Storm of Secrets and Sorrow (Legacy #2)

by Melissa K. Roehrich

the dark still plagued her, and time spent in pleasure at his hands still managed to drive it away, and fuck him for being both her destruction and salvation.

He wanted everything from her, and she had nothing left to give.

“No one is taking you from me. Ever.”

“But you’re a Legacy. I’m just a Fae.” “You aren’t just anything,”

“One female will not be the downfall of an entire realm,” Theon snapped. The masked face tilted to the side. “No, but the two of you together will be.”

“I’ve told him before that I’ve thought death to be a kinder option more than once,” she answered. “Theon is death, Tessa.”

“You insisted I had secrets when I didn’t, so I found some to keep.”

“I’m going to kiss you,” he said, his voice so low and rough he didn’t recognize it. Her eyes widened again. “Why would you do that?” “Because you yelled at me.”

“I know you think it feels freeing to let your power have you, Tessa, but what have I told you from the very beginning? I want everything you have to give. Your power does not get to have you. I do,”

“Fight it all you want, little storm, but you are going to belong to me. Every piece of you,” he said, echoing words he’d said to her once before. He’d meant it then, and he meant it now. “I will never stop fighting for you.”

“I’ll forever fight to keep you, Tessa,”

“I can’t breathe in the dark. I need the light,” she whispered in agony as she leaned into him even more, her power struggling and thrashing. “But too much light can blind you,” he countered. “You still need the dark to find the balance.”

the quiet was so damn loud.

“The only sacrifices that will be made will be for her,”

What if the Fae were the answer to something that needed to be corrected? What if the Fae were never meant to serve the Legacy at all? What if, in the end, the Fae had saved them?

“You may have stolen her Guardian from her, but that only means you must now deal with me.”

“You will forever be someone else’s.” “If I am forever someone else’s, what does that make you, little storm?” “The same thing I’ve always been. Nothing.”

“I have plenty of scars, Axel. To be honest, I’m glad it was a physical one this time.”

“If it’s something I want? For fuck’s sake, Kat, I’ve wanted since the moment I laid eyes on you. Before that even. If Theon feels a fraction of this draw to Tessa, I understand the obsession, because I am obsessed with you. It’s why even though I know this is a terrible idea, I’m going to let you have it. I don’t even know what this is, but I know I could never deny you a godsdamn thing.”

“Don’t go that way, daughter of wild and fury.”

Tell him to keep fighting. Tell him Lilura lives.

He and I were always meant to destroy one another.

“Nothing has been logical from the moment I laid eyes on you, Katya. Claiming you wasn’t logical. Letting you have my room wasn’t logical. Arguing with you, sleeping beside you, kissing you. None of it is logical. And it sure as fuck isn’t logical that you consume me just by godsdamn existing, but you do, Katya. I cannot explain why. I’ve stopped trying. I’m a disappointment to many people on so many levels, but please, Kat. Please let me do this. Please let me keep you safe because it is the only mercy I can offer you in this godsforsaken realm.”

“Promise me you’ll come back for me,” she whispered. “I can’t, kitten,” he said. “I can only promise that you will be safe.”

“I’ll try,” he whispered. “I promise I’ll try to come back for you, but only if you promise me you’ll try to be happy.”

“Remember that living isn’t just logic and knowledge but feeling too, kitten,” he murmured onto her lips. “Remember that you are a good person, Axel St. Orcas,”

“Luka, what⁠—” “If you were my Match, I wouldn’t call you such a thing,” he said and her eyes darted to the side. Until he said, “I would call you my wife, my partner, my light. Anything but my Match.”

“Villains and monsters don’t get happy endings.” “Oh, little one, is that what you believe?” She gave a sharp jerk of her chin, and he released her. “Then you’re not a monster at all, are you?” Her nostrils flared in annoyance. “And why is that?” “Because monsters don’t settle, Tessa. They take their happy endings, even if they leave a blood trail in their wake,” Luka said. “And what about you, Luka Mors?” she sneered. “Where do you fall?” “Don’t you know?” he asked, leaning down and whispering in her ear. “Dragons eat the monsters.”

“Your love,” he blurted, unable to stop himself. “Will it matter if I say I love you, little storm?”

“The path to salvation has always been death.”