Rain of Shadows and Endings — Chapter no 19

19

TESSA

T essa sat at the vanity table, staring at her reflection. She was supposed to be getting ready for dinner, but all she could do was think about the strange dream she’d had. The dream that hadn’t felt like a dream at all. Yes, she’d been sleeping, but everything about that encounter had felt very real.

Which was silly. Because how could she have been there and here at the same time? It wasn’t possible. A dream was the only plausible explanation, but still… She’d jolted awake after the blonde female had kissed her brow, and she’d nearly knocked Theon’s computer to the floor. Still here. Still on the sofa in Theon’s suite. She’d stared at him, swallowing thickly when he’d only stared back at her, not saying a word.

She’d bit her lip, tucking her hair behind her ear.

Theon had started to reach for her. Some part of her had wanted him to because that entire thing had been unsettling, not to mention everything that had happened with Pavil and Metias. But he’d stopped himself, and for the life of her, she couldn’t figure out why.

Why did he suddenly have an issue with touching her whenever he wanted?

After she drank an entire glass of water, he’d sent her off to get ready for dinner. She really just wanted to curl up in his giant bed under blankets with a cup of tea and watch the Chaosphere game that was on tonight, but that clearly wasn’t an option.

“Tessalyn, are you ready?”

She looked over her shoulder to see Theon dressed in a black suit. He wore a black shirt underneath along with a black tie, and he looked like Arius himself. Or what she imagined the god of endings would look like. Tessa’s mouth dried out as she met his gaze.

Something in his eyes was different too. The shadows were thicker, making his emerald eyes too dark.

“Why aren’t you ready?” he asked, his eyes narrowing in clear annoyance.

“I am,” she replied, swiping up a tube of red lipstick and quickly applying it. He had set out a black floor-length dress for her tonight. It was sleeveless, with an extended plunging neckline and a slit up one side that went nearly to the top of her thigh. She had left her hair down, but had curled it so it fell in soft curls around her shoulders. Pen usually did her hair for dinner, and Tessa hoped it was adequate.

She stood, and Theon said nothing when he took her hand and hauled her quickly out to the main room. Luka and Axel were waiting as usual, and Tessa tensed at the looks on their faces. Something was different about them, too.

Theon stepped into her line of sight and brought his hand to her cheek. “You know how you are expected to behave tonight?”

“Have I not been meeting expectations at dinner, Theon?” she replied with faux sweetness.

Theon’s lips formed a thin line. “Careful, Tessalyn, or you will find greater expectations placed on you.”

He leaned forward and brushed a light kiss to her lips. She felt her face flush. He’d never kissed her in front of the others. Not on her lips anyway. She jerked back from him on instinct, stumbling in her heels, and his arm shot out, snaking around her waist. He tugged her close, whispering into her ear, “That is considered pulling away. Do not do it again.”

Tessa stiffened in his hold, her eyes coming to his. His darkness coiled, tendrils of it reaching out to brush along her jaw, and she sucked in a breath at the feel of it.

“Do we have an understanding?” he pressed.

She nodded mutely.

“I am going to need verbal confirmation, Tessalyn.”

“Yes. I understand,” she whispered, that darkness tracing down the column of her throat before dissipating. It felt…familiar. Which made sense, considering Theon had forced his magic into her being.

“Good.” He reached up and adjusted a lock of her hair before releasing her. But gods, it also made something in her soul stir.

She glanced at Luka and Axel. Their features were as hard as Theon’s. They were also entirely in black, and while darkness didn’t swirl in their eyes, power and violence emanated from them in a way that had her stepping closer to Theon.

“Theon—” she began as he pulled her forward.

“Hush,” he said harshly, Axel opening the door for them. Axel hardly glanced at her as she was led into the hallway.

Uncertain what was going on or how to react to it, she remained quiet all the way to the dining room. In fact, no one spoke. The males acted like they were going to their death.

Or rather, like they were going to defeat death.

As they approached the dining room, Theon dropped her hand, striding ahead of her without a word. Valter and Cressida both sat up a little straighter when they entered the room. Tessa was apparently not the only one who noticed something different about the three of them this evening.

“Father,” Theon greeted curtly, with the smallest bow possible. He bent and kissed his mother on the cheek before moving to his seat. Tessa moved behind him as usual, but unlike every other night, he did not immediately tell her to sit.

She was utterly baffled. Was he truly upset with her about earlier today? But he’d sworn to her over and over before she’d fallen asleep that he didn’t blame her for that. Her confusion only escalated as drinks were ordered and Eviana was allowed to sit while she remained standing. Theon didn’t look her way and neither did Luka nor Axel. Valter, however, was shooting her curious glances every so often.

When the first course of a chilled soup had been placed before each seat, Theon casually said, “Tessalyn, sit and eat,” before resuming the conversation he was having with his parents.

She moved forward cautiously, taking her seat and picking up her spoon. She was just lifting the first spoonful to her mouth when Valter apparently couldn’t keep his curiosity at bay any longer.

“Trouble with your Source, son? You do not appear nearly as affectionate tonight,” the Arius Lord said.

Thank the gods someone had said it, because she clearly wasn’t allowed to voice her confusion.

“Everything is fine,” Theon said dismissively, taking a bite of bread. He didn’t elaborate further, despite Valter clearly expecting more of an explanation.

“Is there anything else we need to take care of before we leave for the Acropolis in a few days?” Luka cut in before Valter could pose further questions. Cressida let out a muffled sob at the words.

Tessa tuned out the dinner conversation as they fell into mundane small talk once again. Everything was certainly not fine. Ever since she’d woken up, Theon had been different. His tone had been harsher, and his demands had become firmer. Theon was

treating her like— Like a Source.

She nearly dropped her spoon at the realization and sat back in her seat abruptly. The few bites of soup she’d taken churned in her stomach. Theon’s gaze shot to her. She thought she saw a flicker of concern flash across those emerald eyes, but if she did, it was gone a moment later.

He leaned over to speak into her ear. “Are you unwell?”

She shook her head, despite the tightening in her chest.

“Then eat.”

He returned to his soup, and Tessa swallowed hard, sitting forward once more. Her hand was trembling as she brought her spoon to her lips.

She managed to finish her soup and her salad, forcing down the food. She was halfway through getting her main course of steamed fish and rice down when she heard her name. It took a moment to realize she was being addressed directly.

By Valter.

“Tell me, Tessalyn,” he was saying, “which element are you predicted to emerge with?”

She froze, looking at Theon. She had never once been spoken to during dinner conversation by anyone other than Theon. He wasn’t looking at her though. His eyes were narrowed on his father as he answered for her.

“You know her assessments all report her most likely to emerge with the air element.”

“Can she not speak for herself? You have kept her sequestered away nearly the entire time she has been here. Your mother and I have not been given an opportunity to get to know her, and in five days you leave for the Acropolis,” Valter admonished.

“I did not realize you had any interest in getting to know her in such a way,” Theon answered tightly.

“I assume she is going to be in our lives for the foreseeable future. Surely we should get to know each other a bit, no?” Valter countered, taking a sip of his liquor.

“Perhaps.”

Valter returned his full attention to Tessa, who had set her fork down beside her plate to avoid accidentally dropping it again. Her hands were clasped tightly in her lap to keep from wringing her fingers. She couldn’t falter here. She had quickly learned there was no room for mistakes when it came to the Arius Lord, and she certainly didn’t need Theon even more upset with her.

Theon reached over under the table and placed a hand on her knee, squeezing it as if in warning. Was she not supposed to speak? Her chest tightened more, and she tried to control her breathing. She didn’t know what she was supposed to do.

“Which Estate did you reside at, Tessalyn?” Valter asked, settling back casually in his chair. Eviana was still eating. So was Cressida. The males, however, were all focused on her.

Tessa glanced at Theon again, and he gave a nod to answer. She cleared her throat quietly before saying, “The Celeste Estate, my Lord.”

“And the Priestesses performed the assessments for your element there?”

“At the nearby health compound, yes, my Lord.”

“How many times? How many tests were done?”

She swallowed, her heart beating so rapidly she was sure everyone at the table could hear it. “Tests were performed once a year from the time we turned ten years until we turned eighteen. Then they were performed seasonally until the Selection,” she answered, barely suppressing the shudder that wanted to go down her spine. The tests were not pleasant. Over five years of seasonal testings had been agony.

“And you scored highest in the wind and air element every time?” Valter continued, his hazel eyes watching her closely.

“From what I was told, yes. I have never seen the actual reports.”

“You have seen her results, Father,” Theon cut in. “Why are you interrogating my Source regarding her element? We will all know the answer in a few weeks’ time.”

“Because I was given very interesting information today that suggests she will not emerge with the air element, and I am trying to figure out how such a glaring mistake could have been made on her assessments,” Valter answered tightly.

Tessa glanced at Theon, finding his eyes were fixed on his father. She looked across the table to Axel and Luka, but their attention was on the Arius Lord as well.

“And what information is that?” Theon asked.

“I am told she created that crevice in my gardens with her bare hands, which would highly suggest the earth element,” Valter replied.

“That’s impossible,” Theon scoffed. “She has not emerged yet. She couldn’t display any sort of magic.”

“Do you know how the assessments are performed, Theon?” Valter asked condescendingly, a cruel smile turning up the corner of his mouth.

Theon gritted his teeth, that muscle feathering in his jaw. “Yes.”

“Then one could assume the events of today would have elicited such a display of power,” Valter concluded, bringing a bite of meat to his mouth with a smirk.

Theon slowly set his drink down. A dull thud sounded as it hit the table with force.

“Tell me, Father. Why were Pavil and Metias chasing my Source through the gardens?”

Valter scoffed dismissively. “They simply want to get to know her as your mother and I do, Theon. We are all going to be working together closely after all.”

“And coming to my rooms uninvited to meet her without my presence was the appropriate way to get to know her?”

Theon’s voice was low and dripping with venom, and Tessa shrank back in her chair as inky shadows drifted around him. Eviana was instantly at Valter’s side, a snarl on her lips, as she placed herself between the Arius Lord and his son.

“Not necessary, Eviana,” Valter purred, running a hand down her back. When he came to her hip, he tugged her down into his lap. His gaze returned to Theon. “Control yourself, or you will be reminded why control is important,” he ordered sharply.

Tessa watched as Theon took several deep breaths, that darkness slowly fading. His fingers flexed on the table, the light glinting off his rings. When Valter was satisfied, he said, “As I was saying, the reports I received from Pavil and Metias today suggest one of three things: either the assessments performed at her Estate were not done properly, the reports in her file are false copies, or your Source found a way to hide her true abilities.”

Valter’s gaze settled back on her as he said the last words, and Tessa couldn’t get a breath down. Air couldn’t get to her lungs, and her chest wouldn’t expand to take any in.

The assessments were torturous. They were put in situations that elicited natural self- preservation responses and were intended to push dormant magic to the surface. When they were young, the assessments were mild, but for the last five years, the tests had been excruciating, involving everything from physical pain to mental distress. It would have been impossible for her to somehow hide her abilities. She didn’t even remember displaying any actual magic. More than that, they were not one hundred percent accurate.

They were only a series of educated guesses.

“Did you know?” Valter demanded so loudly Tessa jumped in her seat.

“I do not know what you are asking, my Lord,” she answered softly, twisting the fabric of her dress in her fingers.

“Did you somehow hide your abilities during your assessments to remain unseen by the other heirs?”

“No, my Lord. That would not be possible.” Her voice had risen an octave, her fear seeping into her tone. She may have hidden other things, but there was no way she could have hidden any elemental magic during an assessment.

“Then explain the gardens, my dear,” he hissed.

“I do not know what happened in the gardens,” she said, failing to keep her voice even. “I do not know how the crevice appeared or what the things were that crawled up from it. I swear it.”

“Calm down, Tessa,” Theon ordered from her side, his hand squeezing her knee again in emphasis.

She swung her gaze to him. “I swear it, Th— I swear to you. I don’t know what happened in the gardens.”

Theon stared back at her, his features hard and tense. “We will discuss this later,” he finally answered tightly.

He returned his attention to Valter, and her heart fell. He didn’t believe her.

“This entire conversation is irrelevant. In less than two weeks, she will emerge along with all the other Fae of age, and we will know what her element is,” Theon said.

“I have made arrangements for her to be reevaluated by a Priestess in Rockmoor in two days,” Valter answered.

“That is not your decision to make,” Theon spat. “She is mine, not yours.”

“I will not be caught off guard at the Emerging Ceremony, Theon,” Valter barked.

“You should be the one demanding this, not me. Your Source has kept secrets from you.”

“How I deal with my Source is not your concern,” Theon countered.

“Wrong, boy,” Valter growled, his fist slamming onto the table so hard the cutlery rattled. “She will reflect upon this kingdom as much as you and your brother do. We cannot appear weak. Ever. And certainly not right now.”

“How would her having the earth element versus the air element change anything?”

Axel cut in, sounding bored.

“The more intensive assessment the Priestess will perform will not only assess her probable element but also her power level. Something not routinely done in the generic assessments unless requested,” Valter replied. “The other heirs would have had these

advanced tests done before they chose their Sources. It will put us on a more even playing field.”

“Tell him the other good news,” Cressida suddenly chimed in, her hand coming to rest on her husband’s arm.

“A potential Match is visiting Rockmoor and will be at the Acropolis all year for the Selection proceedings. I have arranged for you to have lunch with her after the assessment is finished,” Valter replied, pushing his plate back for a Fae server to remove.

“For fuck’s sake,” Theon spat, sitting back in his seat and taking a long drink of his whiskey. “Is that really necessary right now? We have far more important things to be focusing on.”

“I did not say the Match was decided,” Valter went on, his fist tightening around his glass. “I said you were going to meet her.”

“I can meet her another day.”

“You will meet her in two days in Rockmoor. It would be ideal to have a Match arranged before the end of the Selection year,” Valter replied while everyone else’s plates were cleared from the table.

Tessa hadn’t finished her food. She was too shocked by the conversations taking place around her right now.

“Yes, I would love some time to get to know my future daughter-in-law before a union ceremony, Theon,” Cressida agreed, bringing her wine to her lips. It was red. Dark red.

Blood red. She had never drank from a clear wine glass before. It had always been a silver or gold chalice. This was crystal though, and Tessa had never seen wine that color.

“You can at least meet her,” Luka suddenly said, speaking for the first time in a while.

“Perhaps you should meet her,” Theon bit back. “You will need a Match, too.”

Luka smirked at him. “Maybe she has a sister.”

“Fuckwit,” Theon grumbled, flipping him off.

“Theon!” Cressida chided.

“Enough!” Valter barked. “Taking a Match is part of your responsibility as an heir. The sooner an agreement is reached, the sooner our focus can be moved to other things.”

The table fell silent as desserts were placed in front of everyone. Tessa reached for her fork, but Theon lifted his hand from her knee and slid her plate over beside his own. Was he seriously depriving her of dessert now too? This was the only sugar he ever let her have, and only when they dined with his family.

Theon pushed his chair back slightly before reaching over and tugging on Tessa’s hand. She glanced up, his eyes dark with fury as he tugged her a little harder. Getting to her feet in resignation, she moved to stand behind him at the wall. She certainly wasn’t going to risk sitting at his feet again, but before she could take a step, he pulled her to him and down into his lap. Surprise coursed through her as his arm wrapped around her waist. Her heart leapt, and pleasure darted up her spine.

“What is her name then?” Theon asked through gritted teeth, picking up a fork and cutting off a piece of the chocolate and caramel cream pie.

“Felicity Davers,” Valter answered.

Theon didn’t respond, lifting the fork. But instead of bringing it to his mouth, he raised it before Tessa’s lips. Confused, she met his eyes. The anger still glimmered in them, along with that new hardness that had appeared this afternoon, but something far more primal was

there too. Without breaking his stare, she opened her mouth and let him slide the fork between her lips. His eyes dipped to the movement, that primal thing flaring brighter.

“Davers?” he questioned conversationally, going for another piece of pie.

“Yes,” Valter answered. “Of the Gracil bloodline. I gave you her file the other morning. Have you looked through any of them?”

“No,” Theon answered dismissively, still not looking at his father. “I have been busy.”

He fed another piece of pie to Tessa before taking a bite of his own.

Tessa was so flustered she didn’t know what to do with herself. After the gardens, he had taken care of her. Then she’d woken up, and he’d given her the cold shoulder. Now he was feeding her dessert? He was going from hot to cold to hot again so quickly, she didn’t know what to expect from one moment to the next.

“Then I suggest taking a break and looking them over before you leave for Rockmoor,” Valter replied tightly. “Unless you wish for me to simply make the decision for you?”

“Of course not,” Theon snapped. “If someone is going to be required to be by my side for the rest of my life, I will damn well be deciding who that someone will be.”

“Just make sure the contract is contingent upon production of an acceptable heir,”

Valter went on. “I want a clause in there stating if she cannot produce a sufficient heir within a certain timeframe, the contract is null and void, and you are free to pursue another Match.”

“There will be far more contingencies than that in my Match Contract.”

“And there should be,” Valter agreed with an arrogant smirk. “No one gets to simply join the Arius ruling family without proving their worth.”

“Agreed,” Theon answered, bringing another bite to Tessa’s mouth. She couldn’t help the soft hum that escaped her at the decadence hitting her tastebuds again, and Theon’s eyes went even brighter, some of that darkness leaving them. He set the fork down and brought his thumb to the corner of her lips, swiping up a drop of caramel that had landed there before pushing it into her mouth. He held her gaze as she swiped her tongue along the pad of his thumb, then he was suddenly pushing her to her feet.

“Anything else this evening, Father?”

“Make sure you review those files, Theon,” Valter answered pointedly before waving them off in dismissal. Theon didn’t reach for her. He simply left her to follow him as he moved to the door. Luka and Axel got to their feet as well. A Fae opened the double doors, but before Theon exited the dining room, he paused and looked over his shoulder.

“Just so we are clear, Father, if anyone lays a hand on what is mine without my permission again, they will beg for Arius to come for them before I am through, whether or not we have an alliance with them.” Theon’s voice was low and dangerous and full of dark promises. Valter narrowed his eyes at his son. “They will wish for the Pits over what I will do to them.”

Tessa expected Valter to become angry at being told such a thing, but instead, a cruel grin curled at the corner of his lips. “I would expect nothing else from the Arius heir, Theon.”