Rain of Shadows and Endings — Chapter no 33

33

TESSA

S he was the last of the Sources to be meeting with the private instructor. She’d learned the Arius Kingdom was always last. Theon had been last to select his Source. He’d been last to receive his drink among the heirs, and now she was last to meet with this private instructor. It hadn’t escaped her that he’d embraced being last. Owned being last by making a statement when they’d entered that state room earlier today.

She’d seen the way the heirs had watched him. Just like he’d told her to, she’d observed them and the Sources. She knew them all, of course, but only Jasper, the Celeste Heir’s Source, and Sasha, the Achaz Heir’s Source, had resided at the Celeste Estate. Dade, the Falein Heir’s Source, had been there for a few years, but when Prudence had started watching him more, she’d had him moved to the Falein Estate.

For hours, she had been forced to sit and listen to the High Priestess and Head Sentinel discuss procedures for the year, what was expected of each kingdom, changes from the previous Selections, and more. Her head hurt from it all, but she’d also watched Theon absorb it all with ease. How many times had he been forced to sit through such things? He was clearly practiced at it, knowing what to say and when to say it. Pointed questions were posed to Sancia and Evander with just enough respect to pass as…well, not pleasant, but acceptable.

Watching Theon here was different all together. She was beginning to realize that he had been keeping parts of himself hidden from her, trying to…make her more comfortable?

Lure her into a sense of safety? She didn’t know, but this? This was the Arius Heir. This is what she had been expecting of the Arius Kingdom. Cold-hearted. Cunning.

The heir of darkness, death, and endings.

At midday the Legacy had been served a fine lunch in the stateroom. Afterward, the Sources were provided with sandwiches, an apple, carrots, and water. Theon had taken her outside the Pantheon to eat so he could check things on his phone. Not that Tessa had minded. He’d hardly spoken to her while she sat on a bench, watching the people pass by. A small part of her had hoped she might spot Dex or Corbin, but hoping never did anything for her.

The break was short-lived, but on their way back into the Acropolis, Theon had filled her in a little more on what to expect for the afternoon. They’d be escorted around the Acropolis and the surrounding area where the trainings were being held so they could observe the other Fae at their leisure. The private instructor had also requested individual meetings with each Source to get a better understanding of what needed to be covered.

Sasha went first, right after they’d finished lunch, and from what Tessa could tell, it was roughly an hour before she reappeared and Maxson, the Serafina Heir’s Source, disappeared for an hour.

It had been dusk when she had been escorted by a sentinel to one of the marble buildings outside the Pantheon. She could tell Theon didn’t like that she was being separated from him, and who knew where Luka and Axel were.

This was probably why he’d wanted her to have the phone he’d given her.

She hadn’t left it behind on purpose, and she hadn’t lied. It was dead. She rarely used it and often forgot about it. Even when she’d wanted to use it for her phone call with Dex, Theon had made her use his. What was the point of her even having one?

This. This was obviously the point, and she made a mental note to make sure she charged the damn thing tonight.

The sentinel knocked once on the intricate oak door before pushing it open and gesturing for Tessa to enter. With a weak smile, she walked into what appeared to be a

study.

And went utterly still.

There was a Legacy sitting behind a large, mahogany desk. Her back was straight, hands folded on the desktop before her. Her dirty blonde hair was pulled into a tight bun at the back of her head. Dark navy eyes narrowed on Tessa, her sharp features already making her disapproval clear.

“Sit, Tessalyn,” the Legacy said, giving a pointed look at the chair before the desk.

“What are you doing here?” Tessa blurted, her feet rooted to the spot.

Mother Cordelia couldn’t be here. She’d known she’d come for the Emerging Ceremony at the end of the week, but Tessa had planned to avoid her at all costs. It shouldn’t have been too hard. Tessa would be up on the private Arius observation deck with Theon and the others. Mother Cordelia would have been on a separate viewing deck. It was perhaps the only time Tessa had been grateful to be a Source.

Somehow Mother Cordelia’s eyes narrowed even more. “Sit down, Tessalyn.”

It was instinct when she scurried to the chair, conditioning from years at the Estate.

From years of being summoned to her private study. That study was nearly as grand as this one.

Tessa sat perfectly still, back straight, hands folded in her lap. Her knee gave a small twitch, her foot trying to bounce, but at the quick flick of Mother Cordelia’s gaze to the action, Tessa forced the movement to cease.

You fidget too much. No Kingdom will want a Fae who draws so much attention to herself, Tessalyn.

That’s what Mother Cordelia would say while a Fae with earth magic would bind her tightly to a chair. So tightly that she couldn’t bounce her knee. So tightly that she couldn’t move an inch.

So she’d learned not to fidget in her presence.

But Mother Cordelia couldn’t punish her anymore, right? Not without Theon’s permission. To use gifts against a Source was an action that would send one straight to the Underground. Which wouldn’t be so bad for Mother Cordelia now that she thought about it… “This is not where I expected to be seeing you, Tessalyn,” Mother Cordelia sighed, opening a thick folder in front of her. Technology was allowed outside the Pantheon, but Mother Cordelia had never liked computers and tablets. She preferred to dramatically add papers to an ever-expanding file of why Tessa would never be wanted or good enough.

“I’m sorry,” Tessa replied without hesitation. She’d learned long ago to take the blame for anything and everything. Arguing with her only made things worse.

“Yes, well, if the Arius Heir had bothered to observe his options like the rest of the heirs, this could have all been avoided. That Kingdom does like to be difficult,” she muttered.

Tessa sat quietly, knowing better than to speak unless spoken to. Mother Cordelia flipped several pages in the silence. Finally, she flipped the folder closed, folding her hands

once more. “I was asked to oversee the instruction of the new Sources given this Selection Year’s historical circumstances.”

Tessa swallowed, her interlaced fingers tightening in her lap. Of course Mother Cordelia saw it. Tessa could practically feel the vines binding her wrists, thorns digging into her flesh as she learned not to do that too.

“However, you were not prepared for this role as the others were,” she continued. “As such, Heir St. Orcas has requested an additional three hours each week for private instruction to make up for the inadequacies.”

“He what?” Tessa stammered. When Mother Cordelia’s brow only arched at her outburst, Tessa said, “Why can’t he…instruct me himself? Surely that would strengthen our bond more than—”

“An heir has far more important things to be tending to,” Mother Cordelia interrupted.

“Dealing with you is not a hassle he needs to be burdened with, especially during a Selection Year. Since you resided at the Celeste Estate, it is only logical that I am your instructor, since I am well acquainted with your shortcomings.”

“Surely three hours a week is unnecessary,” Tessa argued, her voice becoming more shrill with each word. There was sweat beading on her nape, and gods, she wished she’d worn her hair up today. Instinctively, she glanced around the room, noting all the small nooks and crannies. The tall cupboard in the corner. The open chest of books that could easily be emptied. The space beneath the desk where a foot could easily connect with flesh.

All the spaces she could be shoved into the dark to be dealt with later.

“On the contrary,” Mother Cordelia said sharply. “I argued five hours would be more conducive, but your Master decided three would be sufficient. One hour. Three days each week.”

“Can’t we do all three hours at one time?”

“No.”

“But—”

“Enough,” Mother Cordelia snapped. “I will not spend our time together debating with you. You have too much to improve on to waste time on such frivolities.”

Had Theon told her? Had he told her she’d tried to run more than once? Had he told her she argued with him constantly? Had he told her how she’d been forced to sit at his feet beneath a table? About her last assessment?

The Estate Mother never let on how much she knew until it suited her, and now was no different. Her face held the same slight sneer it always did as she shoved the thick folder to the side and grabbed another stack of papers.

“Are we done?” Tessa bit out, suddenly needing to move. This wasn’t just restlessness.

This was feeling like she might actually die if she couldn’t get up, move, run, breathe fresh

air.

Scream to the sky.

“No.”

“What else do we need to do?”

“We have until the top of the hour.”

“To do what?”

It was becoming too hard to breathe, and why was it so godsdamn hot in here? There were windows, but they were closed up tight with the curtains pulled shut.

“To do as you are told,” she retorted. “I don’t know why this is so hard for you to understand, Tessalyn. That is your purpose. Do what you are told by the Legacy. Aid them.

Give them what they want and don’t be a hassle about it. Now sit until our time is up and prove to me that these last two decades have not been a complete waste of my time and effort.”

She felt it then. The quick pull of air from her lungs. Tessa blinked, and it was gone.

Withholding oxygen wouldn’t kill her, but it was certainly Mother Cordelia’s preferred way to get a point across. Giving her just enough air to stay conscious, but withholding enough to make her feel like she was suffocating.

So she sat silently, forcing herself not to move. But instead of counting, she found herself going through lyrics for the songs Axel had put on those stupid running playlists.

She could make it through one more song.

One more second.

One more song.

One more day.

One more year.

It didn’t much matter in the end.

She stumbled down the marble steps as she gulped down the night air. Her hairline was damp with sweat, and her entire body was trembling from sitting for an hour, still and unable to move. When Mother Cordelia had finally given her permission to leave, she’d all but bolted from the room. She would likely be punished for such an action at her next private session with her.

There hadn’t been a sentinel waiting for her outside the room like she’d anticipated.

Maybe she should have waited for one, but she couldn’t stay inside one second longer. She felt like she’d just run for an hour with Theon, and her chest wouldn’t expand enough to take in the air she was trying to draw in.

Dex.

She needed Dex. He was the only one who could help her through this. He was right.

She wasn’t strong enough for this. Not by herself.

But there was no one. Only her and the night that had fallen, blanketing the world in darkness.

And there wasn’t enough air even out here.

And she couldn’t just stand here.

Kicking off her heels, she started walking down the sidewalk. She couldn’t think about anything but getting out of the towering buildings that trapped her. And then she wasn’t walking, but running through the streets. She had no idea where she was going. No one called out to stop her. Fae were free to move about here, and few would immediately recognize her as the Arius Source right now. Soon that would all change. So much had

already changed, and yet she was the same. Still being shoved into nothingness. Still being trapped in a study with the Estate Mother. Still being a hassle. Still somehow creating chaos she couldn’t handle herself.

She ran and ran, briefly thinking she could probably outrun Theon right now. Never once did it register how much trouble she was going to be in because all she could think about was open spaces and fresh air not tainted with expectations and demands.

It wasn’t until she was dropping to her knees on the banks of the Wynfell River that she realized just how far she’d run.

It wasn’t until then that she felt like she could breathe.

There was a scattering of trees around her, and she found herself on her back, staring up at the sky. The stars stared back, glittering and uncaring of a world the gods forgot.

The river ran through the Acropolis, but she had to be a good mile or two outside the outer walls. She wasn’t entirely sure how she’d evaded any patrolling sentinels, but she didn’t know how she evaded the wards either. She didn’t know how long she had, but Theon would find her. He always did. He’d drag her back to the townhouse and rain down his consequences. She’d slip into the role he demanded of her until she fucked up again. If anything, it was a familiar cycle, and at this point, she’d accept any semblance of routine in her life, even if she suffered every time. Was it even worth it to keep trying?

The bond inside her was silent for once, and she sucked in another deep breath, the air shifting and a breeze cooling her skin. The only sound was the river for several long minutes until a low whining had her sitting up, her gaze connecting with eyes of glowing orange. She swallowed her scream as she scrambled to her feet. But that low whine came again as a large silvery-grey wolf took a few steps from the trees.

Was it…hurt?

She had never seen wolves in the forest around the Celeste Estate, and Tessa hadn’t known there were wolves around the Acropolis. This wolf was as big as Theon’s were with those same glowing eyes. Something had its ear perking, and the wolf’s nose went to the sky. With a parting look, it darted back into the trees, but before Tessa could contemplate the absurdity of that entire scene, a female voice sounded.

“A Source all by herself? What will the Legacy say?”

Tessa spun to find a female dressed entirely in black from head-to-toe. She even had a hood up, concealing her features.

“Are we sure this is her?” came another female voice that had Tessa spinning around once more. This one was dressed the same, prowling towards her with purpose. Black gloves. Black boots. And was that…a dagger in her hand?

Tessa took a step back, her heels forgotten somewhere on the ground. The two females had her trapped between them and the river.

“Looks like her,” the first said with a shrug.

“We’ve never seen her before,” drawled the second.

“Exactly,” said the first. “But if you’re unsure, I could taste her first. Surely her blood

would be divine.”

“Do you wish for death, Risna?”

“It would certainly add some excitement to our lives.”

Tessa wasn’t sure what to do as she watched the two exchange words. It wasn’t as if she could run. These two were clearly skilled in stealth. Not even the wolf had heard them

until the last minute.

“Let’s grab her and take her back. Even if it’s not her, we’ll be rewarded for collecting a Fae outside the boundaries,” the second one said.

“No, wait!” Tessa stammered. “You can’t touch me.”

“And why is that?” the one called Risna asked, and even with her hood up, Tessa could tell she’d tilted her head in curiosity.

“Because I am the Source of the Arius Heir.”

“Thank you.”

“…for what?”

Tessa could hear the smile in Risna’s voice when she answered, “For confirming you are the one we were looking for.”

They both lunged for her, and Tessa screamed. She lurched backwards, her feet landing in the icy waters of the Wynfell River at the same time thunder cracked and streaks of lightning illuminated the night.

Illuminated the two figures dropping from the sky.

One had dark-leathery wings. The wings of a dragon.

The other had wings of nothing but shadows that dissipated into the night the moment his feet hit the ground.

Luka and Theon were here, and she wasn’t sure if she should fear them more or the two who were trying to take her.

Theon stepped forward. Even in the night, Tessa could see the darkness floating around

him.

Floating around her.

Like a shield, the shadows clung to her.

“Who sent you after her?” Theon demanded, his voice nothing but the icy promise of death.

“You know we cannot tell you, Heir of Endings,” Risna replied, two daggers in her palms. “So just kill us and be done with it.”

“Daughter of Night, you of all people know there are so many things worse than death,” Theon said.

“We had no choice,” the second female supplied. “Surely you know this as much as I

know you will not let us go free.”

“What is your name?” Theon demanded.

“Does it matter? History will not remember me.”

“Who else is with you?”

“No one. Only us,” Risna cut in.

“Lies,” Theon snarled, his darkness surging around her.

The female let out an agonized scream, dropping to her knees. Her hands clawed at her arms, her chest, her face.

“She tells the truth,” Tessa cried, the female’s screams filling the night. “It is only them.”

Theon whirled on her, his shadows tugging her forward out of the water and onto the riverbank. “Do not say one more word,” he spat, his darkness yanking her hands behind her back and binding them there.

But Luka had stepped forward, black flames appearing in his palm, and the second female was suddenly begging, pleading. “Two!” she cried. “There are two others likely already halfway back to report what they’ve seen.”

Luka was in the sky before she finished speaking, flying low over the tops of the trees, and Theon was stalking forward. The second female tried to run, but his shadows wrapped around her, dragging her back to him. Tessa had no idea where he got the dagger. Perhaps he used the female’s own, but that was a blade slicing across her throat. That was blood spraying in the moonlight. That was Theon bringing the blade down into her chest, directly into her heart.

Tessa was too shocked to do anything but stare at him as he tossed the female aside.

Literally tossed her still bleeding body onto the riverbank. He couldn’t just…leave her there, could he?

Risna was still writhing on the ground, screams still pouring from her as Theon approached. He held another dagger, and Tessa again wondered where the fuck he was getting all these godsdamn blades. Pulling his darkness back, he crouched beside the female and growled, “Tessa, come here.”

But she was still staring at him in disbelief. She couldn’t comprehend his demand, even if she wanted to.

“Tessalyn, come here,” he said again, the entrancing forcing her feet to move, but her entire body was trembling as she lowered to her knees beside him, her wrists still bound.

Risna was whimpering, and she could see rips in her sleeves, along the body of her tunic, even her pants. Streaks glimmered in the moonlight against the dark fabric. Blood. His darkness had done that?

“Do you know what she is?” Theon demanded.

She shook her head, staring down at the female.

“Speak, Tessalyn.”

“N-no,” she whispered.

Theon yanked the female’s hood back, and even with her injuries, she lurched forward, hissing as she lunged for Tessa’s throat, and— Those were fangs.

“She is a Night Child,” Theon said, gripping the female by the hair and yanking her back. He held his dagger at the female’s throat and tipped her head back farther. She bared her fangs again, a crazed sort of mania in her eyes as she tried to reach for Tessa once more, but Theon’s grip was solid. He wouldn’t let the female touch her. But the black streaks running through her skin, spider-webbing across her cheeks, down her throat… “I don’t understand,” Tessa rasped.

“A vampyre, Tessa. She is what you would call a vampyre, and she was sent to take

you.”

“Vampyres aren’t real.”

“And yet you look upon one.”

She shook her head, mainly because she couldn’t wrap her head around what he was saying.

And then Theon slid the dagger across the female’s throat.

Tessa lurched back as warm blood sprayed across her face, her neck, her chest. It was too familiar. Except this wasn’t the blood of her friends. This wasn’t the blood of other Fae

being tortured to force her magic to surface.

Just like with the other female, the other vampyre, Theon brought the dagger down into her heart.

“Night Children can only be killed with blades made of certain material. This one,” he said, yanking the dagger free, “is made of nightstone. It must go through their heart.”

“I don’t know what nightstone is.” It sounded stupid, but that was the only thing she could think to say.

“I know, but you will soon,” he answered, and he was far too calm for a male who had just killed two people.

He cleaned his dagger off on the female’s cloak, leaving Tessa kneeling beside the corpse while he retrieved his other blade. His shadows loosened, freeing her wrists. She watched as both daggers disappeared among shadows, and then he came to a stop before her. He said nothing else, his hand appearing in her line of sight. He wiggled his fingers impatiently, and she placed her shaking hand in his palm.

With a sharp jerk, she was on her feet, and then an arm was wrapping around her waist, pulling her into his chest. Black wings of shadows appeared behind him, and she tried to push out of his hold. But he was already hauling her into the sky, a hand clamping onto her mouth to stifle her scream.

His lips brushed her ear as he said, “We have to fly low to avoid being seen right now.

When we near the townhouses, I will use my shadows to shroud us. Do not scream. Do you understand, Tessa?”

She nodded. He released her mouth, only to slide an arm beneath her knees. She buried her face into his chest so she couldn’t see the land passing by below her, and when she felt his magic slide around her, she leaned into the darkness.

Let it calm her.

Let it soothe her.

Let it caress her.

She didn’t care that it was an extension of Theon. She didn’t care that the bond was using it to draw her to him more and more. Too much had happened in the last few hours.

Seeing Mother Cordelia again. Sitting in a state of panic and memories for an hour. The run to the river. The vampyres. Watching Theon kill them. She could still feel the sticky blood on her face, her neck. She felt like she did after an assessment with too many emotions to process and too much shit to sort out. There were so many questions, but she didn’t know where to begin. She needed to clean this blood off her, but she also knew Theon was pissed.

Consequences for her impulsiveness were coming, and maybe he wouldn’t give her the time to shower or think or— The spiraling of her thoughts was cut off when they landed in the yard behind the townhouse, and Theon lowered her to the ground. The grass was cold beneath her feet, and a light rain was falling. The double veranda doors were thrown open, and Axel was there, taking her from Theon’s grip. She didn’t understand why until she saw Theon stripping off his suit jacket, followed by his tie and shirt.

“Where are your shoes?” Theon asked, glancing down at Tessa’s bare feet as he

removed his own black shoes.

“By the river,” she rasped out.

“The river?” Axel repeated, grabbing her wrist. She hadn’t realized she’d been twisting her fingers into his shirt. “The Wynfell River? What the fuck were you doing there?”

“Call Luka. He shouldn’t be fully shifted, so he should answer. He’s taking care of bodies. Make sure he finds her shoes,” Theon said, stepping forward and taking her back from his brother.

She hardly noticed that she was being passed back and forth. Not with the familiar numbness settling in. Not as she felt herself shutting down. Not as she felt herself slipping into nothing where she didn’t have it in her to care about anything. Where she didn’t know

how to hold herself together.

Where it was too exhausting to try.

“Stay with me, little storm,” Theon said softly, guiding her into the house and out of the drizzling rain. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to mix with the blood on her skin. She could feel drops of it slowly sliding down her flesh, and she raised her fingers to wipe at

one.

They came away stained in red.

And she was immediately pulled into memories of assessments.

Of visions they forced her into where she killed her friends. Killed her family that didn’t exist.

Of choking on her own blood while she was tortured in front of her friends.

Of watching her friends be tortured.

“Please stop!” she cried as the small knife was stabbed into Lange’s side again and again.

He groaned with every strike, his body marred with small deep cuts. When this was over, all traces of the abuse would be gone. No scars on the outside. What Legacy would want Fae marred with imperfections to serve in their kingdoms?

“You can make it all stop, Tessalyn,” the Priestess replied calmly. “Just show us your element.

“I can’t!” she wailed. “I’m trying, and I can’t!” She was chained to a wall, forced to watch.

And when Lange lost consciousness, they brought in Corbin.

“Tessa. Tessalyn, look at me.”

The entrancing forced her gaze to eyes of emerald green. Theon was gripping her face between his palms, his thumb grazing back and forth across her cheekbone, smearing the blood splatters.

He had blood on his face too. More than she did. Little spots and larger smears. And he looked…tired. His eyes weren’t as bright.

“Are you back, Tessa?”

She nodded mutely, leaning against the wall.

The wall?

Her eyes darted around. They were upstairs in their bedroom, but even the small familiarity of it wasn’t enough to ease the tension in her body. What she needed was— “Here.”

Theon was before her once more. When had he left her? But he was pressing a glass

into her hand.

A glass of amber liquid.

She swallowed the entirety down.

“By the gods, Tessa,” Theon muttered.

But she didn’t care as the liquor warmed her belly, her arms loosening a fraction.

More.

She needed more.

She needed to drown in it.

No, she needed to drown in— “I know what you need, Tessa.”

His dark voice cut through her thoughts as she raised her eyes to his.

“You know nothing,” she retorted, but her voice cracked.

Something akin to relief flashed in his eyes, but it was gone just as quickly. He’d retreated several steps from her, standing halfway across the room, as though he wasn’t sure what she would do next.

“You told me how you deal with things like this,” he said.

“Things like what?”

“The assessments. I know this wasn’t that, but I get the feeling this was similar in many ways. At the very least, I would guess it brought up memories,” he added when she opened her mouth to argue.

She snapped her mouth shut, pushing down said memories. But it was no use. They surged back up faster than she could shove them down.

Another drink.

She needed another drink.

She needed the bottle.

She needed to drink so much that not even her nightmares could haunt her.

She needed to feel something other than the numbness of nothing.

“I don’t need to physically touch you to give you what you need, Tessa,” Theon said, his hands sliding into his pockets as he watched her from across the room.

She felt his dark magic sliding across her skin. It seeped through the fabric of her damp dress. It was feather light, the barest of touches, as it trailed down her arms, across her torso, down her legs. Her knees gave out the smallest amount, and she leaned harder into the wall. And gods, she wanted this. She wanted to tumble into the oblivion that pleasure held, even if it came from him. Something inside her raised its head at the thought of letting him give her this, and she refused to admit that she wanted it to come from him.

Needed it to.

“Will you finally let me take care of you, Tessa?” he asked, his voice low and rough as

he took a single step towards her.

Was she finally going to give in?

Was it giving in?

Maybe it was simply her taking something she needed from him the same way he was going to take her power from her.

The way he was going to take everything from her.

That’s what she told herself as she nodded her head once, squeezing her eyes tight at letting this happen.

“I’m going to need verbal confirmation here, beautiful. I want to hear you say this is your choice.”

Her head tipped back against the wall. His magic had stilled while he waited for her answer, and she needed that darkness more than she needed to breathe at the moment.

“Yes,” she rasped.