Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance (Legacy, #3)

by Melissa K. Roehrich

“Because I am not a pure-blooded Fae.” “Then…what are you?” Eliza asked. “My mother was a Silas Legacy.” “But…” Eliza trailed off, the look of horror on her face morphing into anger. Eviana only smirked. “The Marks are not the only things perverse and altered in Devram. They like to…experiment. It is how advancements are made.”

She’d betray them all anyway in the end, but they would learn that in time.

“Why did you stop calling me little one?” He blinked at the odd question, twirling her hair around a finger again. “Little one was what I called you when I needed to remind myself you weren’t mine. Or that’s what it was supposed to do. It was a code only I understood. It worked for a little while, but by the end…” He trailed off, then sighed. “When I realized it wasn’t working anymore, I stopped using it, I guess.”

“Xan said they are basically the counterpart to you.” It took her a moment to realize Luka had gone so still she could swear he wasn’t breathing. “What?” she asked in confusion. “What did you just say?” “I said that light guardians are your counterparts. Arius and Sargon created Guardians. Achaz got mad and created light guardians in answer,” she explained. “And who told you that?”

Theon has wanted you from the beginning. Not to use you. He’s wanted you. It’s all he’s ever wanted. I had to give you a pet name to remind myself not to want you. We’ve loved you far longer than even we realize.”

“We’ll get what we need from you one way or another.” “What does that mean?” she demanded, trying to dig her feet into the smooth floor, but Dex just dragged her along. “It means you just had to do as you were told. Now, we’ll take what we’re owed.”

“A vessel, darling,” she drawled. “A warm blood supply always at your disposal.” “That is not what she is,” he balked before he could stop himself. He recognized the mistake immediately when a dark smile formed on Bree’s lips. “Fae and powerful,” she said. “I can smell it on her.

“Vessels are the equivalent of a Source for you, I suppose. Only we do not limit them to the ruling coven leaders. Any Night Child can have one if they choose to.” She smiled then, her fangs on full display. “The hunt and claiming is half the fun.”

“Fighting to keep them,” she added with a shrug of her slender shoulder. “It is not uncommon for others to try to steal a more powerful vessel for themselves.

“Careful, darling, you’re about to start a war.” He bared his fangs. “You started it the moment you sent me to kill my wife.” Bree blinked at the words. “Get out of my house, Bree. I’ll summon you when you’re needed.”

A perfect balance. Fire and shadows. The only difference was he’d rule in the shadowed lands of the Underground rather than control the shadows themselves. He’d leave that to his son.

“Um, Axel?” Kat asked tentatively. “Yes, kitten?” he asked distractedly. "You called me your wife." He stopped mid-step, turning to face her. "Yeah. I guess I did." "But...we're not that." "We should be," he grumbled, resuming his pacing. A strangled laugh came from her. “What?” Then he was standing in front of her, and she lurched back. “Stop doing that,” she admonished, her hand at her chest. “Sorry,” he said in a rush, taking her face in his hands. “But I said we should be. You should be my wife.”

The fact he’d married a Fae was proof enough of that, but just to drive the point home, he had the Union Marks bestowed. Now he wanted to take her to the Apparel District to secure rings too. He wanted any and every possible way to stake his claim. As if the babe growing in her belly wasn’t enough.

“Dragons are difficult to kill, and we seem to have accomplished that fairly successfully,” the Serafina Lady said with a mocking smile. “Obviously not,” Theon replied, his smile all teeth as he accepted what she was admitting to.

“Cienna Blackheart,” he said, something akin to relief filling his features. “Xan Mors,” she returned in kind. “It is finally time,” his father said, and Luka could swear there were tears glimmering.

“There was a prophecy given when I arrived here with you and Tessa,” his father answered, but his eyes were still fixed on Razik. “When a son learned truth, a genesis would commence. That’s when my imprisonment would end. I just always assumed it was when you learned I still lived, not that…” He trailed off, staring at Razik, and Luka shifted, a jealous sensation creeping up. He was the one who had learned the truth. He was the one who had planned all this. He was the one who had come to get him out of this place, and all his father could do was stare at Razik. The one who wanted nothing to do with either of them.

“Dragocen is a word from our home world,” Xan tried again.

“Dragons hoard treasure. Their most valuable is called dragocen. Mai is a claiming. My most valued treasure.”

“Dragocen is from an ancient language, but it refers to a bond that emerged with the Beings of Chaos,” he answered. “It is the bond the twin flame was modeled after when the gods created it as a gift to their children and the Fae who fill their magic.”

“I’ve only witnessed your interactions with Razik for an hour or so, but I can tell you are his inevitable.” “That is the second time you’ve said that,” Luka said. “At its core, it is what a dragocen bond is,” Xan explained. “An inevitable bond.” Eliza stiffened. “You mean a forced bond?” “No,” Xan said. “A bond can always be rejected. But if the proving ritual is done and accepted, it becomes inevitable.” “What is a proving ritual?” she asked. “I am assuming my son sacrificed greatly for you,” Xan said, his tone softening. “Perhaps nearly died? Proving he values you above all else?” Eliza swallowed, looking over her shoulder at Razik. It was the only answer that was needed. “You will complete your twin flame Trials,” Xan said. “But you are his dragocen. A bond not created by gods or designed by the Fates, but born of the stars and chaos. A pull that cannot be denied? That appeared when you both needed it most? Am I correct?”

“If this is a bond of all the Chaos beings, then why is it called dragocen?” Razik demanded. “That is simply what the dragons call it. Each of the Beings of Chaos call it something different, just as each being has adapted to it differently. Dragons become obsessively protective, guarding their chosen as the treasure they are. But in the end, it is the same. A chosen inevitable.”

Even their beloved Pen and Caris betrayed Theon and Axel at various points.

“Because I know what you both are, and if that gets out, you’ll undoubtedly never see each other again.”

Relief flooded through her, and it was only then she noticed the other figure in a cloak. The hood was down, revealing his face. His russet eyes had a sage glow to them. “Keepers of the realm,” she sang. “You and your sister. Both. Together and separate. So many faces. So many secrets.”

“Dark must bow and light must rule, but Chaos does not choose.” “Control the uncontrollable, or to fury they both lose,” Tessa sang, dancing back from the bars. “Life must give and Death must take, but Fate requires more. So much more.” She sprang forward again, practically climbing the bars. “Fate requires balance.”

“Destiny beckons, and sacrifice demands.” “I know, clever tempest. I understand what’s demanded.” “Who will be left standing when Chaos comes to reign?” she recited, her smile growing wider.

“He knows things,” she whispered loudly. “Yeah?” Theon said, taking a step closer. “What does he know, little storm?” “He knows the female in the land in the sky.”

“Too wild. Too reckless. Too uncontrollable. Control the uncontrollable, but it takes more than one.” She paused, looking over her shoulder. “It takes two. I’m not meant to exist. We break all the rules, all the bonds. All the visions and dreams, dreams and visions. Balance and no balance. It’s all the same. Sanity and madness. Where’s the line?”

“We were always meant to destroy one another, but how do you destroy death when you want to drown in the darkness?”

“Here’s the thing: this area of the Pantheon is designed to keep things in. That is what we keep. Everything about it is designed that way.” “By who?” Theon demanded. “Surely you weren’t here when Devram was created.” “No,” he agreed. “But others were. Cienna and I are not the only Keepers. There have been others over the millenniums. Some have faded; others still live. One now leads the Apothecary District in the Underground. The point is, on the rare occasion something makes its way into Devram, a Keeper is here to meet it. Cienna and I were no exception. Neither were Xan and Luka when they brought Tessa.” “What does any of this have to do with getting her out of here?” Theon asked. Tessa was listening, but she was also restless. She started wandering the perimeter of the room again. No windows. She couldn’t see the sky. “Because everything about it is designed to keep her in,” Tristyn said in exasperation. “It’s designed to contain gods.

“You don’t understand. It is an enchantment to slow someone down. If someone comes through, the enchantments are designed to hold them until their intentions can be established.”

Turning to Tessa, he gestured to her. “I need some blood, wild fury.” “My blood summons those who serve Achaz,” she said. Not a warning or apprehension. Just a statement of what was. “Your blood can summon many,” he countered. “We don’t have time to debate this though. I need you to trust me.” “You used me,” she hissed, her hands curling into fists. “For your own gain. I did not forget.” “I won’t deny I have my own motives,” he replied. “But that doesn’t mean I do not care. I can have motives and still care. It does not have to be one or the other.”

He shook his head, a mischievous smile on his lips. “And when this is over, there’s some lull-leaf and pizza with our name on it.” “Pretty words and promises don’t work with me, Keeper of Lies and Deceit,” she said, her answering smile dark. “A blood vow then,” he said, the dagger he was holding gliding across his palm. “A what?” “A blood vow is a promise. An agreement made between two people. If either party breaks it, the results are unfavorable,” Theon replied.

Her gaze swung back to Tristyn. “Why would you do this?” “To prove you can trust me,” he answered, gesturing for her hand once more. “A slice across the palm, and we merge our blood.”

hesitated for a moment, glancing at Theon. He nodded in encouragement, and she wondered when she’d started looking to him for such a thing.

she stuck her hand between the bars, the slice of the blade stinging against her flesh. Tristin took her bloody palm in his, russet eyes holding hers. “I vow and swear my loyalty to you, T...

His darkness wrapped around her, and the war in her soul calmed. Not completely, but enough that she could think clearly. She pulled back to look up at him, realizing once again it wasn’t his darkness, but his dark wings. “You came for me,” she whispered. “I told you I will always find you,” he answered. “I have some things to tell you, but it would be better if we get somewhere safe first. Is that all right with you?” A choice. He was…giving her a choice. She swallowed thickly, nodding her head.

“I have seen this. The Augury and Hunters. They are waiting for us.” Her voice caught in her throat as tears welled. “Luka does not come to help.”

You are the most powerful being in Devram. No one decides your fate but you. Do you understand me?”

“You are wild and fury. Lean into it, Tessa. Let instinct guide you.”

but then he pulled his two short swords, and gods. He looked like the god of death. Darkness drifted across his emerald eyes. His dark hair stirred in the wind as his wings stretched wide behind him. He held the swords as if they were extensions of him, and his power swarmed around him. And her power wanted it all. Tendrils of light reached for it, winding into his darkness.

“Let them play. Let them become familiar.” She cocked her head, her breathing coming faster as he let her power explore and take. Then his darkness bit back, and she gasped. He smiled. Dark and wicked. “Someone they fear as much as me,” Theon said, and her gaze snapped back to his. Maybe… Maybe the villain had fallen in love with the monster in the end.

“Trust me and trust yourself,” he said, somehow looking at her like they weren’t about to fight for their lives.

Light and dark wound around her dagger, life and death, and she sank it into the Hunter’s chest. His wail rang out before he drifted away on the winds, nothing left but wisps of pale, translucent ashes.

And the Hunter sank a gold blade into Theon’s back. And still Luka did not come.

Everything stilled, all eyes going to the night sky, where not one, but two, dragons soared. One let loose another roar of rage, black flames blotting out the emerging stars, and then the Augury scattered. The Hunters hissed in outrage, disappearing into the air, while the vampyres followed the Legacy.

One of the dragons landed beside them, the ground trembling at the impact. The other soared over the trees. Theon assumed it was going to search for stragglers who were attempting to escape. Sapphire eyes were pinned on them before his snout was sniffing first her wound, then his. “Yeah, you dick,” Theon snarled. “We’re hurt. Took you long enough.” Luka huffed, his shields crumbling.

“Tessa?” “I’m here,” she said, and he found her still with Tristyn. Her eyes were wide, and those were tear tracks down her face. Had she been crying…for him?

“He was stabbed with a Hunter’s blade,” Razik answered. “It is poison. Not to kill Arius blood but to paralyze. There is no antidote. There are only two ways to remove the poison. One way is burning it from the body with dragon fire.”

“The decree was never about ruling Devram; it was about saving it.”