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“I don’t know,” he admitted, unsure if she was asking about the Augury or the strangers. The sound of the fighting rang out around them, and her attention darted up to where black flames were flaring once more. “But I need you to keep your eyes right here, little storm.”

“Little storm,” she scoffed. She lowered to a crouch, one of the wolves coming to her side. She ran her fingers through its fur. “What do you think?” The wolf let out a growl, baring his teeth.

“Tessa,” Theon said, hearing the unease enter his voice. “I need you to take control?—”

“Take control?” she interrupted. She rose gracefully back to her feet. “What do you think I have done?”

“Letting your magic have control isn’t taking control, Tessa,” he countered.

“So I letyoucontrol me instead?”

The warning bark and growl of a wolf had him spinning, his short sword raised on instinct. A handful of Augury members had broken from the melee and had made it to them. Whips of darkness ensnared two, yanking them to the ground, ropes of shadow keeping them there. Another met his sword across the throat. Two more rushed past him, and in a panic, he turned. The wolves were already there, tearing into them. Blood sprayed, and Tessa was standing in the middle of it all, splatters of red marring her face, her arms, her hair.

She lifted a hand, sparks of light erupting as a streak of lightning bounced along the ground. It speared for one of the figures still tied on the ground with his shadows. The figure screamed, a sound of pure torment as his back arched and his limbs went rigid. Theon whipped his gaze back to Tessa, a faint smile on her lips as she slowly lowered her hand.

When he turned back, the figure was still, and Theon knew in his gut whatever she had done had killed him, Legacy or not.

He went to the other, using his short sword to flick the mask off, revealing a female. Her face was pale, dull brown eyes wide. Strands of blonde hair were matted to her sweaty face as she writhed within the confines of his dark magic.

“This is how it starts,” the female gasped, and he felt her power try to fight against his own. His darkness easily clamped down on her gifts, holding them hostage just as he was holding her physical body hostage.

“You have seconds to explain yourself,” Theon replied, the point of his sword at her heart.

“You cannot control the uncontrollable,” she insisted.

“She can learn to control it.”

“And who will controlher?”

That was enough for him. His sword sank into flesh, and his power followed, snaking through veins and melding with blood.

This was enough. The Augury needed proof Tessa could be controlled? He could do that.

Tossing his sword aside, he turned, prowling towards her. Surprise filled her features, and she took a step back, uncertainty flickering down the bond. The wolves seemed to sense what he was coming for, slowly backing away and widening the area they were protecting. Theon had a feeling no one would get past them.

“Theon…” Tessa started, but she trailed off when he slowly shook his head the same way she had minutes ago.

He sent his power to her, shadows twining up her legs, wrapping around her arms. Her magic answered in kind, immediately sinking claws and teeth into darkness, and he let her. He held his darkness back, and he let her take, wrapping her gifts up in his so tightly, he couldn’t tell where his power ended and hers began.

When he reached her, he took her face in his hands, and only then did he finally let his power fight back. She gasped, eyes flaring with surprise and anger as she tried to pull from his hold, but he wouldn’t let her go. His shadows only yanked her into him even more.

“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.Ido,” Theon said.

She glared at him, her power straining under his. Whatever that other female had done had weakened her gifts enough to let him do exactly this. The male hadn’t been lying. She’d been helping.

“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.”

“You mean fighting to control me. Fighting to trap me and keep me,” she retorted, but her voice wavered, and he was feeling more than blatant fury down the bond. There was desperation and fear trickling in.

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

“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.”

“In all things, there must be balance,” she murmured.

“Beginnings and endings. Light and dark. Fire and shadows,” he recited in kind.