Storm of Secrets and Sorrow (Legacy, #2)

by Melissa K. Roehrich

Dex had moved the bench to this exact spot so she would know where the wards were since she couldn’t feel them. He’d done this in multiple areas around the estate for her. At least now when she crossed the wards, it was on purpose.

He had, however, started leaving extra food around, especially when she would disappear for a day or two. He couldn’t possibly know that Mother Cordelia, the Legacy who oversaw the Celeste Estate, would lock her in cellars or small cupboards and withhold food as punishment, could he?

“Unless you have a way to travel us to Arobell in the blink of an eye, yeah, we’re walking,” Lange quipped. “You’re an ass,” Corbin noted. Lange shrugged. “I read that Legacy used to be able to do that. It was an ability taken away when Devram was created.”

“This is yours, Tessa,” Oralia said, holding out a doughnut with chocolate frosting. “Aren’t they all the same?” Lange asked, snatching the bag from her hand and peering inside. “Of course,” Oralia said with a laugh. “I just know how Tessa can get when she’s hungry. No one wants to deal with that.”

And she didn’t want to be there, so far from the sky and fresh air and light, but they wouldn’t let her go. They wouldn’t let her go. They wouldn’t let her go. Not as figures stepped from the shadows, fangs glinting in the low light of sconces along the cave walls. Not as fighting broke out, and for some reason, she cared if the strangers survived. Not as black flames and darker shadows swirled around them. Not as pain flared deep in her belly and fangs pierced her throat, and gods, she couldn’t scream. Couldn’t breathe. And it was dark and she was alone and⁠— “Not yet.” That was what the female said who appeared at her side, crouching down to peer at her. Her violet eyes were hard and narrowed. Her shiny mahogany hair was braided down her back, and she wore close-fitting black clothing. “Lost for so long, but not much longer. Fate changes, moment-by-moment, and I can’t keep up. But it is not time for this, for chaos and death. Much can change. Much will change. That war will come.” She reached out and placed a hand over Tessa’s heart, and faint light flared as she murmured, “It slumbers still. Now is not the time for this. Not yet.”

“It always seems to happen,” Tessa said thoughtfully, taking a bite of her doughnut. “Anytime new Fae arrive, we have an assessment within a week.” “Don’t be silly,” Oralia scoffed. “We didn’t have an assessment for almost three months when I came here.” “I guess that’s true,” Tessa replied. She suddenly felt restless, shifting on her feet as something felt like it was pressing against her skin, clawing at something deep in her soul trying to stir it awake. “Finish your doughnut, Tessie,” Dex said, nudging her with his elbow, but his focus was fixed on Oralia, the two of them exchanging a dark look.

“She can get here,” the female was saying, panic in her voice. “She can stop this.” “Not even she will be fast enough,” Theon answered. “She is a World Walker and a⁠—” “And even she has been ordered not to interfere with this,” Theon cut in, dropping to Tessa’s side. “She will not care.”

“Her father is a god. Her mother may as well be one. She is as powerful as a Lesser,” Cienna said simply. “That is all I can tell you. Any more and I will be tempting fate. I already am.”

Violet eyes met his when she said, “You should be asking what you can do to control that fate.” “We can’t control fate,” Theon replied. “We can change it, though,” Cienna replied. “Every action, every word, every breath. The simplest of things can change fate.” She smiled again, a knowing thing that had Theon suppressing a shudder. “I think you will learn soon enough that wrestling with fate leaves scars. Only you can decide if they’re worth it.”

One female with silver hair tipped her head back, a laugh falling from her lips as her partner spun her around. His black clothing was elegant, threads of red and gold along the lapels of his jacket. His gold and silver mask matched hers, and Tessa frowned. She was clearly Legacy, but was he? They both had rings on their fingers, but those were not Union Marks on the back of their left hands. The only Marks that went there were Source Marks. She had other Marks on her bare arms. Some black. Some a faded silver. The male spun her again, and Tessa could swear there were wisps of shadows and white flames that echoed her footsteps. Silver eyes connected with hers for the briefest of moments, and Tessa could only describe the smile that filled her face as darkness itself. Then the male was pulling her back into him, bending to speak into her ear, and her eyes were back on him as he held her close. Tessa’s power strained, thrashing against the bands. Another crack of thunder sounded, and she didn’t understand. It had never been like this. Before it had been a slowly building ache in her bones, but this was different. This was her magic wanting something, demanding she take it. She didn’t understand why it was suddenly so restless, so uncontrollable. It was as if it was being drawn to something, and Tessa didn’t know what.

She turned as something caught her eye. Light glimmering off of a pearlescent mask. A mask that completely covered the wearer’s face. They weren’t in black robes but in a suit, blending in with the crowd. No one else seemed to notice anything amiss, but the figure was moving through the crowd, making their way to an exit.

Russet-colored eyes met hers, and why did he always care? From the moment she’d met him in a hotel lobby, she’d felt relaxed around him. Calm and composed, as if she could simply exist without the anxiety and expectations that constantly plagued her. “You’re a Pax Legacy,” she said in realization. He smiled softly. “Not quite, but close enough.” “Pax is the god of peace and serenity,” she said warily. “That’s why I always feel that way around you.” “I’m flattered, fury.” “Don’t be,” she muttered, taking the bottle he extended to her once more.

“Tessa,” Tristyn said, his hand resting on her elbow. Her anxiety bled out of her, but her power bit back too. Tristyn yanked his hand back. “Should have seen that coming,” he muttered, shaking his hand out. “Those bands won’t contain you much longer.” “How do you know that?” she asked, all her previous suspicion coming back in full force. He bent to retrieve the mask she’d dropped at some point. Handing it back to her, he said, “Because chaos can’t be contained.”

“You’re the only ones who can touch her right now. You’ve altered everything,” Tristyn said.

Tessa stopped then. She was in the center of the arena, and she turned to face them. Energy flickered in violet glowing irises. Lifting a hand, Theon could only watch as she showed them the other band. “These trap us,” she said, and her voice wasn’t hers. It was otherworldly, somehow dark and light. Wild. Chaotic. “How long has she been able to take those off herself?” Luka asked, his voice low. “I don’t know,” Theon answered. “But she is very angry. Or her magic is.” “Probably both,” Luka finished. “Fuck.” Fuck indeed.

And it did just that. Blinding bright light flared as the band slipped free. Even with the shield in place, Theon felt the tremors of energy skitter across the stone floor. There was no way they’d be able to control this. He braced himself for the collision of power, praying to the gods, the Fates, anyone who would listen. Her light collided with power, and the force of it sent him flying into the arena wall. He felt the agony in his side that was likely ribs cracking, but he scarcely registered the pain. Because her power hadn’t crashed into his darkness or Luka’s black flames. It had collided with flames of pure white, shadows and something other dancing among the fire. Two figures had appeared out of the very air. One in black clothing that was…not modern, but somehow elegant and fitting for the male. Fine gold and red thread ran along the edges, and he wore boots that Theon was certain had a knife slid down the side. His gold and silver mask hid half of his features. But the other figure? She had silver hair. Her black dress had deep slits up the side, and when she moved, Theon could see the daggers strapped to her thighs. She had panthers of pure shadow prowling around her as white flames poured from her, going head-to-head with Tessa’s golden light.

Glancing back at the females, two very different kinds of light were winding and dancing. Tessa didn’t seem to be panicking or in pain. In fact, down the bond all he could feel was a twisted sort of curiosity mixed with the fury.

Looking between Theon and Luka, she said, “I cannot tell which one of you belongs to her.” Belonged to who? To Tessa?

“Just to be clear, we do not like them, yes?” “Considering they are attempting to kill my Source, no, we do not…like them,” Theon replied, beyond perplexed at this point. Her nose wrinkled. “She’s your Source?” Why did they keep questioning this?

“If you have a Guardian, where is he?” Axel asked. “These two can scarcely stand to go to the bathroom without each other.” “For fuck’s sake, Axel,” Theon groused. “My Guardian stayed behind. Threw a fit about it too. But if I’d brought him, then Cyrus would have needed to come. It would have been a mess. Cyrus threw an even bigger fit about having to stay behind,” Scarlett answered. “Cyrus is your Guardian?” Theon asked. “No. Cassius is my Guardian. Cyrus is his…mate? Husband? I don’t know what you call them here,” she replied.

“I can’t read this.” “You’ll learn in time.” Leafing through a few more pages, she paused again, her gaze snapping back to his. “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.

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. “I’m, uh…just going to…” Axel backed away slowly. His shadows appeared like a thin fog, providing a barrier just in case. The female smiled, but it was too sharp to be pleasant. It was terrifying. Without another word, Axel turned the corner, his heart beating way faster than it should. He was one of the most powerful Legacy in Devram. There was no reason he should have reacted like that. Pausing, he turned and peered back around the stack of books, but she was gone. There was no trace of her. Only a set of ashy footprints on the ground.

In a sudden burst of power, his darkness yanked her from Luka’s arms. She screamed, and Luka bellowed a roar that she felt in her soul. Black flames flared, but it was a female who appeared, blocking Theon’s dagger with one of her own as two wolves prowled around them, brushing up against Tessa’s legs. Midnight hair flowed around the female, her bare feet planted as she stared up at Theon, a dark grin on her face. Her voice was a predatory purr as she said, “You may have stolen her Guardian from her, but that only means you must now deal with me.”

“He doesn’t think she’s from the realm?” “With her gifts, I’m inclined to agree with him.” “What is her magic?” Tessa asked. “Something about moving among smoke and ashes. She can summon weapons, and not like we do from a pocket realm. It’s like she can create them,” Luka explained. “But there’s more. I know there is.”

“This one?” Tessa asked, pointing to a word as she held the book out to Theon. Theon looked up from his computer, leaning over to get a better look at the page. “That is a variation of the word seraph.” “Seraph,” Tessa repeated, pulling the book back to her lap. “Like an angel?” “Yes,” he said. “There were different types. Some that could banish their wings and some that couldn’t. Likely others we know nothing about.”

She was in some kind of cave or cavern, judging by the rocky floor and walls, but the windows… That was water. Oh gods. She was underwater. Underground and underwater. But before her panic could climb too high, a female voice had her turning. “How unexpected. I haven’t had a visitor in nearly five years.” There was a set of bars and behind them was a female in some kind of beige garment. Her skin was so pale, the shift looked stark against it. Her black hair was long and stringy, but her violet eyes were bright and full of interest. She stepped closer to the bars, lifting her hands as if to wrap her fingers around them, but then stopped herself. “You smell of forgotten lands,” she said. Tessa frowned, unsure what that meant, but then the female tipped her head to the side. A smile slowly curled on her lips, and Tessa found herself taking a step back from the black bars that hummed with magic. “You smell of vengeance.” Then she tipped her head back and laughed. She had to be mad. That was the only explanation Tessa could come up with. Looking to her right, she saw a staircase that led up to somewhere, but she didn’t know where she was. “Don’t go that way, daughter of wild and fury.” Tessa whipped her head back to her. “What did you just say?” “Beginnings and Endings. Light and Dark,” she started to sing, pacing in a small circle. There was a piece of paper on the dirt floor of her cell, and she stepped on it with every pass she made. “Dark must bow, and Light must rule, but...

“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?” She swallowed again, shaking her head in his grasp. “Our nights would be dark, but you’d love it there because you’d realize we need your light as much as you crave the dark.” “I hate the dark,” she challenged. His lips curled in a knowing smirk. “You fear the dark because you crave it, Tessa. You hate it because you think you are alone there, but your nights would never be spent alone. Never again. That’s what it would have been like.”

“Because she is the granddaughter of Arius, yes, but she is also a direct descendant of Achaz. She’s both. Light and dark. Beginnings and endings.” “But the Witch heritage,” Luka argued. “I translated some old texts. If it is correct, Achaz had a child with one of Zinta’s daughters.” “And you think Tessa is this daughter?” Luka shook his head. “I’m dying to hear how you made that leap.” “I don’t know if she’s that daughter, but Tessa has to be a descendant. Arius and Serafina. Achaz and Zinta. All four,” Theon said flatly, face pale and eyes rimmed in red. “She’s not a Legacy. She’s too powerful. Cienna said she may as well be a god. All power comes from Chaos; she has more than anyone in Devram. Tessa may as well be Chaos, and she now sides with Achaz.”

There were dozens of Augury members there, and she summoned things Tristyn called the Hunters.” “The Hunters?” “According to Tristyn, they are beings created by Achaz to hunt down the Arius bloodline.” “How did they get here?” “Tessa can summon them.” “Because of her Achaz bloodline,” Theon said in understanding. Luka nodded. “I didn’t want anything you said earlier to be true, but yeah. I think that’s why. They have golden blades.” “Like the ones found in the gardens,” Theon said immediately. “She summoned them the day Pavil and Metias attacked her.” “It gets worse. In answer to the Hunters, Temural and Anala came together and created Huntresses.” Luka paused before adding, “Beings who can move through smoke and ash and create weapons from nothing.” “Auryon.” “Apparently Temural sent her to aid Tessa.”

“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.” He didn’t miss the accusation in his sister’s tone. “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.