The Legacy Series, #2
Storm of Secrets and Sorrow
by Melissa K. Roehrich
Contents
39. Tessa
Overview
Tessa receives her third Source Mark without restraint, forcing Theon and Luka to combine powers to complete it. Afterward, Tessa is swept into a vivid vision where Theon prepares to sacrifice her to fulfill a prophecy, only for Auryon to intervene and strip Tessa’s ring, hinting at another path.
The chapter deepens the fraught triad bond, exposes the Mark’s evolving nature, and raises stakes around destiny versus choice.
Summary
After Lord Jove permits the process to continue, Theon and Luka escort Tessa to the marking chamber. Tension simmers between them as Tessa braces for pain and refuses restraint bands, warning she will kill anyone who tries to bind her. A wary priestess arrives, but Theon insists she proceed or wait outside.
Theon begins the third Source Mark at the base of Tessa’s skull, attacking swiftly with his darkness to overwhelm her light. Tessa’s magic counters, and as Theon falters, Luka adds his black flames, their combined powers luring and enfolding Tessa’s light. Urged by both males to let them fight for her, Tessa yields; black, gold, and silvery-blue cords flare as the Mark settles. As usual, she is wracked by nausea while Theon and Luka tend her, and the priestess notes the Mark’s variant appearance.
With her shields thin, Tessa drifts into a consuming vision: outdoors in rain, Theon stands over her with a black dagger, determined to fulfill “life must give, and death must take” to save the world. Luka pleads for alternatives. Tristyn, Katya (bearing a new Mark), and an unfamiliar sapphire-eyed male and fiery-haired female argue that there must be another interpretation and that interference has been forbidden yet necessary.
Convinced he is out of time, Theon apologizes and moves to strike. Auryon arrives with Roan and Niylah, blocks the dagger, and declares Tessa was meant for wrath and vengeance. Auryon removes the ring from Tessa’s finger, signaling a way to restore Tessa’s agency against the fatal design.
Who Appears
- TessaProtagonist; receives her third Source Mark without bands, battles Theon’s power, yields to combined forces, then experiences a vision of Theon sacrificing her.
- TheonDark Fae bonded to Tessa; leads the Marking, merges power with Luka, and in Tessa’s vision readies a sacrificial act to restore balance.
- LukaDragon-bonded; warns against bands, supports Tessa through the Marking, adds black flames, urges her to let them fight for her; opposes sacrifice in vision.
- PriestessConducts the Marking; anxious without bands; observes and notes the Mark’s variant appearance.
- AuryonProtector; arrives in the vision with wolves, blocks Theon’s dagger, and removes Tessa’s ring to restore her agency.
- RoanWolf companion; appears with Auryon in the vision, guarding Tessa.
- NiylahWolf companion; accompanies Auryon in the vision, circling protectively.
- TristynAlly; argues in the vision that Theon’s interpretation is wrong and another path exists.
- KatyaFae scholar; present in the vision with a new Mark on her hand, urging alternatives to sacrifice.
- Unnamed fiery femaleSword-bearing, flame-eyed ally in the vision; defies noninterference orders, presses to help Tessa.
- Unnamed sapphire-eyed maleTall, armed ally in the vision; warns about balance and interference, tries to restrain the fiery female.