Rain of Shadows and Endings — Chapter no 10

10

THEON

T heon was trying to stay focused on what his father was discussing with Metias and Pavil, but his mind was on Tessa. She had refused to sleep beside him last night, just like he’d known she would. He could have forced it, but after… Well, after her night, he didn’t know if she’d give in or fight back even more. She hadn’t spoken a word to him since the hallway after dinner. She hadn’t uttered a word to anyone actually.

He’d slept like shit, the bond wanting her near. And while he’d lain there, unable to sleep, he’d replayed the night over and over in his head. How she’d dropped her fork when his father began speaking of potential Matches. How he’d been forced to somehow discipline her before his father decided to do it himself. He knew she’d been humiliated and hated him for forcing her to sit on the floor at his feet, but his father’s punishments would have been far worse. He’d never been given the opportunity to explain though.

She had stiffened against him beneath the table. Then he’d felt her start to tremble, and he’d known something was wrong. When he’d stood from the table and looked down to see her pale as a spirit of the After, it took all of his self-control not to scoop her up and take her back to the sanctuary he’d created for her in their rooms, keeping her safely tucked away from his father and who he required Theon to be.

She’d learn that soon enough. Fuck, she’d already seen pieces of that façade, and if she didn’t give into this bond soon… He’d stood in stunned silence alongside Luka and Axel as she’d hurled her shoes over the balcony railing, proceeding to scream at the stormy skies. Memories of her doing the same in the vehicle on the way here came flooding back to him in those moments. He’d been frozen, unable to move as she broke in front of him, falling to the ground. The sound of her knees cracking against that marble balcony was a sound he couldn’t turn off. It replayed on a loop in his mind. When she began yanking pins from her hair with such force and savagery, he’d finally made himself move before she hurt herself further.

Luka and Axel had little to say when he had emerged from her room after her clear refusal to come to his bed. They knew he’d had to do what he’d done at dinner. They knew what his father could and would do. Axel was visibly upset when Luka pushed a drink into his hand.

“I’ve never seen anyone lose it like that, but certainly not a Fae. Not a Source,” he said, taking a long drink of scotch. “I didn’t even know a Source could be like…that with their Master.” He glanced at Theon over his glass, waiting for an explanation.

Theon had carved a hand through his hair, knocking back his entire glass of whiskey in one go. “I don’t know what to do with her. I’m trying to give her space and time to adjust, but I don’t understand how she can resist the bond so much. If she’s feeling the pull like I do, it should be impossible to withstand it. I never thought we’d have to force this.”

Luka had remained quiet, sitting on the sofa deep in some thought or another. They’d eventually all gone to their own rooms to call it a night. When Theon had finally gotten up just as dawn was breaking the horizon, he’d gone to her room to find her still staring at the wall. Had she even slept?

“I’m going to make coffee, Tessa,” he’d said. “I’ll order up some breakfast too.”

She hadn’t bothered to acknowledge his presence.

Breakfast arrived, along with Luka and Axel. Tessa didn’t emerge. They ate without conversation. He had showered and gotten ready. Finally at half-past nine, he’d gone back

to her room. She hadn’t moved. Not an inch.

“I have to go to a meeting, Tessa, but Axel is out in the main room. He’ll stay here with you until I get back.” He was met with silence, and he didn’t know what to do. Did he go to her? Force her to get up? Entrance her to at least say something so he knew… Knew what? That she was all right? She clearly wasn’t. Forcing her to speak would only make him feel better hearing her voice.

He sighed before he added, “When I get back, we need to discuss last night.”

She didn’t stir.

He’d deal with it when he got back. She needed to eat at the very least. She hadn’t gotten to finish dinner. Maybe she’d get hungry enough to get up on her own. Gods, he hoped so. He was so fucking tired of fighting her on every godsdamn thing. He had not expected such resistance when he picked a Source, and it was becoming harder and harder to leash his temper the more she defied him and pushed him away.

“Theon,” his father growled, bringing him back to the present. “Anything to add to what was just discussed?”

Theon glanced at Luka, the male giving him a frank look that told him he knew exactly what Theon had been thinking about. He gave a subtle shake of his head.

“No, that all sounds fine,” Theon said smoothly. He honestly didn’t even know why this meeting was happening. These plans had been perfected and finalized months ago.

“We were hoping to meet your new Source,” Metias said, his voice as greasy as his slicked back hair. “We saw her at the Opening Selection Ceremony. She’s a pretty little thing.”

A possessive growl rumbled low in Theon’s chest as something primal inside him raised its head.

His father chuckled from behind his desk. “The newness of the Source bond has made Theon a little territorial lately. I have scarcely seen her. Give it some time, and maybe he’ll be more willing to share his things,” he said, a hint of warning in his tone.

Theon blinked slowly, leashing his temper. The cord had been aching in his chest all morning, likely because he hadn’t touched Tessa since last night. But now it was thrashing about in demand at someone even hinting at coming near her, let alone touching her. If anyone was going to be touching her, it would be him and only him. And that brought an entirely different memory surging to the forefront of his mind—the memory of how they’d connected last night before everything had gone to shit.

He had walked into their closet to see if she was ready to go and had been stunned stupid by what he found. Tessa had been standing there, studying herself in the full-length mirror. She’d had a slight frown on her lips and a crease between her brows, as if she didn’t like what she saw in the reflection, which was absolutely ludicrous.

She hadn’t heard him as he’d moved behind her, and he’d startled her when he came into view in the mirror. He’d brushed her hair back from her neck and had to keep himself from groaning at the first brush of his fingers against her skin. Every time he touched her, it felt like ecstasy. His skin had tingled with pleasure as she allowed him to let his hand linger.

When she’d stepped back into him, it had taken every ounce of him not to push her up against the wall and press his mouth to hers. He’d been dying to taste her again since she’d kissed him. He’d brought his hand to her hip, greedily taking any bit of contact she’d allow.

Why couldn’t she just give in? She had to feel it, right? This couldn’t just be him. How could she keep denying something when it could be like that all the time?

So he’d asked her—no, he’d begged her—to try for just one night. To pretend that she’d given in to the bond and accepted her place as his Source. He’d wanted her to get a taste of what they could be. He’d wanted her to experience pleasure at his hand. To become addicted to him. To crave him like he was craving her. This entire experience was the exact opposite of what he’d been expecting. She was supposed to be the one wanting him so incessantly, yet he was the one hoarding any bit of contact.

A sharp kick to his shin from Luka pulled him back to the conversation at the same time his father snarled, “Theon.” He met his father’s cool gaze. “I’m beginning to fear your Source’s poor manners are rubbing off on you.”

“My apologies,” Theon ground out. “It was a rather long night of…discipline.”

His father’s gaze darkened with pleasure at the words. Theon knew all too well how much his father enjoyed correcting behavior.

He scratched at his chest as the cord continued to thrash about. The need to get back to Tessa was more intense than he had ever experienced. The pull seemed different, urgent, and he knew he was fidgeting. Even his magic seemed agitated beneath his skin.

“As I was saying,” his father continued, “while I was able to get Luka early access to the Acropolis and Pantheon, that was not extended to you two. I did not want to cause too much more of a stir than we already have for now. We will let Theon, Axel, and Luka lay some foundations during the week they are allowed to be there early and go from there.”

“We knew it was a long shot,” Pavil said.

“That we did,” his father said, shutting a folder that was open before him and getting to his feet. Eviana instantly rose from her usual chair and came to his side. “Unless there is anything else that needs discussion, I am afraid I must take my leave. I have another meeting to get to.”

“Of course, Lord St. Orcas. We appreciate your time,” Metias said, standing and bowing his head. Pavil did the same.

“Tavis will see you out,” Valter said, gesturing for the Fae to step forward. The male had been his father’s personal servant for as long as Theon could remember.

Theon and Luka followed them out, heading for the east wing while the others turned and headed for the main doors. Theon didn’t know what his father’s other meeting was about. Frankly, he didn’t care.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Luka said when they rounded a corner. “You’re acting like you rolled around in poison oak.”

“The bond feels different today,” Theon said, taking the stairs two at a time.

“What do you mean it feels different?”

“I don’t know how to explain it. The last hour or so, it’s been more insistent.”

“Is it reacting to all the tension between you two?” Luka asked, genuine curiosity in his voice.

“There’s been tension since the Selection Ceremony. That hasn’t really changed,”

Theon answered, increasing his pace down the hallway. When Luka didn’t say anything, he added, “I just need to see her. Explain why things happened the way they did last night.”

“Sure,” Luka said dryly.

Theon ignored the comment. Pushing through the door to his rooms, he immediately looked to the sofa hoping to see Tessa sitting there, but he only found Axel playing a video game of some sort.

“Did she come out at all?” Theon asked, dropping his phone onto the table and going to the fridge. He grabbed a water for himself and tossed one to Luka.

“Once. She didn’t even look at me, let alone acknowledge me when I spoke to her. She rummaged around in the fridge for a second before going right back in there. Had a water and an apple in her hands,” Axel answered, defeating an enemy and saving his game. “I did check on her though. She was curled on her bed, facing the wall,” he added with a shrug.

“How long ago was that?” Theon asked, swiping a hand down his face.

Axel glanced at the clock. “Two hours ago, give or take.”

Luka had taken a seat on the sofa, noticeably not saying anything. Again.

“You have nothing to say on this matter?” Theon asked, narrowing his eyes at his friend.

“Considering my advice and concerns have routinely been dismissed or ignored, I won’t bother offering them anymore,” Luka said, taking a drink of his water.

“For fuck’s sake,” Theon muttered, shoving a hand through his hair and setting his water down with a little too much force. He stalked off to go get Tessa. She needed to eat more than an apple and then they could talk.

“Tessa, I’m—”

But the words died on his lips. Her bed was empty. He looked around the small room before going into the dressing room and on into the bathroom. He must have missed her in his bedroom.

“Tessa?” he called, stepping into his room. His bed was perfectly made, and there was certainly no blonde-haired beauty in it. The chairs by the fireplace were empty, and one look out the balcony doors told him the balcony was vacant too. “Tessa?” he called again, mainly because he couldn’t fathom where she could possibly be.

“What’s wrong?” Luka asked, appearing in the doorway, Axel looking over his shoulder.

“She’s not here,” Theon said, still not able to fully wrap his mind around that statement.

“What do you mean she’s not here?” Luka said, stepping fully into the room and going to her small bedroom.

“She has to be here,” Axel said, looking around as if he might spot her when everyone else had missed her. “She only came out to the other room once. It’s not like I could have missed her. She has to be here,” he said again.

Luka came from the bathroom, clearly having taken the same path Theon had in his search. “Order her to come out. Entrance her,” he said. “If she’s hiding somewhere, she’ll have to obey.”

Jumping on that idea, Theon said, “Tessalyn, come here.”

They all stood still and waited.

And waited.

“It’s not possible,” Axel said. “She couldn’t just disappear. What’d she do? Climb over the balcony railing and jump down three stories?”

He scoffed at the absurdity of the idea, but Luka and Theon locked eyes before rushing out onto the balcony. Luka went to the left, and Theon went to the right.

“Here,” Luka said. “This ledge leads over to lattice work and vines. Fuck!”

“You can’t be serious,” Axel said from the doorway. “She didn’t actually… The wards would have stopped her from leaving without one of us.”

“Oh, she did,” Theon growled, going to Luka’s side and looking down. “She absolutely did.”

“Do you want to fly to find her?” Luka asked, looking out at the gardens that eventually shifted to forest as they climbed up the mountainside.

“No. My father might notice, and he cannot find out about this,” Theon said.

This had to explain the shift in the bond. She was getting farther away from him. The urgency was still there, but it was becoming muted and muffled. “We’ll take the horses and hounds. Axel, stay here in case she ends up coming back. Call me if she does.”

“Got it,” Axel said. “I’m sorry, Theon. I didn’t know—”

Theon cut him off. “It’s not your fault, Axel. She’s…”

“Uncontrollable?” Luka supplied.

Theon was clenching his teeth so hard, he was surprised he didn’t crack a molar.

“Strong willed,” he finally ground out. He snatched the thin blanket from her bed before stalking into the dressing room. “Call down to the stables and have them ready two of

mine.”

“On it,” Axel called in to him.

Theon quickly changed into jeans, riding boots, and a thermal. He’d grab a heavier jacket from hooks by the door on his way out.

What the fuck was she thinking? Sure, it was decent during the day, but as soon as the sun started setting, the temperature in the mountains would plummet. What if this odd weather continued and it stormed? There weren’t any jackets or gear in here that she could have taken with her. Had she taken any food? Water? And where did she even think she was going to go? Guards would see her trying to cross the gates or walls. He had to assume she was going to attempt going up the mountain at the back of the property, where she would face not only the elements but the things that prowled the woods and Ozul Mountains.

Luka met him outside his rooms as he shrugged on his jacket, heading for the stairwell to take them out the side entrance of the east wing. Luka had changed as well, his face grim. They strode along the paths to the stables in silence, stopping to grab two of Theon’s prized hounds on the way. These weren’t your typical hunting dogs. They had sleek black coats, eyes that glowed like embers, and were as large as a small horse. They were more like wolves than hounds, he supposed.

He whistled sharply as he entered the kennels, and the howling and excited yips of his hounds immediately ceased. He unlocked the pens of his best trackers, Kacela and Rigel.

They would make short work of finding her.

The hounds dutifully fell into step behind him as they continued on their way to the stables. When they arrived, two stable hands were finishing checking straps and buckles.

Luka crossed to the small storage space to retrieve packs and fill them with water and a little food. Tessa couldn’t have made it that far traveling on foot. She only had a few hours’ lead on them. They ought to be able to catch up to her in an hour or two. At least Theon hoped so. That unnecessary meeting had gone on for hours.

While Luka put packs together, Theon tossed the blanket from Tessa’s bed to the ground for Kacela and Rigel to get her scent. She wouldn’t be needing the blanket anytime soon. She wouldn’t be leaving his sight again until he was confident the bond was in place, and she was fully under his control.

Luka returned, tossing him a pack, and Theon moved to his favorite of his four horses, Osiris. They were giant black stallions named after some of Sargon’s most famed warriors.

Theon had searched tirelessly to find the horses and spent countless hours training them to his exact specifications. He mounted Osiris with ease while Luka pulled himself up into Zale’s saddle.

“Ready?” Theon asked, moving Osiris’s reins to one hand. The horse stamped his hoof and pawed at the ground, clearly ready to run. Kacela and Rigel were prancing around the horses, whimpering and restless with the excitement of the hunt.

“What are you going to do when you find her?” Luka asked, getting settled into his own saddle.

“I’ve been giving her space and time to adjust, but this is the second time she’s run from me,” Theon said, urging Osiris to walk from the stables. “And it will be the last.”

He needed to bring the female to heel. Her wildness might intrigue him, but this was taking it too far. She could push him away and fight with him all she wanted in their private quarters, but not in public. Not in front of his father. She needed to accept her fate. Not only because his father would require it, but because Theon’s own plans required her cooperation. He needed her willing to let him feed on her strength and power. When the time came, he couldn’t be focused on forcing her to give it to him.

Tessa saw him as a merciless descendant of the gods who wanted to possess her and rule her, so that’s what he would become.

He’d tried to ease her into her role, thinking it would build trust faster. But in doing so, he’d clearly given her the illusion that he wasn’t in control of everything. That he wasn’t in control of her. She’d learn why the Arius Kingdom was whispered about.

He’d become the nightmare she already thought he was.