Rain of Shadows and Endings — Chapter no 6

6 TESSA

S he slept off and on for the rest of the drive. At least when she was sleeping, she didn’t register the pain. When she was awake, she wanted to peel the skin from her bones. Tessa was certain that would be less painful than what she was currently experiencing. The sunlight hurt her eyes, and she longed for the darkness of night. She was freezing despite the layers she was wrapped up in, so she thought she might have a fever too. She didn’t know for sure. Being Fae, she’d never experienced what true sickness felt like, but if it felt like this, she pitied every mortal in existence.

She’d stopped fighting with Theon. It was too exhausting, and he was right. Being close to him eased some of the physical discomfort. Internally, though, she was screaming at his touch. He made her drink water throughout the trip, insisting she needed to hydrate.

He offered her food— fruit, cheese, crackers. She turned it all down. She said it was because she was nauseous, but she really just had no appetite. He would ask how she was feeling, but when her answer was repeatedly “fine,” he eventually stopped asking.

She made no requests to stop again, but Luka made sure they did anyway. Every hour without fail, he’d pull into the next available stop. If she slept through the hour mark, he stopped as soon as he realized she had woken. Sometimes the stops were just pulling off on a side road. She would walk among the trees in only Theon’s sweatshirt that stopped mid- thigh and the flip-flops Luka had purchased for her, clutching the blanket tightly around herself. Another time, they stopped in Rockmoor, one of the few widely known cities in the Arius Kingdom. Theon disappeared for a while there. The cord inside her may have had a fit, but she had breathed easier for the first time since her name had been called at the Pantheon. He returned with a pair of loose linen pants. He helped her slip them on, then slid the flip-flops back onto her feet. One would almost think he was trying to make up for being a complete dick.

The Ozul Mountains were beautiful though. Not bleak and dreary like she’d always assumed they would be. She couldn’t remember being anywhere outside of the Celeste Estate and the surrounding forest it was nestled in. She’d been to Arobell, of course, the capital city of the Celeste Kingdom. But the Fae Estate was located on the outskirts of it, right on Lake Moonmist. She’d tried to breathe in lungfuls of the fresh mountain air whenever she could, but her throat and chest hurt too much, so she’d ended up just pulling the hood of the sweatshirt up to block the sunlight from her sensitive eyes. When they got back into the vehicle, she’d immediately fallen back asleep. Even ten minutes of walking made her exhausted.

“Tessa.” There were fingers trailing along her cheek and jaw, and the blanket was being tugged off her. “I need you to wake up, beautiful.”

Tessa forced herself to open her heavy eyelids and found Theon’s emerald gaze fixed intently on her. She blinked at him, confused as to why he was waking her up when all he’d done the entire day was tell her she needed to rest. A soft smile tilted at the corner of his mouth. He brushed hair off of her face, tucking it behind her ear.

“What’s happening?” Tessa murmured, her voice thick with sleep.

“We will be home in the next hour.”

Home.

If she had the energy, she’d scoff at the term. Her home was with Dex and Oralia, with Brecken, Lange, and Corbin. Arius House would never be her home. Rather than say any of

that though, she opted for silence and just stared back at him.

The small smile fell from his lips, and he shoved a hand through his dark hair. “My parents are going to be there. They will greet us upon arrival.”

“Okay…” Tessa ventured, sensing there was more to this admission than that.

“There is a small shopping district in Castle Pines. You are going to need to change,”

Theon said.

Tessa held in the whimper. She could hardly stand the touch of these loose-fitting clothes against her skin. The thought of changing clothes made her cringe. Shaking her head, she squeezed her eyes shut. “No,” she whispered past the burning sensation clawing up her throat. “It hurts too much. Please don’t make me change right now.”

A pitying look filled Theon’s eyes. “My father will not react well to seeing you in this type of clothing. Luka and I are changing as well. As soon as we have greeted them, I will take you straight to our rooms, and you can put on more comfortable clothing again.”

“I…” She squeezed her eyes tighter, feeling the tears well. Gods. She never cried like this. Lange would tease her relentlessly if he knew. Her heart squeezed at the thought, and she pulled the blanket up around her shoulders, wrapping herself up tightly. She’d lost her godsdamn mind earlier, crying her despair to the gods that didn’t give a fuck about her or this world, the screaming in her head finally finding its way out. She couldn’t do that again.

Too many things happened when she lost control like that. It was why Dex hated it when she went off by herself.

Her entire body was trembling, and she’d never been more glad she’d refused food.

The cord in her chest was getting agitated at the space she’d placed between her and Theon, and she wished she could reach inside herself and yank the godsdamn thing out.

“Take a breath, Tessa,” Theon was saying, and she opened her eyes to find him reaching for her. She jerked back instinctively, and the bond shocked her. A godsdamn jolt went through her body that made her whimper and curl in on herself even more.

“Tessa.” Theon’s tone betrayed his exasperation as she felt the vehicle slowing and coming to a halt. He didn’t say anything else, only stared at her.

“It will be best to meet his parents looking as presentable as possible,” Luka said, twisting in the front seat to face her. His eyes held the same pitying look Theon had given her. “If you greet them in what you are wearing, the occasion will be drawn out longer than necessary, and you will suffer more.”

They seemed to take her silence as acceptance, and they both exited the vehicle. Luka helped her out while Theon went to get whatever was considered acceptable clothing from the back.

“How do you have clothing in my size? Theon didn’t even know who I was until he found me in the alcove,” she said to Luka as he held her steady.

He seemed surprised by her question, but quickly wiped the reaction from his face.

“When Theon took you to the room for the first dose of tonic, I left to get items for you from a list that Theon gave to me,” Luka explained.

“Oh.”

That still didn’t explain how he knew her sizes when he’d only met her that night. She was also trying to figure out how Luka fit into all this. He wasn’t a member of the ruling family, but was obviously close to them. A cousin of some sort? An Arius Legacy of lesser power to drive Theon around and run errands for him? But Theon seemed to value his

opinion, and there was a quiet intensity about him that made Tessa wary, despite his somewhat gentle actions since she’d met him.

Luka led her around the vehicle to Theon. He had clothing in his hand, and he passed it off to Luka so that he could help her. They slowly made their way to a row of buildings along the road advertising various wares and services. Tessa was simply enjoying being out of the vehicle when another thought occurred to her.

“Your parents were at the feast.”

Theon glanced down at her. “Yes, they were.”

“Then how are they back already? They couldn’t have gotten back that much sooner than we did.”

“My father shadow-walked them back to Arius House.”

“Shadow-walked?”

“It is best explained as his personal portal,” Theon answered. “It is something he can only do when drawing from his Source, and it takes a fair amount of power so he does not do it often.”

“And you… You will be able to do that? When you draw from me?” Tessa asked.

Theon glanced down at her again. “Yes. When you have all the Marks and the bond has been completed, I will be able to access all the gifts of Arius. Not often, and only for short periods of time. It drains both the Legacy and the Source to tap into the other gifts.”

Tessa fell silent, not knowing what to say to any of that. She hadn’t known that the ruling descendants could do that. They’d been taught that the Legacy were gifted one power from the strongest bloodline that ran in their veins. The ruling families were granted two or three gifts, but she hadn’t known that they could access all of them. That was… Tessa didn’t have words for what that was.

Theon and Luka led her among the small collection of shops to a little clothing boutique. It was simple and elegant, nothing like what Tessa had been expecting, and Theon appeared to know the Fae behind the counter. She bowed to him, and when Theon requested use of one of the fitting rooms, she replied, “Of course, my Lord.”

Theon took the clothing from Luka and led her to a room, the door clicking shut behind him. She should have argued about him coming in here with her, but she knew it’d be futile. He would insist on helping her change, and she knew it would take her far too long to do so by herself.

He set the clothing bundle down on a small chair and helped her remove the sweatshirt, his t-shirt, and the lounge pants. When she was standing in nothing but undergarments, shivering with the chills from her fever, Theon turned and picked up a dress. Tessa couldn’t hold back the soft whimper this time. It was a deep amethyst and clearly form fitting. There was delicate silver beading woven throughout it. She could tell from the plunging neckline that there would be a lot of skin on display.

Theon stepped forward, and Tessa cringed.

“I know it is going to be uncomfortable, Tessa, but it is only for a bit. You can take it off at the first opportunity.”

He crouched down so she could step into the dress, biting her tongue as he worked the fabric up her legs and over her hips. He gently turned her so her back was facing him, and she eased the bra off, breathing in through her nose and out through her teeth at the movements. When the dress was fully on, the brushing of his fingers along her spine as he

zipped the back made the bond purr with pleasure, and she fought against the urge to step back into him, to feel him pressed up against her.

Theon turned her once more so she was facing the mirror that had been hung on the wall. She had to admit the dress was beautiful. If it didn’t feel like she was wearing shards of glass right now, she would say she actually liked it. She met Theon’s gaze in the mirror and found his eyes dark, his pupils dilated as he drank her in. They lingered on the plunging neckline before dropping to her legs. The dress stopped just above her knees, and she felt far too exposed. She had never worn anything like this.

When he finally dragged his eyes back to hers, his voice was thick as he said, “You are stunning, Tessa.” His hands were still on her waist where he’d placed them to turn her, and now they slipped down a few inches to her hips, his thumbs running along the upper swells of her backside. “Simply stunning.”

Her eyes narrowed on his in the mirror. “I look like a gutter rat, Theon,” she replied, noting her limp and messy hair and tired eyes.

“No, beautiful,” he said, shaking his head. “You look like salvation and temptation all rolled into one.”

Tessa felt her cheeks grow hot, and she broke his stare, her eyes dropping to the floor.

“Can you get me a brush? Hair tie? Hair pins? Things so I can at least look somewhat presentable for greeting a Lord and Lady?”

Theon nodded, and as she moved to sit in the lone chair, he went to the door and spoke quietly with Luka. When he came back, he crouched before her once more, picking up the flip-flops. “You will have to wear proper footwear when we get there, but you can put these back on for now.”

“At least there are no socks,” she muttered under her breath.

“Is your aversion to socks solely because of how you are feeling right now?” he asked, sliding the other flip-flop on.

“No. I mean, that is the biggest issue right now, yes. But I don’t like socks in general. I don’t like the feeling of them on my feet. It’s just…gross.”

He looked up at her, his hands coming to rest gently on her knees. “Socks are gross?” he asked, amusement in his tone.

“I wear them, obviously, but I take them off as soon as possible. I don’t even really like shoes. I prefer to simply be barefoot.”

“Socks are bad. You get difficult when you are hungry. What else do I need to know?” he asked, reaching up and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

She met his gaze at the question, his hand lingering on her cheek. “That I’m not your salvation or your temptation. I’m not your anything.”

His features hardened at her words, and his jaw clenched. “We both know that is not true, Tessa,” he finally said, brushing his thumb along her lower lip. Then he reached for her right hand and brought it to his lips, pressing them to the Mark there. Her breath hitched at the feel of his mouth on her skin. He rubbed his thumb along the Mark, studying it for a moment before he brought his eyes back to hers and said, “You can fight it all you want, but you are going to belong to me. Every piece of you.”

A knock on the door had him rising to unlock it. Luka handed him a small brush and hair pins. She quickly brushed out her hair before twisting it into a quick and simple knot at the nape of her neck. She secured it with a few pins while Theon leaned against the wall

with his arms crossed, watching and waiting. When she finished, he gave her to Luka, who had already changed into a black suit like he’d worn at the Selection Ceremony. While Theon was changing, Luka led her to a small bathroom where she quickly brushed her teeth and took care of personal needs.

Theon was emerging from the dressing room in his finery when she came out of the bathroom, and she was ushered back out to the vehicle. He tucked the blanket around her, pulling her into his side to lend her his body heat, and she blew out a breath as the bond urged her to take more. To touch more. To want more.

Tessa knew she should be nervous. Theon and Luka certainly made the Arius Lord sound intimidating enough, and she’d seen Theon’s father at the Selection. She should be feeling all kinds of apprehension and anxiety, but she couldn’t say that she felt much of anything beyond exhaustion at this point. A familiar numbness was settling into her soul despite her best efforts to keep it at bay.

The trek to the Arius House was beautiful. Twilight had set in, the sun low and nearly behind the mountains now. When Luka turned onto a road bordered by trees so thick it was like turning into a tunnel, Theon leaned down and grabbed the pair of black heels she’d worn the night prior. Tessa’s feet hurt just looking at them.

Theon helped her change out of the flip-flops, then brought his hand to her cheek. “Do not speak unless spoken to, Tessa. He will expect you to kneel as is custom for the Fae before the Lords and Ladies, but you do not need to. You are in enough discomfort as it is.

Do you understand?”

“I…”

It would be seen as incredibly disrespectful not to kneel when being presented to a ruling Lord.

“Do not fight me or push me away in front of him, and do not ask questions,” he continued.

His features were tense and anxious, his eyes hard and urgent.

“I understand,” she finally replied. He was her Master after all. What had he said? She obeyed him above all others.

“Good girl,” he murmured, leaning forward and pressing a soft kiss to her brow.

Tessa pulled back from him and slid to the opposite door, looking out the window just in time to see Arius House come into view. It was massive. Made completely of grey and black stone, it was towering, even amongst the surrounding mountains. It was at least four stories high, more in some places. The west and east sides had towers reaching higher still.

The length of the house itself twisted and turned amongst the mountains, making it impossible to see just how much land it occupied. Stone archways led off to various wings of the house, and she saw numerous staff, some Fae and some mortal, going about their tasks.

“You live in a castle,” Tessa deadpanned, the vehicle coming to a halt in front of steps that led up to the large double entrance doors.

“It is not a castle,” Theon replied.

“It has towers, Theon. It’s a castle,” she said, tilting her head to look up at the huge house again. “Do you live here too, Luka?”

“For all intents and purposes, yes,” he answered. “I have a smaller estate an hour or so away, but I am rarely there.”

“Hmm,” Tessa hummed in answer just as the double doors to the house opened and two figures came striding down the front steps. She immediately recognized them. Valter looked just as he had at the Selection. His thick black hair was swept back from his face, and he was impeccably dressed in a suit and tie. His lips were curved in a vindictive smirk as he escorted his wife down the front steps.

She clung to his arm and looked exactly as a Lady should. She wore a lavender dress that showed just as much cleavage as her gown had last night. Her dark red hair hung down and flowed over her shoulders, but Tessa caught glimpses of the large diamonds that adorned her ears, matching the huge diamond pendant at her throat.

“Come, Tessa,” Theon said. She hadn’t realized he had exited the vehicle. So had Luka. She allowed him to help her down, and he placed her gently on her feet, letting her weak legs find their balance in the heels. “You good, beautiful?”

“As good as I can be,” she murmured. He kept his arm firmly around her waist and escorted her forward. They met his parents at the foot of the stairs.

“Father,” Theon said with a bow at the waist. She saw Luka do the same from the

corner of her eye.

Gods. She should really be kneeling.

“Mother,” Theon added with a nod of his head. “I trust your travels home were uneventful?”

“Indeed they were,” Valter said, his voice deep and commanding. His dark hazel eyes were fixed on Tessa, and she dropped her gaze to the ground. “Was your Source not taught manners, Theon?”

“She was taught manners and knows she should be kneeling at the moment,” Theon replied, his fingers flexing on her waist and digging painfully into her skin. “She is quite unwell after the first Mark and in a lot of pain. I ordered her not to kneel to keep her discomfort minimal.”

“Is that so?” Valter asked. “And if I ordered her to kneel anyway?”

“I entranced her, Father.” Tessa had to force herself not to react to the lie. “As she is my Source, and it is my magic that now courses through her, to try and overcome it with your own demands would be cruel.”

“Indeed it would,” Valter said, and his tone sent a shiver down her spine. “I guess the choice is yours then.”

After a moment of tense silence, Theon gritted out through clenched teeth. “Kneel, Tessa.” She lowered to a knee as quickly as she could, her dress riding up her thighs. “Is that sufficient?”

“Let’s meet her then,” was Valter’s answer.

Theon helped her to her feet, his movements sharp and jarring, before ushering her forward. “Father. Mother. This is my Source, Tessalyn Ausra. Tessa, the Arius Lord, Valter St. Orcas, and my mother, Cressida.”

Valter stepped forward and reached for Tessa’s right hand, bringing it up to examine the Mark while Cressida said, “At least you have natural beauty, my dear. It overshadows the fact that your hair and face are a mess. Really, Theon? You couldn’t make her at least a little presentable?”

Tessa felt her cheeks flush at her words, but before Theon could say anything in response, Valter dropped her hand, stepping back. His gaze slowly roamed over her, and

Tessa had to fight to keep from cringing back from the Lord.

“I will admit, she is a beauty, son. Your mother is right. She is naturally exquisite,” he finally said, and Tessa felt like she’d passed some sort of test. “I am glad you took my advice and chose an alluring one. I half expected you to choose a male Source out of spite.”

Valter chuckled at his own words, returning to his wife’s side. His eyes never strayed from Tessa.

“While she is beautiful,” Theon said curtly, “her beauty is not why I chose her, and as you both well know, she received her first Mark last night. Her simply standing before you now seems like more than should be required of her at this moment, let alone having her hair and face done.”

And Tessa suddenly realized she had no idea why Theon had chosen her. She had never even thought to ask, but now that it had been brought up, she was curious. What had he seen in her in that alcove that had made him say her name? Why her out of all the other available Fae?

“I should hope her looks were not the only reason you Selected her, but a nice view by your side and keeping your bed warm doesn’t hurt anything,” Valter replied with a shrug.

Tessa felt her face heat once more but for an entirely different reason. She knew that Sources and their Masters often shared intimate relations as a result of the bond, but would Theon expect that of her? What was she thinking? Of course he would. Legacy took what they wanted, and he already viewed her as his. This would just be one more thing he took from her.

Valter glanced over his shoulder to his Source standing dutifully behind him. Tessa had been so preoccupied with the Lord and Lady, she hadn’t even noticed the Fae. Her eyes were cast down, hands clasped before her as they had been at the Selection, but even from this angle, Tessa could tell she was pretty. Her black Marks stood out vividly against the backs of her hands. The female’s red-brown hair hung loose down her back. It contrasted beautifully with her olive skin. She wore a fitted navy blue dress as low cut as Cressida’s that offered the perfect view of the Mark over her heart, and Tessa knew if the female lifted her hair, a Mark would adorn the back of her neck as well.

“Eviana, come here,” Valter called, and the Fae lifted her head, brilliant turquoise eyes going straight to her Master. She stepped to his side, and Valter looped his arm around her waist, tugging her close. She immediately turned into him, her hand coming to his chest.

“Yes, my Lord?”

“Meet Theon’s Source, Tessalyn,” he said, nodding towards Theon.

Eviana met Tessa’s gaze and a flash of pity crossed her eyes before it morphed into indifference. “It’s a pleasure,” she replied dutifully, turning her attention right back to Valter. The Lord’s hand slid from her hip to her ass, where it remained while he continued to speak to Theon.

“I bet you could still loan her out as a dam if you wanted. Make a little extra coin on the side,” Valter said casually, and Tessa’s head whipped to Theon.

What did that even mean? Loan her out?

Theon tugged her back to his side, practically crushing her against his ribcage. She bit down on a cry of pain.

“That will never be an option. Ever,” Theon hissed.

Valter chuckled deep in his throat. “I am not surprised. Arius blood has always made us very possessive of our belongings. It was merely a suggestion. She almost certainly would have ended up one with her features, especially if she is even remotely powerful.

After she had spent time in entertainment, of course.”

“I guess we will never find out,” Theon answered, his tone dangerously calm.

Valter smiled knowingly at his son. “She will, however, be expected to contribute to the Arius Kingdom as every other member of this household does.”

“As my Source, I am sure her contribution will be sufficient.”

Tessa was trying to follow what was being said between father and son, but her concentration had turned to not passing out. Her legs were growing wobbly in the shoes, and her head was throbbing. She could feel sweat beading on her brow and sliding down the nape of her neck, despite the fact that she was freezing and trying not to shiver violently against Theon. Black spots were appearing on the edges of her vision, and she was begging any god to care enough to put an end to this misery soon.

“Theon, dear,” Cressida cut in smoothly. “The rest of your belongings were moved to the Source suite in the east wing, and Penelope went out this morning and gathered everything you requested for your new beauty.” Her emerald green eyes flitted to Luka.

“Your rooms were moved to that wing as well, Luka. I assumed that would be your desire?”

“It was. Thank you, Lady Cressida,” Luka answered with a slight bow.

“Excellent,” Theon chimed in. “If we are done here, I will take Tessa there so she can rest.”

Thank the gods, Tessa thought, wondering just how far away this east wing was.

“I need to see you in my study, Theon,” Valter said, beginning to turn away, taking Eviana with him. Cressida dropped her husband’s arm, apparently content to let him go now that the show was over.

“I will come when I have gotten Tessa settled,” Theon answered, starting to turn away

himself.

“Now, Theon.”

Theon froze. “She was just Marked last night, Father. You know the bond is still strengthening, and we are both adjusting. I would prefer to stay with her at the moment.”

Valter looked over his shoulder with a smirk. “I remember the Markings well, son.

Bring her with, or give her to Luka. I am sure he can take care of her until you return to finish strengthening your bond. Our discussion will not take long.” Without waiting for an answer, Valter was striding up the steps, Eviana following him into the house.

“Don’t make him wait, dear,” Cressida said, reaching up and straightening Theon’s tie before she turned and went up the steps as well.

Luka was already moving to Tessa’s side. “I got her, Theon. Go see what he wants.”

Theon looked down at her, running his hand along her brow and wiping away the moisture there before looking back at Luka. “The wards will recognize you. Help her change clothes. Everything she needs should be in the suite. If you come across something that is not there, make a list. I will send Pen out in the morning.”

“I got it, Theon. Cressida is right. You don’t want to keep him waiting,” Luka answered.

“I will be back as soon as I can, Tessa,” he said, tilting her chin up to meet his gaze.

“Rest.”

“I’ll be fine, Theon,” she sighed. “I really just need to sit down and get out of this dress.”

Theon let Luka take his place beside her, and Luka instantly scooped her into his arms.

Tessa sighed in relief as Theon slipped the shoes from her feet, and Luka hooked the heels on his fingers. With a tight smile, Theon turned and headed up the steps while Luka began walking along the drive.

“Where are we going?” Tessa asked in confusion.

“It’s a faster route to the east wing,” Luka answered. “We could go through the main house, but it’s endless hallways and stairs. There is a door directly into the east wing through that archway.”

Tessa followed his line of sight, noting the charcoal stones that created said archway.

Silver dragons were etched into the stones. Arius was said to be particularly close with the dragons. Sargon, the god of courage and war, was also said to be able to shift into a dragon.

With it being thousands of years since the gods had left this world, she had no idea what was real or legend.

“Thank you for carrying me,” Tessa said softly, resting her head against Luka’s shoulder.

“I’m sorry you had to endure that in your condition, Tessa,” he replied. “But Valter is not a male to deny when he requests something.”

“Valter does not seem like the sort of male who requests anything but rather demands

everything.”

“Indeed.”

They passed under the archway and through a side door that led into a stairwell. As Luka started up the stairs, Tessa asked, “Was Theon lying to his father about why he chose me?”

Luka glanced down at her. “I would be lying if I said I didn’t think your looks were part of it, Tessa, but I know it was not the entire reason.”

“But what were the other reasons then?”

“There were several things he was looking for in his Source. Personally, I think there were better options, but when he spoke with you in that alcove, his mind was almost instantly made up.”

“You make it sound like he was picking out an item at the market. ‘I think there were better options,’” she mimicked.

Luka sent her a dry look. “That mouth of yours is part of the reason I believe there were better options, little one.”

Tessa glared at him as he pushed open a door. She felt wards brushing against her skin as they let them pass through. Then Tessa could only stare in shock at the opulent room before her. This wasn’t a suite. It was an apartment and not a small one.

Before her was a sitting room. A large sofa, two armchairs, and a low table were to her right, facing an enclosed fireplace with a large TV mounted above it. To the right of the furniture was a billiards table, and on the wall was a dartboard. Next to the fireplace was a closed door. Off to the left was a nook nestled into a bay window that overlooked whatever was outside. On one side of the window, there was a large bookshelf in the corner with no extra space visible. On the other side was a desk, neatly organized with stacks of papers and books.

To her left was a dining table with seating for six, and running along the wall behind it was a full kitchen. A small island with two stools stood in the middle of it, and a door led to what she could only assume was a pantry.

Straight ahead of her was another doorway. It had to be Theon’s bedroom. The entire space was decorated in a mixture of metal, stone, and opaque glass in varying shades of black, grey, and silver. Tasteful rugs ran in various places over the hardwood floor.

Luka lowered her onto a small bench just inside the door. She could tell he was trying to be gentle about it, but she still let out a hiss of pain at the movement. He removed his suit coat and tie, hanging them on a hook. As he began rolling back his sleeves, he said, “Right then. This is Theon’s suite. There is a small bathroom through that door.” He gestured to the closed door near the fireplace. “The kitchen is usually well stocked, but I don’t know if the staff has done so yet. This was one of the guest wings until Theon requested his own wing when he obtained a Source.” He motioned to the doorway ahead of them. “Through there is Theon’s room and your room.”

Tessa started at that. “My room is here? In his suite?”

Luka met her gaze. “You are his Source, Tessa. You will be within reach at almost all times, especially once all the Marks have been given.”

“I know that. I just didn’t think… I mean… I…”

Luka dropped to a crouch before her. She didn’t know the male well, but she had a feeling he rarely spoke in the soft tone he used when he said, “It’s going to be okay, Tessa.

You’re going to be okay. Theon will take care of you.”

She said nothing, only reached up and began pulling the pins from her hair.

“I know you weren’t expecting this, Tessa. I know you’re miserable right now, but you can’t change what’s happening here. You know that, right? You need to figure out a way to live with this fate.” His sapphire eyes searched hers, waiting for her to say something.

“I’m tired, Luka, and I want to get out of this dress,” she finally said.

Luka sighed before pushing back to his feet. He helped her to her feet and walked her to the bedroom. It was just as grand as the sitting room had been. To the right was a large bed with grey sheets and a black comforter. A large portrait of four regal black horses hung above the bed and nightstands stood on either side.

Double doors ran along the back wall leading out to a balcony. Light grey curtains were pulled back, but it was too dark to see much of anything now. Tessa could just make out a seating area on the balcony though. A small sofa and a couple of chairs with a table between them.

To her left were two doorways. Another glass fireplace was set into the wall between them. There were two chairs before it with a small table. Luka led her over to one, and she lowered into the seat.

Pointing to the door on the left, he said, “Through there is the bathroom.” He gestured to the door to the right. “Through there is your room. It’s small, but it has a bed, a nightstand, and I believe a small desk. Between your room and the bathroom is a closet and dressing room. It should have all the items Theon ordered for you already in there.”

Tessa nodded, too overwhelmed to do much else. When she didn’t say anything, he slipped an elastic band from his wrist, gathering his hair into a small ponytail. “Let’s get you out of that dress, little one.”

He left her in front of the unlit fireplace, disappearing into the bathroom. When he came back a moment later, he held what appeared to be lounge pants and a male thermal shirt. “All of your clothes appear to be tighter fitting, so I grabbed one of Theon’s shirts for you,” he explained. Tessa only nodded again.

Luka helped her to her feet, and as tactfully as he could, helped her get changed. She gingerly lowered herself back into the armchair while he took the dress somewhere. When he reemerged, he crouched before her once more. “Tessa, tell me what you need right now.

Do you need to rest? Eat?”

Tessa pulled her legs up onto the chair, wrapping her arms around them and resting her chin atop them. “I just want to be left alone for a bit.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. You’re still adjusting. Your body is going through a lot, and you’re in pain—”

“Just a few minutes. Please, Luka,” she said, staring at the glass of the unlit fireplace.

Luka was quiet for a few seconds before he said, “Okay. My rooms are in this wing.

I’m going to go shower and change. I will be back in fifteen minutes. This room is warded.

Only a select few can enter. You cannot leave this suite, Tessa. Do you understand? If Valter learns you are wandering the halls alone, it will not be good for anyone.”

“I understand, Luka. Don’t leave. I got it.”

He stood at her words. “I will be right back. It…will get easier.” When she still didn’t say anything, she heard his retreating footsteps, and a moment later, she heard the door

shut.

It will get easier.

Would it though? Would she eventually just accept her fate?

Maybe it would get better when they were back at the Acropolis. At least there, she would be able to see Dex and Oralia and the others. She would have activities to keep her mind occupied. She had never been one to sit idle, and she hated being alone. It was part of the reason she’d found her way off the Estate so often. Maybe she’d find a new sense of normalcy over the next few months.

And maybe she’d come to form some kind of…relationship with Theon. His father certainly made it clear enough that he expected their relationship to be physical. It obviously was between him and Eviana. Eviana looked like she was enamored with Valter.

Was that just the bond? Or had she actually come to care that much for her Master?

And what had Valter meant when he said she would be expected to contribute to the Arius Kingdom? Not much was known about the intensely private kingdom and bloodline of Arius, but the things she had heard weren’t particularly heartwarming. She had little idea of their gifts outside of the darkness they command and the apparent shadow-walking.

They were beyond wealthy, like all the ruling families, but how they amassed such wealth no one knew. The other kingdoms were all known for one thing or another. The Falein Kingdom was the scholars and healers, hiring out their services to the other kingdoms. The Anala Kingdom was the agriculture experts, helping the other kingdoms cultivate their own food sources, for a fee, of course. The Celeste Kingdom was the peacekeepers among them all and was in charge of planning and carrying out the Selection every five years with all the kingdoms paying them handsomely for taking on the task. The Serafina Kingdom was the artists and architects, selling beauty and entertainment and designing the kingdoms’ towns and cities. The Achaz Kingdom was the law. Each kingdom

had their own forces and defenses, but the Achaz Kingdom upheld the established laws and accords of all the kingdoms, created new ones, and cast judgment on those who broke them.

The Legacy themselves could live in whichever kingdom they wanted, provided it was approved by the ruling Lord or Lady of their bloodline’s kingdom.

But Arius Kingdom? There were the mines in the Ozul Mountains, but what exactly they mined, Tessa didn’t know. In fact, the only other thing she could really remember being said repeatedly in whispered words about the Arius Kingdom was that it was a kingdom you never wished to cross.

And now she suddenly found herself a part of it.

Question after question bombarded her. Maybe a quiet moment to herself had been a bad idea. She was too overwhelmed by it all. Too much had changed too quickly. She couldn’t process it all. She couldn’t decide if she wanted to scream or cry or rage.

When she heard the door open again sometime later, she hadn’t moved an inch. Luka found her still huddled in that chair staring at an unlit hearth.

“Tessa,” he sighed, coming to stand in front of her, “come and rest.” When she didn’t move, he tentatively reached out and unwound her arms from her legs, pulling her gently to her feet. The bond was becoming more frantic with each minute that passed and Theon did not return, and she gritted her teeth against the additional pain now coursing through her.

Luka started to lead her to Theon’s bed, but she resisted.

“No, not in his bed.”

“He would prefer you rest there. It is far more comfortable than the one in that room,” he protested.

“I’m not sleeping in his bed, Luka,” she repeated, pulling her arm from his grip and making her way to what was apparently her bedroom. She stopped in the doorway. There were no windows in the small room, and she already felt suffocated just looking around it.

The only light illuminating the space was what found its way in from the main bedroom. A bed for one was pushed against the wall to the right, a thin blanket across it. A little nightstand next to the bed had a small lamp, and a small desk stood on the back wall, scarcely two feet from the end of the bed. Tessa was positive that if she looked, she would find the closet four times bigger than this small room. At least there was no door. It made it feel bigger than it was.

“Tessa,” Luka said from behind her, a hand coming to rest against her lower back.

“Come and sleep in the other bed.”

“No,” she whispered, somehow finding it in herself to put one foot in front of the other. She pulled the thin blanket back and winced at the coarse fabric before climbing into the bed and curling onto her side facing the wall. She pulled the blanket up over her shoulder, effectively telling Luka to fuck off.

Footsteps retreated and returned a few seconds later, and she felt a much heavier, softer blanket being draped over her.

“Theon will not like this,” Luka murmured as he left the room.

What did Theon care anyway? He had done this to her. He got what he wanted. He got his precious Source. He got his strength and his power, even if it meant putting her through agony. Then it occurred to her that she was going to have to go through this again.

And again.

And again.

She had to assume each new Mark would happen just like this. And what about when he drew power from her? Would that be as excruciating as being given the Marks? How often would he draw from her?

They kept telling her she was going to be okay.

They kept telling her that everything was going to be all right.

But they were liars.