Chapter 17
TESSA
“Thank you,” Tessa murmured when a glass of wine was placed before her on the table.
The same seraph from Cordelia’s office moved around the space, placing drinks before the three other people in the room.
She’d never been in here. She’d never been worthy of seeing the second and third floors of the main Estate building.
These two floors were Cordelia’s private living quarters.
But Dex had apparently been privy to these spaces all the time, and Tessa wondered when Cordelia had learned that he wasn’t Fae at all.
Had she always known? If not, when had Dex revealed it?
How often was he in this very room while she’d been huddled in a small dark cupboard, her stomach aching for food?
The seraph left the room, and the tension was oppressive as it hung in the air.
Theon hadn’t looked away from her once, gaze fixed on her and watching her every movement.
Felicity Davers sat to his right, across from Dex, who sat next to Tessa.
The lounge they sat in was lavish, exactly like Cordelia’s office.
Rich fabrics, flashy colors. Everything to exude her importance, and now they sat at this table for six, somehow intimate yet formal.
“I have fulfilled the requirements for my lordship,” Theon was saying, still focused on Tessa. “Prolonging this is only making me want to end your life sooner.”
“I know this is hard for you to understand, as most things are for Arius and his lineage, but you don’t get to have something just because you want it,” Dex sneered.
“And yet that’s exactly what happened for Arius and Serafina, is it not?” Theon asked, bringing his glass of liquor to his lips and taking a drink. Still holding Tessa’s stare the entire time. “Is that not what this whole vendetta is about to begin with?”
“Such arrogant fools. All of you,” Dex retorted. “As if Achaz would let the cunt of one female dictate the fates of all realms. This is bigger than Serafina and Arius. It always has been. They used to be part of it until they were swayed.”
“The way Rordan and Valter used to work together until Rordan was swayed?” Tessa asked, glancing at the male she’d once considered her closest friend.
The male tipped his head from side to side, debating his answer before finally saying, “The Fates like to watch the different ways history could have played out.”
Her brow furrowed. “What does that mean?”
Dex finally deigned to look at her, his features cold as he said, “Perhaps if you’d be who you were meant to be, you’d know the answer to that. Instead, you choose to throw tantrums and give yourself over to whoever gives you what you want.”
“Watch it,” Theon barked, his darkness snapping out like a whip and striking Dex in the chest. Felicity gasped, but Tessa only stared at the thin line of red that seeped into Dex’s white shirt before dragging her eyes back to Theon.
To find him still fixated on her.
Her head tilted as she took him in yet again, and then her eyes narrowed when Felicity reached over, placing her hand on his arm and leaning in to murmur something.
She couldn’t hear it. All she could hear was the blood rushing in her ears as her gaze dropped to the Union Mark on the back of Felicity’s hand.
The hand touching Theon.
The hand—
“Eyes on me, clever tempest,” came the low command, but it had her gaze snapping back to his, a knowing look on his face.
“Eyes on you,” she repeated slowly, reaching for her wine glass.
It was the first words she’d said to him since he’d arrived at the Celeste Estate over an hour ago, and something akin to relief washed over him until she added, “Every time you say that it’s followed by pretty words attempting to lure me into submission. ”
“Thank Achaz you finally recognize that,” Dex said, swiping up his drink.
“Of course I do. It’s all anyone does in this realm,” she replied, holding emerald irises as she brought her wine to her lips.
She took a sip, her tongue sweeping over her bottom lip when she finished, and she watched Theon’s gaze dip to the movement.
“Pretty words and extravagant actions to distract from true motives.”
The clicking of a tongue sounded before Felicity spouted, “Always so dramatic.”
Tessa’s smile turned serpentine as she slid her gaze to the female. “What pretty things did he promise you, Ms. Davers?”
“It’s St. Orcas now,” she replied with a saccharine smile.
“Is it?” Tessa asked, swirling her wine. “It sounds to me like nothing is official until Rordan and the ruling Ladies arrive to confirm everything.”
“Semantics,” she gritted out.
Tessa tutted, mimicking her from seconds earlier. “You’re to be a Lord’s wife. You should understand that nothing in Devram is merely semantics, but I’m sure you’ll figure it all out in time.”
Red splotches appeared on her cheeks, and Tessa didn’t miss how her grip tightened on her wineglass. “And did you figure it out, Tessalyn?” she asked, unable to hide the sneer from her voice. “Did you figure out your place?”
“I have,” Tessa answered. “Pity you haven’t figured out yours.”
“I am his Match,” she spat.
Tessa said nothing. Only smiled as she sipped her wine again.
“I am his Match,” she repeated, spluttering the words. “And what are you? Other than something to be leashed and brought out when needed?”
Theon started to say something, but Tessa held up her hand to halt him.
Her tone was tinged with a madness she knew they all could hear when she said, “I am salvation and destruction, beginnings and endings, light and dark. I am the secrets of gods and the sorrow of fate. I am wrath and vengeance, chaos and fury. But to you, Ms. Davers? I will only be your end.”
Tension crackled in the air as Dex cleared his throat, signaling to someone for a refill of drinks, and when Tessa’s stare slid back to Theon, his eyes were still on her.
She knew they’d never left during that entire exchange, as if imploring her to understand something.
She could swear there was even a faint, insistent tugging on the broken bond, but she wasn’t sure she was ready to examine that yet.
“Take that cuff off her,” Theon said, his tone low and dark, startling her back from her thoughts.
“I’m afraid not,” came a voice that had Tessa inwardly flinching.
Rordan Jove strolled into the room, his Source a step behind him along with his heir, Dagian Jove, and his Source. Dex and Felicity got to their feet, bowing their heads, while Theon and Tessa stayed seated.
The last time she’d seen the Achaz Lord he’d been berating her for not fulfilling her purpose.
She’d promised she would act, and it had all been a set up.
She wasn’t a fool. He’d organized the entire godsdamn thing, working with Cressida and Cordelia for the Augury attack, and knowing she’d summon the Hunters that would end in a massacre in the Arius Kingdom.
That was her fault, even if she was set up. It was still her actions that had ended in the deaths of hundreds. Just like Pen last fall.
Destruction. Not salvation.
“An agreement was made, Jove,” Theon said tightly. “Are you not a male of your word?”
“I most certainly am,” the Achaz Lord replied casually, taking a seat at the head of the table while Dagian took the other end. “I am also a male of tradition and policy. All Lords and Ladies must be present to recognize a new ruler.”
“Then summon them. Now.”
“I’m afraid Maya is a little preoccupied at the moment. Something to do with your father and his rogue Source she has detained,” Rordan said, leaning to the side for a glass of liquor to be placed before him.
Tessa straightened at his words at the same time Theon said, “Eviana?”
“Indeed,” Rordan mused. “She was somehow freed from my home.” His stare slid to Tessa.
“What a shame,” she said sweetly, reaching for her wineglass once again.
“It is,” the Lord continued, picking up his own drink. “Our sources report two Fae helped her. They will all be sentenced to death for their treason, of course.”
“What?” Tessa asked, nearly dropping her glass.
But before Rordan could respond, Theon cut in. “I do not care about my father’s Source or what she’s been doing. I care that I receive my title and what I was promised. I have completed all of your requirements. Make this happen sooner, Jove.”
During his little tirade, Tessa managed to regain her composure, but she knew Rordan hadn’t missed it.
She needed to get out of this room. Off this Estate.
She needed to see the sky and feel the breeze.
She needed to talk to Lange and Corbin and make sure they were okay.
If her actions ended in their deaths, she would never forgive herself.
She’d let this world shatter, and she’d go down with it.
“We have other responsibilities, Theon,” Rordan said. “If I recall correctly, you often had other things to tend to when we requested your presence at meetings. The Ladies will arrive when their schedules allow.”
“And in the meantime?” Theon demanded.
“I suppose we wait.”
“Great, I’ll take what’s mine and wait in the Arius Kingdom. Let me know when everyone has found time,” he said, moving to get to his feet.
“Tessalyn will not be left alone with you until everything is official, St. Orcas. You are free to do what you wish, but she will stay here with Dexter until your lordship is finalized,” Rordan said calmly.
“Bullshit,” Theon snapped. “I’m not fucking leaving her here.”
The Achaz Lord shrugged. “As I said, you are free to do as you wish. Leave or stay, it makes no difference to me. I’m sure you can work on…fulfilling your obligations as Lord with your new wife here or there.”
Theon’s features darkened. Or rather, his power did, darkness floating around him. “You have interfered with my personal matters quite enough, Jove. Try to do so again, and your heir may find himself in your seat sooner than planned.”
“Are you threatening me, St. Orcas?”
“Was I not clear enough?”