Rain of Shadows and Endings — Chapter no 32

32

THEON

S he was back on the balcony this morning, a mug of coffee clutched in her palms.

Already showered and dressed, she was wearing a casual long-sleeve dress with some basic heels. Pen had set the outfit out when Theon had asked her to pick something simple yet classy for a day of meetings and preparations.

Tessa had slipped into bed without fuss last night. Theon had stayed up another few hours, sipping on a glass of liquor and going through correspondence. He’d wanted to research the phenomena with Tessa’s eyes, but, of course, shit was happening in the Underground now that he was here. There were three urgent messages from Bohden that his father had forwarded to him to “handle.”

Just like he’d been sent to handle the Selection.

To handle the other heirs.

And after handling the situations, he’d been too exhausted to look into the Fae elements anymore.

Sighing, he finished knotting his tie before he rolled back the sleeves of his shirt. He’d need to wear his suit jacket later, but for now, breakfast was ready and Tessa needed to eat.

“Tessa?” he said as he approached the balcony doors.

She turned to him, her hair fluttering in the fall breeze. She’d left it down today, the ends curling softly where it hung down her back. Still, she did not speak. Only looked at him, waiting for his demands.

“We have some things we need to discuss.”

“All right,” she answered hesitantly, and the relief that flooded through him at the sound of her voice had him breathing a little easier.

“Luka and Axel are waiting for us downstairs.”

A wary look of resignation filled her eyes. “So I’m to be ganged up on by all three of

you this time?”

“What do you mean?”

“I can only assume you are going to lay out expectations for our time here.”

“No,” he countered, and she arched a brow.

“No? You are not about to tell me all the rules for being here? What is expected of me?

What I can and cannot do? Where I can and cannot go? How I must always be with you?”

What was he supposed to say to any of that?

A sardonic smile flashed across her face. “Thought so.”

She came into the room, closing the double doors behind her. He silently followed her out of the bedroom and down the stairs to the dining room.

“Morning, baby doll,” Axel greeted with a grin when they entered.

Tessa nodded, pausing as she waited to be told where to sit. Axel’s smile faltered, and he shot Theon a glare as though he had caused this. Pressing a hand to the small of her back, Theon nudged her to the seat across from Axel before he took the chair beside her.

Luka strolled in a moment later, his sapphire eyes taking them all in.

“Did you see those emails from Bohden?” Theon asked him.

Luka nodded, piling bacon onto his plate before he was even fully seated across from

Theon.

“And?”

“And what?” Luka asked. “What are we going to do from here?”

“We have to do something,” Theon argued.

“No,” Luka countered. “We’re going to tell Bohden what to do and let him handle it.”

“That’s a shit plan.”

Luka shrugged. “Until you can come up with a better one, that’s the plan we’re going with.”

Theon muttered a curse but dropped it, scooping fresh fruit onto Tessa’s plate as she

reached for a glass of juice.

“What’s your plan today?” Axel asked.

“Meetings with the other heirs and the Pantheon,” Theon answered. “Dagian Jove also requested a lunch meeting, but—”

He lurched back from the table when Tessa knocked over her juice.

“Sorry,” she stammered, shooting to her feet and reaching for napkins.

“It’s fine, Tessa,” he said, snatching up his coffee mug as the juice spread across the table. “Pen will get it.”

“I can clean up my own mess,” she replied, her napkin already soaking up some of the juice, and Theon nodded, letting her do just that.

When the table was cleaned, and she’d settled back into her chair, Theon said, “We need to discuss what your days will look like during the Selection Year.”

She nodded, pushing the fruit around her plate with her fork.

“You do not need to attend the same trainings as the other Fae. You will have your element training, of course, after the Emerging Ceremony. There is also a training solely for

the newly Selected Sources.”

Her head snapped up. “Why?”

“Because none of the heirs trust the other Fae around their Sources,” Theon answered.

“It’s a training all the other Fae go through. The six of you will just do so separately.”

“You all decided this? All the heirs?”

“Yes.”

“What happened during the years only one or two Sources were Selected? It’s been centuries since six were Selected at one time,” she argued.

“They were given private instructors from my understanding.”

“Why can’t we do that now?”

“It seemed like a waste of resources,” Theon answered. “Why find six different

instructors when we can just use one?”

“But—”

“Additionally, as future rulers of the Kingdoms, the heirs are all supposed to get along and work together. In theory, we will be spending a good amount of time with the other heirs and Sources. It would be good to get comfortable with them.”

“In theory,” she repeated dryly.

“According to the Kingdom Accords, that is how Devram operates. Working together for the greater good of the realm,” Theon replied.

“And yet Arius Kingdom is rarely heard from and is intensely private,” Tessa mused.

Theon’s lips curled darkly. “We were forced to be.”

They all fell silent when Pen bustled in with a plate of fresh waffles. Tessa glanced at him, and Theon nodded. She immediately grabbed two, pouring syrup atop them. Not his first choice, but at least she was eating.

When Pen left the room, he said, “Do you know what the Kingdom Accords are based on?”

“Of course,” she answered, starting on her next waffle. She’d already devoured the first. “The Revelation Decree.”

“Decree is a generous term,” Theon muttered.

Tessa paused with her fork halfway to her mouth, turning to look at him. “What does that mean?”

“Not the time for a three-hour history lecture, Theon,” Axel cut in before Theon could

say anything.

“I wasn’t going to—”

“Yes, you were,” Axel retorted. He fixed his attention on Tessa. “There is a lot of speculation around the Decree and where it originated from, particularly how it was interpreted. But if you let him, Theon will go on and on about this for days. In fact, you will likely get to enjoy that soon enough, but we really don’t have the time today.”

“The point is,” Theon cut in, “we need to get on amicable terms with the other heirs.

This was a step towards that goal.”

“Why?” Tessa asked, now sounding bored as she returned to her breakfast.

“Because my father wishes to take over Devram.”

Tessa’s fork clattered to the table, and Theon snatched up her glass before juice was spilled again.

“Your father… He can’t… What?” she sputtered, clearly trying and failing to process what he’d said.

“My father believes we have been forced to the far corner of the realm long enough.

He wishes to seize control of Devram,” Theon answered.

“You cannot speak so cavalierly about overthrowing the other kingdoms, Theon,”

Tessa hissed, her voice low and quiet as though she were afraid of being overheard. Then her eyes went wide, and Theon was glad he was still holding her juice glass when her hands landed on the table. “Wait. Is that what you need my help with? Aiding your father in taking over the realm?”

“Yes and no,” he said, setting the juice aside and wiping his hands on his napkin.

A laugh of disbelief left her. “You said when you ran Arius Kingdom, I could have my own wing and be rid of you, but if your father succeeds, you will not run Arius Kingdom.

You will be heir to the realm.” She sat back in her chair, and Theon didn’t need to know her at all to read the fury in her eyes. “You played me.”

Theon said nothing, sipping at his coffee. She was only partially correct, but she didn’t need to know that yet. Couldn’t know that yet. Not until the bond was in place could he fully trust her with all of their plans.

“What about the Revelation Decree?” she demanded. “It clearly states that the Achaz Kingdom must rule.”

“As Axel said, the Decree is open to interpretation.”

“How else do you interpret ‘For Dark must bow, And Light must rule?’”

“We prefer to focus on the ‘Life must give, And Death must take’ portion of the Decree.”

Tessa only blinked at him, for once at a loss for words.

“We will have plenty of time to discuss the Decree and what it may or may not mean,”

Theon added, frowning at her plate. She’d only eaten a waffle and a few bites of fruit. “You should eat more.”

“I’m not hungry,” she stammered, sitting back in her chair.

“We have time. There is more we need to go over.”

“More?”

“We will resume your morning runs, and then you will train with Luka for two hours every morning,” Theon said, cutting into his sausage and taking a bite.

She glanced quickly at Luka. “What do you mean train with Luka?”

“Physical training. Combat training—”

“Combat training?”

“You need to learn to protect yourself, Tessa,” Theon said. “Metias and Pavil will not be the last ones to come for you, despite the obvious threats and consequences of such actions. While you are to always be with us, things happen that—”

“Things happen,” she said, interrupting him yet again, and it had him setting his silverware down sharply on the table. “What does that even mean?”

He turned to lean towards her, and he heard her sharp inhale at the action. “It means, little storm, that if Luka, Axel, and I can gain private access to someone’s Source, then someone can get access to mine, even with every precaution in place.”

She lurched back from him. “You’ve… But the Accords—”

“To many, the Accords are simply pretty words meant to make the realm feel safe and

protected.”

“But not to the Arius Kingdom?”

The cruel grin returned. “Beautiful, if you think Arius Kingdom is the only one that operates outside the Accords and makes deals in the shadows, you are sorely mistaken.

Some would argue that the other kingdoms can be even more cunning and ruthless.

Personally, I think they tell themselves that for a sense of security because they still send their cursed to the Underground, so I think that proves which kingdom is feared the most.”

“And you believe that being the most cunning and wicked is something to boast about?” she challenged, leaning in towards him once more, that spark of defiance flashing in her eyes.

Theon reached over, tucking her hair behind her ear. “You will learn soon enough that being the most cunning and wicked is the only way to survive in a realm of villains, little storm.”

For several minutes, the only sound was silverware and chewing as the males finished their breakfasts. Tessa was silent, absent-mindedly eating pieces of fruit, and he let her sit with her thoughts. He wasn’t stupid. She might not have the wicked part down yet, but the cunning part of survival?

Tessa was more cunning than anyone realized. Her type of cunning was the most dangerous.

She cleared her throat when they were all finishing up their meals. “Is there anything else I need to be aware of?”

“You will need to clarify that statement,” Theon replied, placing his napkin on the table.

Tessa glared at him. “Is there any other information you’ve withheld from me to trick me into bargains?”

“The bargain was your choice, Tessa. You were not forced into it.”

She scoffed, pushing her plate back. “Whatever you need to tell yourself, Theon.”

He took a deep breath, pushing down the urge to argue with her about this, but he couldn’t keep his dark shadows from appearing. They coiled around his arms, and it took everything in him to hold them back when they tried to reach for her. “Today,” he gritted out, “the Keeper requested the other heirs and I have meetings with the Pantheon Priestesses and Sentinels to ensure the Selection Year goes smoothly.”

“Will the Keeper be there?”

“Of course not,” Theon said. “The Keeper never leaves the Inner Sanctum of the Pantheon.”

“Right,” Tessa said, her gaze fixating on a point over his shoulder as she mulled something over.

The Keeper of the Decree was the most revered person in Devram. Residing within the Pantheon itself, even the Kingdom Lords and Ladies were leery to cross them. No one knew if the Keeper was male or female. They were rarely seen, and they always wore robes that completely hid all features. Theon had glimpsed them twice in his life. The one time he’d dared to ask his father about the Keeper, his father had only said, “We will worry about the Keeper once we have secured our rightful seat of power.”

Of course, that hadn’t been what Theon had been asking. He’d wanted to know about the Keeper. While perfection was demanded in all areas, including academics, he’d learned quickly enough that his father became annoyed when Theon chose to spend hours researching various things instead of focusing on his “duties as the heir.” His days had become doing what was expected of him to appease his father while simultaneously keeping his father’s attention off Axel. His nights had become hours spent in the library with his shadows obscuring the light so he wouldn’t be caught.

He’d discovered many things in those late hours— texts about the Guardian Bond, historical accounts of past Selections, a few mentions of other worlds, notes about the gods, theories of Chaos. But what Theon had found most intriguing hadn’t been discovered in the Arius House libraries. It had been found here, in the Acropolis. Specifically in the Pantheon.

And it had been confiscated from him by the Keeper itself.

When Luka and Axel stood from the table, Tessa asked, “So what will be required of

me?”

“Today?” Theon asked, arching a brow.

“In…all of this,” she clarified. “What will be required of me to aid you and your father?”

“Me, Tessa,” he said in a tone that made her flinch when his shadows reached for her.

“You aid me, not my father.”

“But aren’t I aiding him by extension? Didn’t he say—”

“It does not matter what he said.”

“But—”

“Do you know where the Keeper resides?”

She blinked at the sudden change in subject before she answered. “At the Pantheon. In the Inner Sanctum.”

“And do you know what they guard so obsessively?”

“They are the Keeper of the Decree.”

“A Decree that everyone is taught and has memorized by their second decade of life,”

Theon countered. “They guard more than that, Tessa.”

Her brow pinched together. “Like what?”

He shrugged. “No one knows.”

Her eyes narrowed. “But you have ideas?”

“Oh, he definitely has those,” Axel said, rolling his eyes.

“They are not all unfounded,” Luka interjected, distracted by something on his phone.

“None of my ideas are unfounded,” Theon said in irritation.

“Right.” Axel smirked. “Like the female in the mirror?”

Theon scowled at his brother. “She was there.”

Tessa was looking up at him in confusion. “You saw a female in a mirror?”

“Yes.”

“Or so he says,” Axel said.

“What did she look like?” Tessa cut in before Theon could reply to his brother.

“Allow me,” Axel drawled dramatically, and Theon sent him a dry look as he sat back in his chair, crossing his arms. “She had silver hair and silver eyes. More weapons than he could count. She had gifts of shadows but also fire as bright as the stars, and Theon saved her from imminent death when another in all black approached to kill her.”

“I did save her from imminent death,” Theon ground out from between his teeth.

“And yet no one else has seen her,” Axel countered, propping his head on his fist with a mocking grin.

“Where is this…mirror?” Tessa interrupted, a crease forming in her brow.

“The Underground,” Theon answered.

“So it’s a cursed mirror?”

“Not everything in the Underground is cursed, Tessa. Some would even argue such curses are blessings.”

“I will take your word for it,” she muttered. Then she added, “Is there something special about this mirror?”

“Yes,” Theon answered at the same time Axel said, “No.”

Tessa glanced back and forth between them before turning to Luka. “Do you believe there is something special about this mirror?”

“I believe everything is not always as it seems,” Luka answered, finally looking up from his godsdamn phone. Sapphire eyes connected with hers as he added, “Whether that be mirrors, traditions, or people.” Tessa held his gaze but didn’t say anything, and Luka’s eyes slid to Theon. “I just sent you something you may find of interest, but read it later. We should be going.”

Theon glanced at this watch and nodded. “Can you walk to the Pantheon in those?” he asked Tessa with a quick look at the heels she was wearing. They could drive, but it seemed pointless when they were only blocks away.

“We’re going to walk? Outside?” she asked, her eyes brightening, and Theon couldn’t help the grin that played on his lips.

“As opposed to walking inside?” he asked, pushing to his feet and beginning to roll down his sleeves.

“You’ve forced me to stay inside for weeks, Theon.”

“So you will be fine walking in those?”

“Yes,” she answered immediately.

The males grabbed their suit jackets, and a few minutes later, they were on their way to the Pantheon. The clouds provided a chill to the air, but Tessa didn’t seem to care as she tipped her face to the sky as they walked. None of them spoke much, and ten minutes later, they were showing their phones to Pantheon sentinels to show they had been set to the

appropriate mode.

Everyone except Tessa.

“You do not have your phone,” Theon demanded, gripping her elbow and spinning her

to face him.

“It was dead,” she replied.

“What part of ‘have your phone on you at all times’ was unclear?”

She glanced at the sentinel before she stepped closer to him and hissed, “What difference does it make if I am to be with you at all times?”

“Because you will not be with me at all times today. You have to meet with the private Source instructor at the end of the day.”

“You didn’t tell me that.”

“I am not required to tell you everything. You, however, are required to have that phone at all times. I made that abundantly clear.”

“I didn’t—”

“Enough. I will deal with this later,” he snapped, pulling her past the sentinels and into the Pantheon. He couldn’t even send Luka or Axel to get her phone. They had tasks to tend to while they were here. He nodded to them as they peeled off to do just that while he led Tessa down the opposite hallway.

“Where are they going?” she asked, looking back over her shoulder, and that had him dragging her into an alcove and crowding her against a wall. “What are you doing?”

“Reminding you we are in public,” he replied in a low, harsh tone.

“I know that,” she snapped back.

“Do you? Because your place at this moment in time is to not ask questions. This is where you pretend, Tessa. This is where you prove to me you can do this, because by the gods, there are other ways I could be handling this.”

“Handling this,” she repeated.

“Yes, handling this. And they would be far easier than a godsdamn Bargain with you.”

Her lips thinned, all her features going taut. “I understand.”

“The stakes are higher than ever. There is no room for error. Not in front of these

people. Not anymore.”

“I got it, Theon.”

“I hope so because you can expect harsher consequences for failures,” he replied, stepping back. Her eyes widened, but she smartly held her tongue. “We are about to walk into a room full of other heirs and their Sources. Do not speak without permission.

Remember what I require of you.”

“I remember,” she said bitterly.

He gripped her chin between his thumb and forefinger, tipping her chin up and forcing her to look at him. “Tell me.”

“Someone they fear as much as you.”

“I want them to fear what we are together. I want them to believe our bond is different from theirs. Better in every possible way,” he corrected. “The meeting with my father was a

test-run. Do not fail at this, Tessa.”

“I understand,” she ground out again.

He released her chin, brushing her hair back over her shoulder. “You don’t fully understand yet, but you will.”

He could tell she wanted to ask what that meant, but she didn’t. Instead, she pushed off the wall and straightened her dress. He reached out then, grabbing her hand and intertwining their fingers. Sources usually walked behind their Masters, but he hadn’t been lying. He wanted the other heirs nervous that he treated her differently than they treated their own Sources. It was a fine line he was asking her to walk, and she needed to walk it perfectly.

His strides were long and purposeful, forcing her to work to keep up with him in her heels, but she did not complain. And when they walked into the large stateroom, all chatter ceased. All eyes turned to them, and from the corner of his eye, he watched her chin tip up a little more. Everyone else was already here. One might think him late, but he’d wanted to be the last to arrive.

His cold gaze swept over the others dismissively until he settled on Dagian Jove, heir to the Achaz Kingdom. His golden hair was swept back, and his golden gaze held his, but Theon didn’t miss the quick glance at Tessa. Dagian’s Source stood a step behind him, off to his left. She was pretty. Brown hair and eyes. Bronze skin. Sasha Roenya. Predicted to emerge with wind and air like Tessa. He knew all about the new Sources. He’d studied them as much as he’d researched his own options.

Next to Dagian stood Lealla Isleen, heir to the Serafina Kingdom. Her silvery-blue gaze narrowed on him, and her sharp smile told Theon she was still the heartless thing he knew her to be. Then came Mahina Candra, heir to the Celeste Kingdom. Ebony hair framed a pretty face, but jade green eyes bounced between him and Tessa. He could sense the nerves she was trying to hide, and he let his darkness out to drift around him and Tessa.

Mahina flinched. It was nearly imperceptible, but it was there. Beside her was Prudence Farhan, heir to the Falein Kingdom with her ashy-brown hair and hazel eyes that watched him curiously. And last was Tana Aithne, heir to the Anala Kingdom. Her bright red hair hung in tight curls down her back, and amber eyes flickered with flames as they met his own.

“Heir St. Orcas, welcome,” came a melodic voice, and Theon dragged his gaze to the Priestess at the front of the room. “My name is Sancia, one of the High Priestesses of the Pantheon. This is Evander, our Head Sentinel. We welcome you to the Acropolis and the Pantheon.”

Theon bowed his head the smallest amount in greeting. “Your grace.”

“If everyone takes a seat, we can get started. We have much to discuss today,” Sancia said, gesturing to several chairs and settees that had been artfully arranged in the space.

Nearby were much less extravagant chairs, and Theon led Tessa to one. Bringing his lips to her ear, he whispered, “Watch. Listen. Learn everything you can about the people in this room. Do you understand?”

She gave a small nod, and he let his lips brush lightly along her temple as he stepped back. Unbuttoning his suit jacket as he walked, he moved to an armchair next to Mahina.

He heard her audibly swallow, but he paid her no mind. His gaze was back on Dagian, who was seated across from him. And when Theon took the drink a Fae brought him, Dagian lifted his own to him in greeting. Theon didn’t return the gesture, instead bringing his drink to his lips and taking a sip, internally smirking at the look of superiority that filled Dagian’s features.

They might all be forced to sit here and be amicable, but the pretense was just that.

Every heir here had an agenda, whether their own or their parents’. Likely both. But only he was going to be the one to walk away with everything he wanted. He smiled at the thought as he took another drink, and Sancia began her opening greeting.

He didn’t care who became a casualty for the cause. Like he’d told Tessa, failure wasn’t an option.