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September 22 - September 26, 2025
“You think I don’t know what you need?” he asked with a smirk that was all predator. “I know exactly what you need, but I don’t think you know what you need. You accuse everyone of taking from you—when we both know that was one thing he never took from you—so now you need to ask for it.”
His mouth was on hers before he knew what he was doing, and gods, he swore every time he did this, her mouth would be the death of him.
She was desperation and desire.
“I like you like this,” he said. “Not so fucking mouthy.”
“Time to come, temptress,”
His head went foggy, and for the briefest of moments, he had no idea why he was jerking himself in a shower instead of burying himself between her thighs. Taking her. Worshiping her. Claiming what should have always been his.
“But wishes and hope are for the innocent and the heroes, not the monsters and the villains, so I no longer bother with either.”
“You’re a Pax Legacy,” Theon sneered. “But that doesn’t explain how Cienna is your sister because she is clearly a Witch.”
“We are not Legacy at all. A direct descendant of a god makes us deities,” Tristyn answered. “And before you ask, Tessa is more than that, despite being a direct descendant of Temural.”
There had been a massacre at the Sirana Villas. All the casualties had been Legacy, and the Fae housed there were missing.
We need you to come back. Me and our babe. Her hand slid to her stomach, resting atop it as her eyes fell closed again.
“I’m not eight anymore, Theon,” Axel sighed. “You don’t need to protect me from the world. It already swallowed me whole and spit me back out to be fucked all over again.”
She needed no one. Kindness was never free. There was always a cost. And she was done accumulating debts.
“Xan. My name is Xan Mors. Where did you meet my other son?”
“What is a light guardian?”
“The descendants of Sargon become the Guardians of the Arius bloodline. Achaz did not like this, so he created guardians of his own from beings known as seraphs. Some seraphs were given additional power, like the ability to Travel and banish their wings, but their primary magic must be stolen.”
“When they reach a certain age, the light guardians select a being. Leading up to this point, they have been watching and observing countless magical beings—Fae, Legacy, Shifters, Witches. They study them and try to determine which power would serve them best.” “Wait,” Tessa cut in, sitting up straight. “They watch beings for years, and when they reach a certain age they…select one?” Xan nodded. “Only they kill them and steal their magic.”
“Our bloodline is hunted throughout the stars by Achaz, his light guardians, and more. The world we once called home is nothing but a requiem. We were forced to flee, so yes, I hid my son in a realm where I thought he would be safe. Just like your parents did with you.”
“She loves you, Tessalyn. They both love you so much, they made unfathomable sacrifices for you. That has to count for something, right?”
For several moments, that was it. The two of them in the dark. His fingers stroking her hair. Her head on his chest. Breathing in his scent and heat. The bond between them hummed in contentment, soothing her as much as his touch was.
“Even the monsters and the villains need others. We’re not meant to do life alone.”
“There is a sorceress altering your visions,” Lilura said, ignoring them both.
“You need to go, but be mindful of your visions. They are not all truth,” Lilura said. “And tell him I’m still waiting for that dance.”
“Tristyn knows Cienna?” Axel asked. “They’re siblings.” “Shut the fuck up.”
“Are you asking if I’m upset you are pregnant?” “Yes.” “You know it took two to fuck and make that child, right?”
“A twin flame bond can only be between a Fae and a Legacy. Twin flames also cannot physically harm each other. The bond does not allow it. But you were already on an edge and hadn’t taken the Mark to initiate the bond. Even if you managed to take it, it would fade. Just as hers will.”
“I can’t be— You’re wrong,” he said, lifting a hand and letting his shadows free. “I still have my magic.” “And it will slowly slip from your soul,” she replied. “In a week, maybe two, you will no longer be a Legacy.
“The babe—” “Was conceived before this. He will be an Arius Legacy,” Cienna said.
And he wouldn’t be here for any of it. He wouldn’t be here to see him born. Would he have his eyes or hers? A darker complexion like her warm skin or the perfect mix of both? Would he be studious like her, or love music and chaosphere like him? He wouldn’t be here. He wouldn’t be here to see his first steps and hear his first words. He wouldn’t be here when his power emerged to help him learn to master it. He wouldn’t be here to play chaosphere or give him music or watch him grow. He wouldn’t be here to see what kind of person he became. He wouldn’t be here. Because he would be a danger to his
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He could make sure he wasn’t a threat to Kat ever again. That he never took from her in a moment of weakness. That he never watched the life dim from her eyes. Happy, safe, and whole. That was what he needed her to be. That was what he’d sacrifice anything for. Because she was his. His to have. His to protect. His to love.
“I’ll take your fury, little storm. I’ll take all your wrath and all your vengeance, but I will not accept that you are the cost for the balance,” he rasped out around her hold.
If this world took him from her, any mercy she might have found in her soul died with him.
“How many Huntresses are there?” She took a small step back. “There used to be twelve of us.”
“Nordrir is Razik’s home world,” Eliza said. “All the dragons’ home world actually. But they were hunted. Many who survived left the realm and went into hiding.”
“Saylah is the goddess of night and shadows. The shadows come from Arius and were passed down to Saylah,” Eliza said.
“So Tessa is not the product of a child from Achaz and Zinta’s daughter.” “She’s too young anyway,” Razik said, shaking his head. “Granddaughter, however…” “Granddaughter of two of the most powerful gods to exist?” Luka said. “You’re fucking with me.” “It fits,” Theon said, pulling on the back of his neck. “And it’d technically be the granddaughter of three of the most powerful. Serafina is a First Goddess.”
He was going to be a Night Child. A vampyre.
“You are telling me Eviana has a child? That you sired?” Axel asked, looking back at Mansel.
When I get out of here, you and I will take our revenge in flesh and blood, Valter snarled down the bond. Sounds perfect, my Lord. And by the gods, did it ever. Only she dreamed of vengeance against him. For forcing her to do all manner of things with all manner of people. To all manner of people. For forcing her to become the monster she was. For forcing her to bring something innocent and perfect into this damned world. For forcing her to love. For forcing her to care. He knew what he was doing, and she knew what he had planned.
Let him take care of you, Tessa. For once, just let someone care for you. Do you wish it was you instead of him? she asked, sleep clawing at her and dragging her down. Desperately. Then there was nothing but blessed darkness. And she loved it there.
“Ah, but it does,” she said, a shadow falling across Achaz’s features when she crept closer. “Because all magic comes with a cost, including unlocking a realm. It’s all about balance, right, Father?”
She knew. She knew in her soul that was her mother. Right there. Just out of sight, out of reach.
“When Devram was created, Serafina was Matched with Achaz.”
“It was a sensitive arrangement,” Katya murmured, still not looking up from her own reading. “The Firsts were not supposed to create children together. The Fates decreed it would upset the balance too much.”
“There is a being imprisoned in our realm,” Eliza said. “She has been imprisoned there for centuries. She is extremely dangerous and is known for making deals with others by twisting and wording the terms to her advantage. If she gets access to one’s blood, she can use it not only for blood magic but to get into their mind. She’s used it to alter memories to the point that one doesn’t know what was real and what wasn’t.”
“She had a spell book,” Eliza cut in. “Descendants of the Witch goddesses can create new Marks. Her book was full of them along with potions, spells, and other enchantments.”
“Again, altering memories is not the same as altering visions,” Razik said.
“Gehenna is the Sorceress in our realm,” Eliza clarified, having sat back in her chair to let Razik do his thing. “She is one of Zinta’s daughters.”
“Sorin learned that Gehenna only calls herself the sorceress,” Eliza cut in. “But among the gods, Zinta is known as the Sorceress, and Taika is known as—” “The Enchantress,” Razik cut in. “And according to this, some worlds refer to their descendants as such, particularly the most powerful ones.”
“If you need anything, though, know that Axel didn’t leave you alone.” Her smile faltered. “I appreciate that, Theon.”
