Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance (The Legacy, #3)

by Melissa K. Roehrich

Luka lurched to his feet, tripping over the mess of blankets and pillows as he looked around wildly, blinking sleep from his eyes. He was still at his cave. It was still dark. His black flames still cast a low glow over the space. He was still alone. But somehow, he’d also just been in one of Tessa’s visions, and he didn’t know what the fuck to do with that.

“My son is here with you? Separated from his Ward?” Tessa blinked in surprise. “That is your question?” The male only nodded, his eyes never leaving her. “Yes,” she answered. “He said Theon sent him to me, but I do not know if I believe him.” “Either way, there is only one instance that would allow him to put another before his Ward.” “And what is that?” The male tipped his head back, his eyes falling closed. She could swear a small smile played on his lips as he murmured more to himself than her, “She is going to hate this.” “What, exactly, is this?” Tessa snapped.

Tessa had taken care of Desiray herself, enjoying every moment of draining her power and then her life. Watching as black lines webbed across her skin, sparking with energy. Her daughter, however, hadn’t been killed, which was a surprise. A Legacy overseer without a full-blooded Legacy child was unheard of.

“Tell you what, Theon St. Orcas. Gain the trust of one who knows the secrets of the winds, and he can tell you how to enter my kingdom without the formalities.” “What does that mean?” Theon asked, a fire portal appearing behind Kyra. “The Shifter Prince knows,” she answered. Then she was gone.

“We cannot steal a book from here,” Kat said in horror. “She’s right. We can’t take books from the Ekayan Island,” Theon said. “The sentries here have permission to kill someone on site for even trying.” “Okay, but there are two dragons in this room,” Eliza said. Turning to Luka, she added, “Don’t you steal shit? Razik steals bowls all the time.” “I do not steal bowls,” Razik growled. Then he added with a grumble, “This book is much larger than a bowl.”

“Tessalyn!” Auryon snapped. “You are wild and fury, light and dark. Once lost, you were found. The only one who hasn’t realized that is you

It was always you. For both of us, and he may be a brother to me, but I hated that he was the one who would get to have you. For the years leading up to the Selection Ceremony, I forced myself to be indifferent, but I couldn’t help trying to convince him to Select someone else. I constantly told him you weren’t the one for this. Not because I had any inkling you weren’t Fae or were the grandchild of the most powerful gods, but because dragons are jealous creatures, temptress. If I couldn’t have you, I didn’t want anyone else to have you either.” “You didn’t even know me,” she whispered. “I know,” he growled in frustration. “That’s what made it so godsdamn ridiculous. Because I shouldn’t have cared. I shouldn’t have cared about the stormy grey eyes in a photograph that stared up at me on the screen of a tablet. I shouldn’t have cared that you wanted flip-flops. I shouldn’t have cared that you didn’t know how to defend yourself. I shouldn’t have cared because you were supposed to be his, but I did care because some part of me claimed you as mine from the moment I saw your photo.” “But you’re too loyal,” she said in quiet acceptance. “And he is your family.” “He is my family,” he agreed. “But you? You are my light.” “You said yourself you are his Guardian, not mine,” she said, so much hope in those guarded words. His hand slid along her jaw, slipping into the golden hair she so often abused. “Baby girl, I’ve always been yours. I just didn’t understand it.”

“Luka?” He hummed an acknowledgment. “If I… Would you still…” He sat up, internally mourning when his cock slipped out of her. “Tell me, Tessa.” She wouldn’t look at him when she said in a rush, “If I fulfill my purpose, will I still be yours?” He stared down at her. At this female who had been a pain in his ass from the moment he’d laid eyes on her. At the cautious hope that lingered in her violet eyes, fully prepared to accept his rejection because she’d been rejected her entire life. Knowing the words would mean more to her than any declaration of feeling or love, Luka said, “My loyalty is to you, Tessa.”

“You are his?” Xan asked, pulling everyone’s attention back to him. “Yes,” she answered immediately. “His chosen inevitable?” Eliza frowned. “If you are asking if I am his source, the answer is yes. If you are asking if I am his twin flame, the answer is also yes.” “That is not what I was asking, but the confirmation will suffice,” he answered.