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Emerald eyes cut to her. “You’re right, and now that I understand what that means, I’m the only one who can do this.”

She was writhing on the ground, trying to free herself of Axel’s shadows. They were too strong though, and even if she could free herself, she’d never win. Not with the ring on her finger keeping her separated from her gifts.

Luka pulled her into him, his hand smoothing down her hair.

“Luka,” she sobbed, the sound defeated and broken.

“He won’t do it, Tessa,” he whispered. “He can’t harm you. The bond?—”

“This is wrong,” the female with fire was saying to the other male. “This will alter everything.”

“It will correct the balance,” Theon said.

“It will tip it beyond repair!” Katya cried. “Theon, there’s another way. We’ve spent hours together researching. We can find another way.”

“We’re out of time,” Theon said. Then, in a barely audible murmur, he added, “Once again, I’m out of time.”

“We cannot interfere,” the familiar-looking male said, reaching for the female with fire when she took a step towards Tessa. “It will upset the?—”

“Fuck the balance,” the female seethed, shoving his hands away. “She sent us to help. This is the exact opposite of that!”

Axel was refusing to look at Theon, but that was regret shining in his eyes when they connected with Tessa’s.

“I’m sorry, baby doll,” he murmured before turning away from her.

“Theon, stop,” Luka said, his hand never ceasing its movement along her hair as he clutched her tightly to him. “We will find another way.”

“She can get here,” the female was saying, panic in her voice. “She can stop this.”

“Not even she will be fast enough,” Theon answered.

“She is a World Walker and a queen among the realms. She?—”

“And even she has been ordered not to interfere with this,” Theon cut in, dropping to Tessa’s side.

“She will not care.”

“She will be too late,” Theon said again, his fingers sliding along Tessa’s jaw. “You will forever be mine, Tessa. Whether in this life or in the After.”

“Please don’t send me to the dark alone,” she whispered, her body trembling in Luka’s arms.

The male and female were arguing with Tristyn, but Tessa couldn’t hear them. Not as she got lost in dark emerald eyes andblack hair. In a small dimple and lips she’d kissed more times than she could count.

“I’m sorry I failed you, little storm,” Theon said, sorrow flashing in his eyes.

“I’m sorry I loved you too late. But I’m yours. Every piece of me.”

Theon didn’t say another word.

In a sudden burst of power, his darkness yanked her from Luka’s arms. She screamed, and Luka bellowed a roar that she felt in her soul. Black flames flared, but it was a female who appeared, blocking Theon’s dagger with one of her own as two wolves prowled around them, brushing up against Tessa’s legs. Midnight hair flowed around the female, her bare feet planted as she stared up at Theon, a dark grin on her face.

Her voice was a predatory purr as she said, “You may have stolen her Guardian from her, but that only means you must now deal with me.”

She jolted awake, her hands flying to her chest where the dagger always sank into her heart.

Except this time.

This time it didn’t.