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September 14 - September 17, 2025
He moved fast, his arm looping around her waist and hauling her into him. “You will forever be mine, Tessa. Whether in this life or in the After.” Something he didn’t understand shuddered in her eyes at the words. “We were always meant to destroy each other,” she said flatly, looking away from him. He took her chin with his other hand, forcing her gaze back to his. “I crave destruction at your hands, clever tempest. If that’s what it takes to keep you, then so be it.”
“You think I am lying to you?” “I know you are.” His hand slid into her hair, tilting her head back. “And what about you, beautiful? Still lying to me?” “I never stopped.” “Good,” he said, then brought his lips to hers.
“She was lost to those who needed her and found by those who wanted to use her.”
She lifted a hand, a swirl of golden mist forming at her fingertips. When it faded, she held a scion and a dagger.
“And you are under the illusion that Rordan will help you have it, but this is much bigger than you and Theon and the politics of Devram. If you don’t believe me, ask the one who brought you to the realm in the first place.” Tessa went preternaturally still. “What did you just say?”
A male sat on the floor. His brown hair was long, reaching well past his shoulders. It was a tangled mess of knots and needed to be washed and trimmed. Based on the state of his hair, she would have expected his facial hair to be more unkempt. He had a beard that was trimmed close, as if it had been more recently tended to. A large onyx ring that matched his sat on his finger, but she was more interested in the manacle at his throat. A thick band of pure white stone, it contained flecks of gold. Flecks of light and energy. A chain attached to the manacle was anchored to the wall, allowing for
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To her surprise, he huffed a gruff laugh. “You are stubborn and combative like her.” “Like who?” He shifted again, stretching his legs out in front of him and crossing his ankles. “You said you knew who you were.” She settled onto the floor with a scowl, Roan shifting closer and placing his head on her lap. “You are aggravating like him.” His lips twitched in a familiar way that made her want to punch something.
“I don’t even know who you are. I don’t think I was supposed to find you.” “Achaz does nothing without intention.” “You mean Rordan?” “I did not misspeak,” the male answered. “You speak as if you know him personally,”
are not supposed to be here.” “You already said that,” she said, glancing back over her shoulder. He shook his head, the chain connecting his collar to the wall clanking. “No, Tessalyn. You are not supposed to be here. She thought she could hide you here, but he always knows.”
“Enough with the cryptic innuendos,” she snapped, light flaring and energy crackling, bleeding into the magic of the glass. “Who are you?” “That’s her fury too,” he said, and Tessa could swear there was a fondness in his voice.
“You believe your destiny is set, but you do not realize you stand at a crossroads,” he went on. “Salvation or destruction, the choice is yours.”
“The path to salvation has always been death.”
“What would you have me do?” Tristyn demanded. “We can only guide and push and hint so much before we are crossing a line, and if I cross it, I am not the only one who will pay the price.”
“Tessa saw her.” Cienna paused, looking up at him. “She saw Lilura?”
“Gia is collecting them.” “Collecting who? What was done?” Tristyn asked in confusion. “The High Queen of the World Walkers is apparently incredibly adept at finding loopholes when it comes to oaths and fate,” Cienna said. “Scarlett?” Tristyn asked in surprise. “She is back?” “Not Scarlett,” Cienna replied. “But she left Auryon with a way to summon help should we become desperate. Losing her to the Achaz Kingdom seemed like a desperate hour.”
“She left me a vial to crush, and when I did, shadows and white embers swirled,” Auryon said, taking a bite of her apple. “Then what?” Tristyn asked. She shrugged. “Now we wait.” “For what?” “To see who answers,” Cienna said.
He sighed, getting to work. It had been a long time since he’d worked beside his sister like this. They’d been in Devram for far too long, waiting for the one who could free them. And now they’d lost her.
Elixirs and potions were her strong area. He was stronger with spellwork and glamours.
two others emerged behind her. The male was taller with brown hair and an expression that said he was already bored. There were no visible weapons on his person, but Tristyn instinctively knew he didn’t need them. The female had red-gold hair that was braided down her back, grey eyes taking in the space. She wore pants and a tunic, some type of leather armor atop her clothing. There were several Marks visible on her, including one atop her heart. The female did have a sword strapped down her back, but he somehow knew she didn’t really need it either.
She was Fae, but the male? He was a Legacy, and when sapphire eyes met his, he knew exactly which god he descended from. Clever of the silver-haired queen to send him.
“Who are you?” the female asked, and there was no cowering like the Fae did here. This one was fierce and demanding. Tristyn was fairly certain if anyone tried to give her an order, she might stab them.
A black Mark was on the back of her right hand, the Mark extending down some of her fingers. A quick glance at Razik found the same Mark on his hand.
“A daughter of Temural. His only blooded child, actually.” “And her mother?” “The daughter of Achaz.” “Impossible,” Razik cut in. “That would make her beginnings and endings. The balance forbids it.”
“She shouldn’t be here.” “In Devram?” “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.”
