Storm of Secrets and Sorrow (Legacy, #2)

by Melissa K. Roehrich

“Not interfere? You cannot be serious,” Scarlett argued, rounding on her husband. “Do you not see what I see? What they’ve done?” She punctuated this by holding up her left hand, where a Mark of her own matched the one on the back of her husband’s hand. “I see it, Love,” Sorin said softly. “This could change…too many things.”

Theon rubbed at his brow with this thumb and forefinger. This was information not taught to the Fae. “There are two goddesses of witchcraft and sorcery,” he said. “They are sisters. Zinta and Taika.”

“Because one goddess is loyal to Achaz, and the other is loyal to Arius,” Scarlett replied. “Balance is required in all things, and Devram seems to have…tipped the scales,”

“I can walk among the realms by simply willing it.” Scarlett said. “But to bring others with me, it is easier to use the mirror gates. It is less draining on my reserves.”

White flames and shadows swirled with what looked like flecks of bright white embers, but they were something more. “It is Chaos,” Scarlett said simply. “I possess more than the standard Legacy.” “She is being uncharacteristically modest,” Sorin said flatly. “She is as powerful as any First god or goddess.”

“Yet here I stand, Lordling,” Scarlett drawled. “Chaos at my fingertips, gifts from four gods and goddesses, and two Fae elements.” “You are telling me the mirror in the Underground is a gateway to other worlds?” Axel cut in before Theon and Scarlett could start bickering again. “Obviously they are mirrors to other realms,” Scarlett replied. “Your brother saw me in one years ago. Why not gateways?” “But…how?” Axel repeated. “Now I control them with Chaos,” she answered, that power flaring in her palm again. “Before I took that control, though, I cannot say.”

Traveling is what Scarlett had called it. The ability to step from one space to another within the same realm. An ability that Theon had mentioned in passing many times. It was supposedly taken from the Legacy when Devram was created, or at least from the ones who’d been sequestered here. How Scarlett could Travel within Devram though was something Theon would surely obsess over along with all the other information he’d learned.

“Axel?” His name was breathy on her tongue, and he swallowed the groan at the sound of it. His shadows crept closer, and he could tell the moment she noticed them because she sucked in a sharp breath. They curled around her ear, winding among her dark strands of hair. He leaned in more, inhaling deeply. Gods, she smelled so good. That jasmine and citrus scent that wouldn’t leave him alone, and the power humming in her veins.

“Kat?” “Yes?” “I’ll do whatever I can to keep you with me,” Axel said.

She shrugged before snuggling down into the blankets. “Can you put on music to fall asleep to?” “Classical?” he asked, already pulling his phone from his pocket. “Whatever you choose. I don’t need classical music here.”

You’re already getting everything you want from me. What more do you need?” On instinct, his hand snapped out, his grip loose around her throat, but he could feel her pulse hammering away beneath the tips of his fingers. “You think I am getting everything I want, clever tempest?”

This place was where they were the most real with each other. In the middle of the hate and the tension, the arguing and the passion. This was when they both spoke without trying to get the upper hand. It was all naked truth and bleeding desires. This was when she let him take what he wanted, and he took because it was what she needed— to get lost in pleasure and away from her thoughts.

Then she was leaning back, pulling at his tie, clawing at buttons. Her hands slid beneath his dress shirt, and the sigh that came from her at the skin-to-skin contact broke any restraint he was trying to keep in this moment.

Violet-grey eyes full of heated want watched him, and for once, there was nothing smart coming from her mouth. This time was different. He could tell she knew it too, even if she wouldn’t admit it.

“You know what I need to hear, Tessa,” he said, his hand coming to her hip, holding her in place when he did it again. “I won’t say it,” she gritted out, her fists clenched in the bedding. “So either fuck me, or let me do it myself.” Theon clicked his tongue. “We both know that won’t leave you even close to satisfied. The bond requires more. We require more.” “I don’t care what⁠—” But her words dissolved in a cursing moan as he sank into her to the hilt without warning. Fuck, it never got old. The heat. The rightness. Her writhing beneath him, already wanting more. Her hands were at his shoulders, nails digging in as she panted through clenched teeth.

“Theon, please!” It was a cry of frustration and need. The begging. It always did him in. He spread his knees, pushing her legs wider still before he pulled all the way out and slowly sank back in a few times to loosen up the muscles that had tensed in her frustration.

That was when he let his darkness loose. It had been hovering and waiting, but now it wound around her throat and tightened. Forced her hands above her head. Held her in place as her climax shuddered around him. With the next thrust, he held himself deep, hitting that perfect spot. But it was her light flaring and raking down his darkness that had his cock jerking deep inside her, his own release barreling up his spine and making his eyes roll back with a growled, “Fuck.”

Is Luka here?” Theon stiffened. “He’s downstairs. Tell me what’s wrong.” “Can he come up here?” “Why?” She fidgeted, looking out the window again. “Can he sleep with us? Like he did at Arius House?” He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

His gaze skipped from Theon to Tessa. “What’s wrong?” “Nothing,” she said, but Theon could feel the utter relief down the bond. Holding her stare, Theon said, “Tessa wants you to sleep with us.” “That is not—” Her eyes went wide before she was throwing Theon a dark glare. “Don’t say it like that.” “You want me to sleep up here?” Luka asked. “Why?” “In the same bed,” Theon clarified. “Shut up,” Tessa snapped. “Why, Tessa?” Luka repeated, the command ringing in his tone. “Because Theon said I go to Faven tomorrow, and there will be tests. I don’t want to feel alone tonight when I’ll be alone for a week. I know it’s just the two of you, but⁠—” “Okay,” Luka cut in with a shrug.

He studied her a moment longer before leaning over and taking her chin between his thumb and forefinger. “You told me not to do this tonight, but after that, I don’t care what you said. You clearly need to hear it.” Her eyes went wide, panic skittering down the bond. “Don’t you dare say it, Theon.” “You are not nothing to me, Tessa.” “Stop. Now.” “You’re not nothing because you’re⁠—” “You don’t get to do this,” she interjected, lightning cracking in her eyes. “You don’t get to lock me in the dark, tell me you’d do it again, and then tell me I matter to you. You don’t get to whisper lies disguised as sweet words in a bid to win me over and get me to play nice. You don’t get to play on my emotions because you feel them now when you were too inept to understand them before. And you certainly don’t get to ask for my affection because you are jealous of Luka.”

“She told you what it was. You clearly weren’t listening,” Luka said, sitting on the sofa and stretching his legs out before him. “She tells you things all the time. You just choose not to hear her.”

but he hadn’t told Tessa he’d already known her father was a god, even if he didn’t know which one at the time. And he hadn’t told her what he knew of her mother either. He hadn’t told her she was essentially the daughter of two gods. He knew the power of keeping information close, and he didn’t want this one getting back to the Achaz Lord in any of these testings and assessments.

Katya was staring at him, and yeah, he knew he was acting like an asshole. But godsdammit, she was sitting right there. Without the bands on subduing her magic, he could practically taste it. So much power in her blood. He didn’t even need it for that. His reserves were fine. There was absolutely no reason for him to be this frenzied, yet here he sat. Controlled by a craving with the cure for it sitting a few feet away.

The thing was entirely about the gods and their bloodlines, how their powers manifested, known allies and disagreements among them before Devram was created. Naturally, the history was thousands of years ago, given they would have no idea what was going on outside the realm now. Apparently, young females were securing godlike powers and controlling mirror gates.

“I don’t understand it either,” she said quietly, moving to put away his toothbrush he must have thrown in his absurd outburst. “Don’t understand what?” Axel ground out, exhaling sharply when her arm brushed against him. “Why I’m drawn to you and you to me.”

Winding one of her curls around his finger, he said, “I didn’t say I witness death, kitten. I said I do the killing.” “Do you enjoy it?” she shot back. “Sometimes.”

“These are Marks.” “Among other things.” “I am not a priestess. I can’t…” “The most powerful can perform the Marks, whether they are a priestess or not,” Rordan said. “That now includes you.

It still made absolutely no sense to her that he was given such a high station in the Achaz Lord’s home. He’d only been Selected weeks ago, and he moved around this palace as if he had the freedom to do as he wished. And the information he was given access to? None of it seemed right.

“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?”

“And the Witch traits need to be taken into account,” Theon agreed. “There has to be at least one in her lineage. Her eyes. The way she knows things are going to happen. I don’t think she even realizes she can do that yet.”

“The Celeste Estate has consistently produced the most powerful Fae, even over the Anala Estate,” Theon continued. Kat nodded, resuming the turning of her pages. “For over two decades.” “Exactly, for the last twenty-three—” Theon sat forward, placing his hand on her book to stop her movements. Axel shifted forward too, his body tensing, but Theon ignored him. “You think it’s related to Tessa.” Katya lifted her head, amber eyes meeting his. “I don’t believe in coincidences.”

“And you have no ideas as to why you were moved there?” “Now I do,” she answered, as if it were obvious. “My power.” “I’ve seen your file. There was nothing in there about fire or even estimated power levels,” Theon countered. “How would she have known?” “Exactly. How is she consistently producing the most powerful Fae?

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

“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.

“Everything is so white here,” she murmured. “There’s no room for darkness.” “Tessa.” “I know, I know. The balance,” she muttered. “I wasn’t…going to say anything about that.” “Oh.” “Have you had any dreams lately?” “What kind of dreams?” “Any odd ones?” “Only the same one of you killing me,” she said around another yawn.

“Want to tell me why I can feel your anger down this godsdamn bond?” Theon asked, the balcony door snicking shut behind him. “Want to tell me why you thought there weren’t any repercussions for bringing me in on her last Source Mark?” he shot back casually, flipping a page. “How long?” “Since that night.” “You can feel her too,” Theon said, not asking.

Theon nodded, tapping his fingers against his thigh. “And you can feel my emotions?” “Sometimes. When they’re strong enough. But mainly hers.”

“Not only does your company control cellular data, it houses all of Devram’s most important information. Tessa’s files were clearly tampered with, and you’ve suddenly become fine with being recognized in public after decades of reclusiveness,”

“The Dreamlock Woods is not known for its wildlife,” Tristyn said. “Because of the magic that inhabits it,” Luka cut in.

“Threaten me again like you did today, and your brother will be the new Arius Heir,” he went on with a smile that was anything but pleasant. “You think you can kill me?” Theon asked with a sneer, his darkness pooling at his feet. Tristyn only turned around and went back to his computer, opening the laptop back up. “Destruction or salvation. The choice is yours,” he answered. “Get out.”

“All the power of the gods comes from Chaos,” Rordan said. “The gods came from the Chaos,” Tessa said. “Ah, they came from it, yes. But so did their gifts. And the Firsts? They are Chaos themselves,” Rordan said. “That same power trickles down in their offspring. Diluted, of course, especially in the case of the Legacy. The mortal blood weakens the Chaos.

The gods designed the Fae. They are magical beings. All magical beings, including the Fae, have Chaos. It is where power comes from, but the Fae?” He gestured to where Dysani and Sasha stood to the side of their Masters. “If no mortal blood enters their line, they do not have a weakness, do they?”

Chaos is drawn to power itself. The more powerful one is, the more they crave it. Chaos always wants more,

The sound of footsteps had him pausing, waiting for a scholar to round the corner, but it wasn’t a scholar he came upon in the next row. It was a female with midnight hair that flowed down around her shoulders. It moved as if there were phantom winds stirring it, or maybe that was the…ashes? Her black pants and shirt were fitted with what appeared to be leather strapped atop them. Her head tilted with interest, and Axel felt like she was sizing up her prey. Swirling grey eyes met his, and he took a step back out of instinct. He was an Arius Legacy, but she was…something other. He could feel it in his bones.

“If Arius and Serafina crossed Achaz, it would stand to reason that Arius and Achaz are the ones with the feud.” “And if Tessa is the granddaughter of Arius…” Theon mused, sitting back in his chair and drumming his fingers on the table. “Then how does she have Achaz power?” Axel asked. “And some type of Witch gifts?”

“This contends that the Fae were created to keep the balance.” “Then the Fates would have been involved,” Axel said. “Or the Fates required something be done, and this was the answer,” Katya suggested.

“She will bring about the downfall of the realm. Destiny beckons and sacrifice demands. Will you not sacrifice one to save us all?” “The only sacrifices that will be made will be for her,” Theon retorted.

She was still a few feet away when he felt the sharp slice of pain down his arm. The gasp had him turning away to find Kat with her hand clasped over her arm, blood seeping between her fingers. And then red was all Axel saw.

He left her dying on the floor, ready to find the one who had hurt what was his, only to find another already there.

Without conscious thought, he brought her hand up, taking two fingers in his mouth and sucking. The blood tasted like her—citrus and fiery, a hint of smoke and spices—and gods, her power. Heavy-lidded eyes dropped to her arm, and every part of him went alive with excitement. Fresh blood.