tessa,” he repeated before brushing past her. “If I have to chase you down while naked, I cannot be held entirely responsible for what will happen when I catch you.”

When Tessa cracked her eyes open, there was a faint glow from beyond the balcony doors. It was barely dawn. She twisted to look at the clock on the nightstand, but her eyes settled on eyes of emerald green instead, and she got a little lost in them.

He was no closer to understanding her than he was when she’d waved chocolate in his face.

She loved dawn. Watching the sun start to climb. The promise that anything could happen. Nothing ever changed for her, but she liked the idea that something could change. Silly idealistic notions when she really thought about it. Hope never amounted to anything.

“Does he know?” the second asked, tilting her head as she studied Tessa. “I sent word with Altaria,” the first answered in confirmation. “He was unhappy.” The second tsked under her breath. “This is why I do not mess around with males.” The first smirked at her. “After his temper tantrum, he agreed that the reasoning was warranted.” “Of course he did,” the second replied, rolling her eyes. Then she added, “You do not have much time, Akira. I can only hold her here for so long.” “She called the Hunters today,” the first, Akira, said suddenly, an emotion Tessa didn’t know how to read flickering in her eyes. Pride? Maybe. No one had ever looked at her like that. “Did she now? And they responded? How interesting.” The second female’s curiosity seemed to triple as she continued to study Tessa. “And the Huntresses?” Akira’s features darkened. “They only answer to him. No one else can summon them. But he will send them. Like he did for me.” There was a short pause, and then, “The wild and untamed answered her call as well.” “Her father’s daughter,” the second said. “She will be powerful.” “She already is. It will only grow. My father thought he could use her against me. Use her to seek his petty revenge. She will be an unyielding storm in that world. A tempest of wrath and vengeance.”

“Know that sometimes we must break to be forged into who we were meant to be,” she said, streaks of violet flickering in her eyes like lightning cutting through the flecks of gold. Then she bent and pressed her lips to Tessa’s brow. “You will break, Tessalyn. Make sure you get back up and take what is yours.”

“Look at me when I am speaking to you, Fae,” Dagian snarled. “Tell me, how did the Heir of Arius get a more powerful Source than I did?”

“Before you deliver those results, Priestess, be warned: if she went through all of that and you did not get the answers I seek, my reaction will be unpleasant.” Zefira paled and she swallowed thickly. “I got results, but not what I was expecting.” “Explain that,” he said darkly. “You are correct. She did not display any magic. That should not have been possible. We used our strongest methods, my Lord.” “Then why didn’t it work?” Zefira seemed nervous as she glanced at Tessa’s still sleeping form. “Because she is strong, my Lord. She is undeniably powerful. Whatever element she emerges with, she will, without a doubt, be the most powerful Fae with that element.”

“Can you imagine if no one had claimed her?” Axel mused, propping his head on a fist. “She would have emerged, and the kingdoms would have fought over her. Blood would have been spilled for sure, Kingdom Accords be damned.”

“Why do you do that sometimes?” she asked into the quiet room. His hand stilled. “Do what?” “Sometimes you call me ‘little storm.’” “Because your eyes remind me of a thunderstorm,” he answered, revealing only part of the reason.

“I’m not going anywhere, Theon,” Tessa whispered. “What?” he asked, glaring at a guy who was blatantly staring at her, his eyes roving freely. “If you tighten your grip on me any more, you’re going to leave bruises,” she teased, and he snapped his gaze to her at the tone. He hadn’t realized he’d been pulling her in closer and closer the longer they stood there. “I don’t like them looking at what is mine,” he ground out. Again that almost-smile graced her lips, and she turned into him. She reached up and straightened his tie before she tilted her chin to meet his eyes. “Let them look,” she replied. “You are clearly the only one who gets to touch.”

“That’s beside the point,” he argued. “You looked as though you were going to vomit with each bite of salad. Why would you ask for wine when you are not feeling well?” “Likely because I choose inappropriate methods of dealing with emotional issues and trauma,” Tessa muttered. Axel barked another laugh. “I can actually see that,” Luka commented as they came to a stop at a red light.

“Go to bed, Tessa. I will deal with you in the morning.” Deal with her. Such a hassle. Such an inconvenience. “Sure thing, brother,” she retorted, spinning on her heel to retreat to the primary bedroom. “Good gods, Tessa. You do have a death wish tonight, don’t you?” Axel barked, his tone somewhere between shocked and amused. Tessa let out her own humorless laugh. “Compared to these last few weeks, death would be a welcome reprieve at this point.”

“Right. And what’s your explanation for her eyes?” Axel asked dryly. Theon had cut him off when he’d tried to bring it up earlier, not wanting Tessa to know they had noticed. But they had definitely noticed. Axel had been reaching to help her up when Theon had come around the vehicle. Theon could tell she was about to vomit as he’d crouched beside her. Her eyes had connected with his for the briefest of moments before her magic had sent him and Axel flying, highly suggesting the wind and air element as her prior assessments had always predicted. But there had been flashes of violet in her eyes, much like darkness would swirl in his own. Except this was more like energy flickering. It was as if there was lightning being reflected in her stormy eyes when blasts of power had slammed into them. When Theon had made his way back to her, it had been gone, along with her fight. She was once more resigned and withdrawn.

“No. I mean, yes. You will receive the rest of the Marks,” he amended quickly at her arched brows. “But you will never be required to give your life for mine.” “You can’t say that, Theon. If the situation⁠—” “It won’t happen, Tessa.” “How can you be so sure?” she demanded, her voice rising. His hand came to her cheek. “Because I already have a Guardian, Tessa. A full Guardian. With a Guardian Mark and a Guardian Bond.” “What? Who? How?” she asked, stumbling over her words as she tried to digest what he’d just told her. “I already have a Guardian,” Theon repeated. “It’s how we know so much about the Guardian Bond.” “Who?” she repeated. “Luka.” Tessa’s head whipped to the front seat. She pushed past Theon to lean over the center console. “You’re his Guardian?”

“Do all the heirs have Guardians? Lord St. Orcas?” Theon shook his head slowly, his eyes never leaving hers. “Guardians must be descendants of Sargon.” She turned back to Luka. “You are a Sargon Legacy?” “I am.” “How?” “What do you mean how?” Luka said dryly. “I’ve seen your lesson marks. I know you were taught basic anatomy, Tessa.” She rolled her eyes. “I mean there aren’t any Sargon descendants anywhere. That line hasn’t even pledged to a Kingdom.”

“What are you thinking?” Theon asked. “That the other gods are kind of…promiscuous?” “Promiscuous,” Theon repeated, his lips twitching. “I’m trying to be respectful.” His brow arched. “That’s new.” She gave him a dry look while flipping him her middle finger. “And that’s rude,” he added.

“Wait. You’re a descendant of Sargon?” “Yes,” Luka sighed. “Then what are your gifts?” The three of them looked between each other again. “You really don’t know?” Axel asked. “Why would I know? I thought he was an Arius Legacy. I thought he was your cousin or something.” “Luka can shift his form,” Theon said slowly. “I don’t understand.” “Luka can shift into what it is believed Arius’s elite guardians were created in the image of.” “Which is what?” A wry smile curved up on Axel’s lips. “Luka can shift into a dragon, baby doll.”

“This actually explains a lot,” she was saying. “What does that mean?” Axel asked. “Luka is always so brooding. I imagine dragons are broody.” “I am not broody,” Luka muttered. “Uh-huh,” Tessa said. “Do you have scales?” “Yes, Tessa,” Luka sighed. Theon reached for her, gently pulling her back from between the seats as she said, “Do you have wings? Can you fly?” “I have wings, and yes, I can fly,” Luka answered.

Even more bizarre was that the rain seemed to have followed them. Or followed her. He hadn’t told Axel and Luka of that observation yet. Not until he had more proof. They constantly teased him about his research and theories. He’d learned long ago not to say anything until he could fully back it up to avoid being the constant subject of their jesting.

“Try harder.” She nodded mutely, and Theon’s jaw nearly dropped. Who the fuck was this docile creature? “Lighten up, Dex,” came one of the other male Fae. “She doesn’t need your deprecating shit right now.” “You know what happens when she loses control, Lange,” Dex retorted. There was a snicker. “Yeah. Shit gets a lot more exciting.” “You call it excitement. I call it another thing I have to take care of.” And Tessa winced at the words. A godsdamn grimace.

“You’re a survivor, Tessa,” Corbin said. “What if I don’t want to be one anymore?” Theon stiffened at the words. This wasn’t the first time she’d spoken this way. She’d basically told them she’d attempted to take her own life, but Fae were like Legacy in that a simple dagger wouldn’t do it. “You can shatter, Tessa,” Corbin said solemnly. “We’ll put the pieces back together just like we’ve always done.” “What if there’s nothing left of me?” she asked, tears coursing down her face now. “Then we’ll help you find yourself again. Just like before. Just like you’ve done for us.” “You can do this, sweetheart,” Lange chimed in.

“And you believe that being the most cunning and wicked is something to boast about?” she challenged, leaning in towards him once more, that spark of defiance flashing in her eyes. Theon reached over, tucking her hair behind her ear. “You will learn soon enough that being the most cunning and wicked is the only way to survive in a realm of villains, little storm.”

“You saw a female in a mirror?” “Yes.” “Or so he says,” Axel said. “What did she look like?” Tessa cut in before Theon could reply to his brother. “Allow me,” Axel drawled dramatically, and Theon sent him a dry look as he sat back in his chair, crossing his arms. “She had silver hair and silver eyes. More weapons than he could count. She had gifts of shadows but also fire as bright as the stars, and Theon saved her from imminent death when another in all black approached to kill her.”

Next to Dagian stood Lealla Isleen, heir to the Serafina Kingdom. Her silvery-blue gaze narrowed on him, and her sharp smile told Theon she was still the heartless thing he knew her to be. Then came Mahina Candra, heir to the Celeste Kingdom. Ebony hair framed a pretty face, but jade green eyes bounced between him and Tessa. He could sense the nerves she was trying to hide, and he let his darkness out to drift around him and Tessa. Mahina flinched. It was nearly imperceptible, but it was there. Beside her was Prudence Farhan, heir to the Falein Kingdom with her ashy-brown hair and hazel eyes that watched him curiously. And last was Tana Aithne, heir to the Anala Kingdom. Her bright red hair hung in tight curls down her back, and amber eyes flickered with flames as they met his own.