Chapter 53 Tessa
TESSA
“Ireally wish you’d wear some armor,” Luka muttered. “What are we going to do if your blood touches the ground?”
She smirked where she stood near the kitchen island, leaning a hip against it. “I’m not wearing armor, Luka. If Hunters appear, I’ll take care of them. My arrows kill them. Auryon’s did.”
“We’re going to be facing enough enemies. We don’t need to add more,” he argued.
She hummed, the bands of light on her wrists flaring brighter as they unfurled and coiled. “I’ll be fine,” she said, pushing off the counter to return her coffee creamer to the fridge. “Maybe I’ll just make armor of light like Theon does with his darkness.”
“Great. Then you’ll be a beacon calling everyone straight to you,” he deadpanned.
“Why so grumpy this morning?” she asked around a huff of laugher. “One would think after the night we had, you’d be the farthest thing from grumpy.”
Because it had been a very good night that had left her more than a little sated.
She’d slept deeply without a single dream, and while normally that was fine, it was also a little worrisome.
She hadn’t had a vision in weeks. Tristyn had told her it was likely because the future was changing too quickly when she’d mentioned it to him a few days ago, and while that made sense, it still had her on edge.
So her husbands had taken it upon themselves to drive every other thought from her mind.
“What are we discussing?” Theon asked, coming into the room and going straight for her. He pressed a kiss to her temple as he reached over her head for a mug.
“Luka is upset I don’t have armor. Again,” she sighed, glancing at Theon.
He wasn’t in a suit. Instead, he wore black tactical pants with pockets. His long-sleeve black shirt hugged his torso, and his belt already had daggers sheathed to it. Luka was in the same, and she’d been trying to avoid staring all godsdamn morning.
“It slows her down,” Theon reminded him, turning to lean on the counter as he took a drink of caffeine.
“See?” Tessa said, gesturing to Theon. “I’ll have Nylah and Roan. My power will be feeding the entire time. I can funnel power to the two of you if needed.”
“Absolutely not,” Theon barked, straightening. “You’ll keep your power.”
She gave him an exasperated look. “Theon, you’ve been sleeping off and on for over a week with all that power you have now.”
“I’ve also been training with it and learning how to conserve it and control it,” he countered.
“Yes, but a week isn’t enough time.”
“We’re out of time, Tessa,” he said quietly, pulling his phone from his pocket when a message sounded.
He wasn’t wrong. Each day they delayed this was another day Rordan could make the next move, and they really wanted to be the ones to do that.
But they’d had to wait. Theon had taken on the power of the Ladies and Dagian, and by the gods, she’d never seen something so heartbreaking and breathtaking.
Never once had she thought she would see the Ladies take accountability for their actions and do something so monumental for the betterment of all those in Devram, not just those in power.
Theon had been beyond exhausted, and while he’d slept and the Ladies had done the same to recover, the rest of them strategized and planned.
They’d brought in the heirs and generals of the other kingdoms. They’d studied maps, and Tessa had absorbed as much as she could.
But this wasn’t her area of expertise. She was the power. She recognized that. Luka, however…
Tessa had watched him with a sense of wonder.
There were generals from the various forces there, yes, but watching Luka, Xan, and Razik command the room as Sargon’s descendants?
That was a sight to behold. Eliza had known more about battle strategies and formations than the males who led the kingdoms’ forces.
Tessa had so many questions, but she knew they didn’t have time to indulge her.
Later, when they survived this, she’d ask them all.
Then again, she’d have lived it by that point.
‘Experience was a better teacher than anything and all that.
There was a sharp knock on the door before Razik entered, Eliza at his side.
“We just received word that the last of the forces have moved into place,” the male said.
“Axel had the Underground move in two nights ago,” Theon added. “Do you two want coffee?”
Eliza curled her lip. “No. I’ve never taken a liking to that bitter drink.”
“It’s why you add cream and sugar,” Tessa offered.
“I’ll stick to tea,” the general replied flatly.
“We’re heading to the camps shortly,” Theon said. “Is everyone else ready?”
They didn’t have time to waste, but they’d needed it.
There was no fast and easy way to move hundreds of forces into position.
The few people who could Travel used massive amounts of power to do so, and those who could make portals did the same.
The thing was, with Theon now having so much more power, he was one of the few who could make portals now.
The heirs could, but it drew a lot from their Sources.
They’d had to time everything to allow everyone the opportunity to replenish reserves—whether by natural means or rations of blood.
So all the kingdoms had moved forces into place in the Dreamlock Woods of all places.
The border between the Serafina and Achaz Kingdoms across from Faven would have been preferable, but then they’d have to cross the Wynfell River when they were ready to move forward.
Rordan would have the advantage still, and they’d be fucked.
Instead, they were sneaking in little by little into the Dreamlock Woods from the Serafina Kingdom and crossing into Achaz territory.
The woods were avoided by everyone, and Rordan would never expect them to attack from the south.
But he didn’t know about Priya.
It was Kat who had told them that bit of information one evening when they were debating where to make their stand. Going straight for Faven would be unexpected, but Rordan had come for Arius House. They were going to answer in kind.
Corbin and Lange had confirmed that Priya had somehow befriended the woods, and a small group of them had Traveled there to see it for themselves.
They watched a little girl speak with Sprytes and Nymphs.
They watched her talk to the trees and witnessed the flowers bloom for her.
She was at home and in her element, and when Corbin and Lange crouched before her and asked her to do this for them, she’d done so without question.
That child didn’t trust another soul but them, and all Tessa could think was if she accomplished nothing else in her life, helping those three find each other was enough.
“Everything is packed and ready?” Luka asked, rinsing his coffee cup and leaving it in the sink, and Tessa fleetingly wondered if they would be back to wash it.
A thought that clearly was heard down the bond because Theon’s gaze snapped to her.
Enough. If we start thinking that way, we may as well admit defeat right now, Theon growled.
She thinned her lips, but she nodded in response.
“Let’s go,” he said tightly, grabbing her hand as they all made their way to the foyer. Axel and Kat were there, and Kat had tears on her face as she pulled Maddox to her chest and kissed the top of his head.
“You can stay,” Axel was saying, holding them both close.
She shook her head. “We’re doing this for him,” Kat whispered. “If we won’t fight for this, we are no better than those who came before us.”
Kyra was here, waiting off to the side. With the Ladies no longer having power, they were given other tasks and areas to be of help. Kyra would keep Maddox until they returned.
With one last press of lips to their babe, Tessa’s heart twisted in her chest as they watched Axel hand his son to another. She had yet to hold him, but not because she didn’t adore him just as much as the others. He was perfect in every way.
“We’ll be back,” Axel said firmly. “Do what you must—”
“With my life, Axel,” Kyra said softly. “When you return, the world will look different.”
With a lingering look, they walked out the front door of Arius House. Axel and Kat. Xan and Akira. Razik and Eliza. Caris. Everyone else was already in the Dreamlock Woods, waiting for them.
They stood in a circle, and Tessa looked up at the towering house that had once been her prison. She’d believed herself to be nothing then. Too wild and untamed. Too broken to fix.
She’d never wanted any of this, but little by little, they took and took. Little by little they started a war with her. She didn’t belong with their nobility. She didn’t want a throne, but she was coming for it anyway.
Rordan thought she would bow to him.
Dexter thought he could control her.
Achaz thought he could use her.
But you can’t control the uncontrollable.
Something dark and wicked coursed through her veins as she took hold of Theon’s and Luka’s hands.
She wasn’t taking a throne. She was taking the entire godsdamn realm.
She was taking it all, and she’d decide who would be left standing in the end.
“You should be sleeping,” Luka said, coming to her side. “We don’t move for another two hours.”
She hummed an acknowledgment, but she didn’t answer.
Standing at the edge of the trees, she stared out at the open area that would soon be filled with warriors of all kinds.
Legacy. Fae. Night Children. Shifters. Witches and deities and dragons.
They were marching on Faven at first light, and that was indeed hours away.
But others were already stirring. They would be preparing, but she hadn’t been able to shake this feeling.
Something was nagging at the back of her mind, and it was something she should know. Something she should recognize.
“Baby girl,” Luka sighed, pulling her into his chest, a large palm running down her hair. “It’s the realm against one kingdom.”