Page 261

I have not spent the last twenty years in this forgotten realm only to fail now.

Forgotten.

The realm was forgotten.

She was forgotten.

For Dark must bow; And Light must rule. But Chaos does not choose. Control the uncontrollable; Or to fury they both lose.

The bond seemed to whimper inside her soul, seeking Theon’s touch once more. This stupid, stupid bond. But they were more than that. That’s what Theon kept saying. That’s what she kept denying. More than Master and Source. What was it Luka had said? They were two forces that should repel each other. Instead, they were constantly drawn to each other. Opposites that only created chaos when they clashed.

Life must give, and Death must take. But Fate requires more.

More. Always wanting more. Never enough. Not for Mother Cordelia. Not for Dex. Not for Axel or Luka or Theon. Always pushing her, telling her to try harder, to give more and more and more. That if she could just control herself, not be so wild, everything in her life would be easier.

They were all liars.

Sitting up suddenly, she tugged at one of the bands on her wrists, slipping it over her hand. She left the other. She’d been relieved when Theon had removed the bands Rordan had put on her. Then she’d panicked when he’d produced a new set of bands. But these? These were not like Rordan’s. The bands the Achaz Lord had bound her in had seemed to slowly bleed her magic from her. These… Well, these just seemed to trap her power inside her, and they seemed to think she could not remove them at will.

So she’d let them think that until she figured out why. She’d need them to keep her magic controlled until she learned how to do so herself, but she was used to figuring things out as she went.

Making up plans in the moment.

After all, she was an exceptional liar.

Destiny beckons, and sacrifice demands. Who will be left standing when Chaos comes to reign?

Over and over she hummed that ballad.

Over and over she contemplated all the secrets being withheld from her.

She’d find them. She’d figure out every last one. And not just about her. About Theon. Luka. Axel.

About the Achaz Lord and the Arius Lord.

About every kingdom.

About all of Devram.

She’d learn all their secrets and then decide what to do with them. Then she would decide if the things the Achaz Lord said were true.

That she’d been forgotten here for a purpose.

In all things, there must be balance. Beginnings and Endings. Light and Dark. Fire and Shadows. The sky, the sea, the realms.

She glanced over at Theon’s sleeping form, a small smile curling on her lips.

He’d succeeded. He’d broken her, made her bleed. Shattered her soul so completely, there was no way to ever put it back together.

So she’d build herself a new one. One no one could touch, no one could break. One who did what needed to be done without remorse. Isn’t that what he’d said to her?

She’d get back up.

She’d be the fucking storm.

Because the thing about light?

When strong enough, it could obliterate darkness.