Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance (Legacy, #3)

by Melissa K. Roehrich

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

“The balance,” Theon said. “In all things there must be balance, and when the balance is left uncorrected for too long, the Fates are forced to intervene.” “I don’t understand,” Eliza said, stepping forward. “The Fates don’t interfere. They often refuse to, letting natural consequences follow actions.” “Until they are forced to,” Razik interrupted. “If the imbalance becomes too great and threatens the realms, they step in. Ultimately, that is their purpose. To make sure the balance is not allowed to tip too far to one side.”

“So you are…going to hand me over to the Augury? To the Fates?” she demanded, gold and silver sparks floating around her, drifting through her hair. “After all of this, all of your promises about keeping me, you are just going to give me up?” He smiled then, a soft thing he’d only ever give to her. “No, beautiful. I am going to give up Devram.”

“Tessalyn Ausra, I would sacrifice all the realms and all the stars for you. You are perfectly wild. Perfectly untamed. You were not made to be caged, nor were you made to be a sacrifice for a realm that does not deserve such a gift. You were made to live in the light. Go live, little storm.”

“Yes, let’s talk about your creation, Akira,” Achaz sneered, keeping a healthy distance from her. Adopting a faux innocence, she replied, “Whatever do you mean?” “She deflects her purpose just like you did.”

“You cage me up here. Wards and enchantments.” Her lip curled up at the words. “For your own safety,” Achaz gritted out. Her head canted to the side. “Do you think that is what they tell my mother as well?” “Gehenna did her duty,” he retorted.

“Did you know I could see forward in time? A gift from my mother.” She practically floated backwards from him. “Would you like me to tell you a story?”

She held up her hand. A silver band encompassed her pointer finger, a large, black onyx stone in the center. “Not for much longer,” she returned, her power thrumming at the idea of freedom.

“No, no, no!” She cried, shaking her head and her eyes falling closed. “We can harm her, and she is a friend. Taika understands, but she is busy. I need him. Only wild and untamed, and you—” Her eyes flew open, hard and merciless. “You took him from me.” “And you created something that should not exist with him,” Achaz snarled.

Chaos is uncontrollable, and she became the same. But he tried, didn’t he? He tried to control her, not realizing he had created one just as powerful as him. She was not a god, nor was she a Fate. She was not born of the Chaos, but created from it. He realized too late that she would be the one to ruin his everything.”

And her daughter? She was so much more. She was wild and fury. Light and dark. Beginnings and endings. But while she was created from vengeance and Chaos, her daughter was created with all that and more. Her daughter was created out of something pure and selfless. Out of acceptance and understanding. Out of something unconditional and unbreakable. Out of something inevitable and uncontrollable. If she could find the same, she would know peace. She would be what she was created to be. Salvation and destruction. “It will take more than you and a child to ruin what I have built,” Achaz said, power flickering in his eyes, but nowhere else. “And if you continue down this path, it is destruction for all of you. Give me your ring, and let me save her. For you. I will bring her to you, and⁠—” Akira laughed. “I will not cage her, and he will come for me.” “Temural cannot come here.” She brushed a fingertip over the black stone in her ring. “He will always come for me.” “Not this time, daughter. I will never allow it.”

“A Being of Chaos playing with things he shouldn’t. What will you do when Chaos comes to reign?” Because he was a god, but she was a Fury. And her daughter? She was Chaos.