Storm of Secrets and Sorrow (Legacy, #2)

by Melissa K. Roehrich

“We’re going,” Luka said, striding into the foyer and moving straight to the door. “Don’t make her wear it. If she wants to be difficult, she can be cold.” “I’m not being difficult,” she spat. “And you’re not even wearing a jacket.” He stopped beside her, giving her a mocking smile as he lifted a hand and black flames flared to life. Tessa rolled her eyes with a huff. Reaching for the door handle, Luka said, “Bring the hat, Theon. When she gets cold, be sure and make her say please before you give it to her.”

I want Luka so bad.

“But you don’t need to, little one. Not when we can help. We can help with this.” And the tone of his voice had Theon cracking his eyes open to peer at his best friend. He’d kept his distance from Tessa from the very beginning, constantly telling Theon that she wasn’t the one for this and that he’d made the wrong choice. But ever since they’d started their training sessions, things had been changing. He pushed Tessa more. Theon knew he’d do that during training, but the taunting on the way to the vehicle was new. And so was the somewhat soft assurance he was giving her now. That same assurance Theon suspected he’d whispered to her during the hearing to help her keep control of her emotions. Assurance that obviously worked since she was seeking him out for help in the middle of the godsdamn night.

At the SAME DAMN TIME!

“One female will not be the downfall of an entire realm,” Theon snapped. The masked face tilted to the side. “No, but the two of you together will be.”

Purr

“He’s very…protective,” Tessa muttered, studying a wing that was folded against Luka’s side.

This is everything i needed from fourth wing tbh

“It is a theory that this group even exists. There has never been any proof of its existence,” Luka said. Tessa frowned. “So it’s like the female in the mirror?” Luka snickered as he got out of the vehicle and moved to open her door for her. “It is not like— The female was there,” Theon snapped

Lol

“You’ll still be mine, Tessa.” “I hate you too much to ever be yours,” she whispered bitterly. He shrugged, his shadows appearing and winding along her throat. “I said I wanted everything you have to give. That includes your hate. It’s all mine.”

Theon pls ill be your source too

Looking back up, she found Luka sliding on a pair of pants, which was kind of disappointing.

Real

“Of course I was watching. I rarely get to see you. He keeps you hidden away. No training. Private lessons,” Dex replied in frustration. At her perplexed expression, he added, “I worry about you, Tessie. We all do.”

I dont like her friends theyre sus

“Call Axel,” Theon said, eyeing the two across the arena. Standing among blood and bodies, the female tipped her head back and laughed, the male shaking his head, flaming sword still in hand. “Tell him the female from the mirror is here.”

Period

He frowned. “That’s a good point.” “I know.” “Has anyone ever told you that you’re incredibly humble?” he teased. “It is not conceited to acknowledge I was right about something,” she tsked.

Period

“That certainly explains the conflicting emotions,” Luka muttered, moving to the pastry tray on the back counter. He returned with two sugar cookies on a napkin. “She needs to eat something. She’s hardly touched food all day.” Theon glared at the sweets. “You’re encouraging poor nutrition habits.” “By all means, take

I am obsessed with Luka

The thought of Luka had her rubbing at her chest.

Eeeeek

Dex clicked his tongue, rolling his eyes. “You have no control, Tessa.” She was on her feet in the next breath, fists clamped tightly around the power surging beneath her skin. “You can leave now.” “I didn’t mean that,” Dex said. He was also on his feet, watching her carefully.

I hate this bitch

Because it wasn’t Theon.

Heart eyes

“You know I only want what’s meant for you, right? All I’ve ever wanted was for you to find your place in this world? To be who you were meant to be?”

???? Eyebrow raise

“What did she do to her?” Luka asked, his tone tinged with a growl.

Biting my lip

“A cupboard,” Luka repeated. Vertical pupils snapped back to Theon. “Did you know?” “No,” Theon said, shaking his head. “Do not fuck with me right now, Theon. Did you know?” “No,” Theon bit back. “I didn’t know about the cupboard until after. I wouldn’t have⁠—” “Yes, you would have,” Luka cut in.

Period!

“Enough!” he snarled. “Father!” But she put a hand over his mouth, his golden eyes widening in shock. “No one answers my calls for help,” she said simply. “You don’t get to scream for aid.”

“Hopefully soon that will no longer be an issue,” Dex added, his mouth pressed into a thin line.

Can u pls stfu

“Fuck me,” she blurted, the words desperate and pleading. Luka’s eyes went wide. “What?” “Please, Luka,” she begged. “It’s too much. I can’t handle it. I just want to— No, I need to drown in something that isn’t this. Something that doesn’t feel like this.” “Tessa,” he started, her name sounding like an agonized plea. “Please, Luka,” she said, the words a broken sob. “I’ve never asked anything of you. Never. Please do this for me.” “If I thought that’s what you needed right now, I’d fuck you until the only thing you could say was my name,” Luka said, taking her face in his hands. And she let out something that could only be described as a wail. “That is what I need!”

Omg?

At one point, she’d woken up only to find a male on either side of her, the bond humming away contentedly.

Jealous

Tell him to keep fighting. Tell him Lilura lives.

Oh

She knew they wouldn’t hurt her, just as she’d known the same that night by river. “Why do they always come when I’m in danger?” “They are yours,” Auryon answered as the wolves rubbed against Tessa. She was short, but they were huge. Their heads easily came to her waist, and Tessa tentatively sank her fingers into dark fur. “Why do you think they are mine?” she asked. “Again, not a good time for questions,” Auryon said. “Let’s go.”

“What the fuck does that mean?” “I should have realized this would happen when you told me the effects of helping with the second Mark,” Theon said, his power flowing around him in a shimmering dark mist the same way Tessa’s did. Light and dark. Two forces that should repel each other. Instead, they were drawn to each other. “Or are you going to tell me that’s not what has you looking at her like she’s some shiny thing you need to take back to your cave?” Theon went on with a sneer. “I would never take her there,” Luka retorted. “Of course you would. It’s where you keep anything you find of value.” “I would never take her there because she hates the dark. But I suppose it’d be better than a godsdamn wine cellar, wouldn’t it?”

ooooh TEAAAAAA

She got to her feet, rubbing at her face and smearing dried blood across her cheek, Luka tamped down on the barrage of emotions that assaulted him from that one action. Anger that she was covered in blood to begin with. But by the gods, seeing her splattered in blood? Knowing it was there because she fought back? That was pride and satisfaction, but more than that, it made the dragon beneath his skin want. It was a feeling he’d been shoving down more and more lately, and when he couldn’t, he found someone to satisfy it. Or he had until he’d been dragged into this Source Mark debacle. Since that time, the idea of being with someone else had become…unappealing.

Luka please i need u

The sound of the bathroom door silenced them both as Tessa emerged, fully dressed in loose pants and Theon’s long-sleeve shirt. Luka ignored the disappointment as she eyed them.

“Katya, it sounds like… Are you saying that a Source bond might not be in place until the final Mark is given? That, essentially, there is no bond for Theon to break right now?” Axel asked. Bright amber eyes met his. “I think so? I mean, there’s obviously some purpose to the other three Marks, and there is clearly a bond between him and Tessa. But an actual Source bond?”

Katya is slaying

“Speaking of which, I have a gift for you.” “That is not necessary,” she said quickly, worrying her bottom lip. “Of course it isn’t, but nonetheless, I have brought you one,” Lord Jove said with a chuckle. There was a flare of light that had them all wincing and turning away, but when Axel turned back, he held a simply wrapped gift in his hand. He held it out to Tessa, who glanced at Theon. He gave a sharp jerk of his head. They all knew better than to refuse a Lord or Lady. Tessa stepped forward tentatively, taking it from him. “Thank you, my Lord,” she said softly. “Open it after sundown, as is customary,” Lord Jove said.

I dont trust this dick

“If you were my Match, I wouldn’t call you such a thing,” he said and her eyes darted to the side. Until he said, “I would call you my wife, my partner, my light. Anything but my Match.” He heard her breath catch as she held his stare now, her face giving nothing away. “But you asked what it would have been like. What a casual night in would be like if you were those things to me.”

Oh.

“I did,” she agreed on a breath, a slight tremor to her voice. “Our nights wouldn’t be spent like this,” he answered, and he watched her face fall a little at the words. “Our nights would be spent on balconies under the stars talking or on sofas before fires watching a Chaosphere game. Our nights would be more than fucking fruit, cheese, and crackers. Our nights would be soft words instead of barbed ones to deflect and protect. Our nights would be intimate touches rather than frantic ones of uncertainty. Our nights would be my hands in your hair instead of your fingers pulling on the strands. Our nights would be anything but whatever the fuck this is. Our nights wouldn’t involve mental shields blocking each other out, and if you tried, I’d call you out on that bullshit. But I can’t do that right now, can I?”

I’m losing it

Not a stage, she realized, but an altar.

Oh great

“The path to salvation has always been death.”

GO BACK TO THEON YOU BITCH

“I am not in the mood for your attitude of superiority, dear sister,” Tristyn replied, snatching up a vial and holding it up to the light.

No fuckin way

“Impossible,” Razik cut in. “That would make her beginnings and endings. The balance forbids it.”

“She was never meant to exist,” Razik clarified. “She will only bring destruction. If the balance is not corrected, it is not only this world that will fall, but all realms. If the balance is not corrected, Chaos will reign.”

All I’m hearing is that Achaz is the enemy and Tessie poo needs to go back to Arius kingdom so she can be with her boos