Chapter 37 Theon #2
The doors to the room were thrown wide, a swirling storm of glittering dark mist and light rolling in, and from the center of it strode Tessa.
Her dress was a soft cream color, but that was just the base.
Swirls of onyx and midnight blue adorned the gown, shimmering in the low lighting of the room.
The fabric crossed over her chest, covering her breasts, leaving her torso bare, and gathering at her hips before flowing out for the skirt, where a deep slit up one side reached nearly the top of her thigh.
Her hair was down, a mass of gold strands behind her, and her bare feet left prints of her power with each step.
Her bow was looped across her chest, and Nylah and Roan prowled at her sides.
The room went utterly silent as she came to a stop before them, and even Theon was blinking twice because all of her Marks were glowing gold on her fair skin. Every single one, save for the Tri-Union mark on her wrist. That was shimmering white and black and midnight blue.
Her violet gaze slid over all of them, the Ladies tense and their power lingering. Lips curving into a slow smile, she stepped closer, and he could feel her. Feel her power wanting to take. Feel her giving it the smallest bit of freedom.
He sent a wisp of darkness to her, letting it curl around her ear, while dragonfire snared her wrist, pulling her closer until she stood between them. Her gaze went from Luka to Theon, a question lingering there.
Theon nodded once, taking her hand and bringing it to his lips to press a kiss to her fingertips. She inhaled a deep breath, and she turned to face the other rulers.
The three of them against the rest of the realm.
“What is the meaning of this?” Rordan demanded, finally finding his voice once more. “You suddenly need your Source here for a sense of dramatics?”
“I just sent him ahead to get the mundane things out of the way,” Tessa said, slipping her fingers into Roan’s fur where he sat at her side.
Rordan glared at her. “You have chosen the place of a mere Source instead of what you could have been. How disappointing.”
“You must have misheard me,” she replied, the power around her slowly drifting and sliding along her skin. “I sent my Source ahead of me.”
The Achaz Lord scoffed. “He’s your Source now?”
“Unless you want the job,” she said, and Theon couldn’t see her, but he knew she was smiling that dark thing that always brought him to his knees. She lifted a hand, a storm appearing and twisting into a whirlwind in her palm. “Chaos does not choose.”
He felt the slight tug of her gifts, but so did everyone else. He could tell by the small gasps from the Ladies’ lips, and the way Rordan’s jaw clenched. Could she…draw from them? From any Legacy?
“Enough,” Rordan snapped. “The three of you obviously came here with an agenda to deceive us. What is it?”
“I came as summoned,” Theon replied. “The last time I tried to deny such a request, I was escorted by sentinels. More than that, the purpose of this meeting was the status of my Match and lordship, both of which have been addressed.”
“In a deceitful manner,” Rordan snarled. “You took your— She took her— Tessalyn cannot be your fucking wife. And his— It upsets the very nature of the kingdoms,” he went on, stumbling over his words.
“Because she is powerful?” Theon asked.
“Yes.”
“Because she is more powerful than most in this room?”
“Yes,” he snapped again
“That is a valid point,” Theon said. “Better fix that, clever tempest.”
“Theon…” Kyra said tentatively.
He met her gaze, giving her a reassuring smile. “We are simply honoring the laws of Devram, my Lady, which state the most powerful of a bloodline shall hold the seat of that kingdom.”
“In which case,” Tessa interjected, her fingers flexing and straightening over and over in Roan’s fur. “I challenge Theon St. Orcas for the Arius seat.”
There were gasps from a few of the Ladies, but Theon was watching Rordan.
None of them knew how he was going to react, and it had taken a little convincing to persuade Tessa to do this.
She didn’t want to rule over anything, but she did want to see change in Devram.
He’d promised this wouldn’t have to be forever.
Just for now, as he’d explained more and more of his plan.
The room had fallen silent, and it was the Falein Lady who finally said, “What is your response, Lord St. Orcas? Shall it be a dual or concession?”
“I concede to Tessalyn Ausra,” Theon said, stepping to the side. “Take your seat, my Lady.”
She spun around, her gaze locking onto his.
He didn’t drop his head or bow at the waist. No. That would never be enough. Theon lowered to one knee like the Fae did for the Legacy, and opposite him, Luka did the same.
Take the seat, Tessa, Theon urged down the bond as she stared at him.
Her gaze bounced to Luka. His expression remained impassive, but his voice drifted down the bond too. You’re not alone, my light. One foot in front of the other.
She did just that, her chin lifted, and when she turned and lowered into the Arius seat, she held Rordan’s furious stare the entire time.
“So you have chosen death,” the Achaz Lord said, his tone murderous.
“And death has chosen me,” she answered, and Theon felt her give a little more control to her magic. Watched those gold Marks on her skin flare brighter. Watched the Chaos in her eyes swirl faster. Watched her relax a little more.
Watched her take what was hers.
He and Luka pushed back to their feet as she propped her chin in her hand, watching Rordan. “Would you like to hear a story?”
“No,” the Achaz Lord snapped.
“In all things, there must be balance,” she continued, ignoring him.
“Beginnings and endings. Light and dark. Fire and shadows. The skies, the seas, the realms. But what happens when one takes what he’s not supposed to have?
When he has deceived the realm he covets?
When he calls the Fates here as much as I do? ”
The Ladies all slowly turned to Rordan.
“What is she speaking of, Rordan?” the Serafina Lady asked.
“Something she knows nothing about,” he retorted. “They have put a na?ve child in charge of the Arius Kingdom.”
“And a treacherous thief holds the Achaz throne,” Tessa returned. Then she added with a sharp smile, “For now.”
“You are not more powerful than I am,” Rordan spat. “You cannot challenge me and win.”
Tessa only smiled in return. “As a fellow Lady, I find it my duty to inform the other Ladies of your transgressions. Do they know where powerful Fae disappear to? How you mark babes from the Sirana Villas to hunt down later when their powers develop? Do they know you take what does not belong to you in preparation for taking from them next? That you were planning to use me to do the same?”
“And now what?” Rordan sneered. “You will take it all for him? All in the name of Arius, right? Now you will face the same fate that will eventually come for him.”
Theon cursed as blinding white light flared, and he dove for Tessa at the same time Luka did. But she was on her feet, her power shielding them and the Ladies. The light faded, and Theon blinked, trying to regain his vision.
“Fuck,” Luka muttered, clearly having shifted his eyes and seeing what he couldn’t yet.
Theon could hear the wolves growling and snapping, and when he could finally see again, he was staring at a room full of seraphs. Feathered wings and weapons drawn, the warriors were in formation, ready for a battle, and standing next to Rordan was Dexter.
“I am so utterly disappointed, Tessie,” Dex sighed. He took a step towards her, but Nylah was there, snapping her massive jaw. He curled his lip in disgust. “I gave you every opportunity, and you still chose…this. You will have to beg Achaz for mercy for this betrayal.”
“You can beg Arius for mercy all you want when you greet him in the Pits of Torment,” she replied, slowly raising her bow, where she already had an arrow nocked. She must have summoned it when Rordan had blinded them all. “But I will ensure he makes your eternity agony.”
She released the arrow, but Dex Traveled a moment before it struck. Instead, it hit another seraph. The being froze before disintegrating into nothing but embers and ashes.
“So be it,” Rordan sneered. He turned to the Ladies. “She has started a war, and your kingdoms will be the cost of it.” With a look at the seraph to his right, he added, “Kill them all.”
Then he was gone, stepping through a portal of light as the seraphs attacked.
“You have got to be kidding me,” Luka growled, already throwing dragonfire at an incoming warrior. “This is not how I expected this day to go.”
“Me either,” Theon muttered, drawing his short swords from his magic.
The Ladies and their Sources were fighting too, but it was the Serafina Lady who left first. Creating a portal and disappearing through it. She was powerful, but her Source was also missing.
Theon lifted his blade to block an attack as Tessa’s light arced from her palm. The seraph screamed, and he felt her shudder through the bond. Her power was taking, refilling her depleted reserves.
Keep going, tempest, he said down the bond. Luka, stay with her.
Before they could argue, he fought his way to the other Ladies. One by one, he told them to leave. That they would reconvene later and strategize. Kyra was last, her flames burning wings while Theon shoved a blade into the chest of a seraph.
Blazing amber eyes held his as she said, “Welcome to the revolution.”
Then she tugged her Source through a fire portal.
There were only a few seraphs left when he turned. The wolves took down one, and Luka was standing back, his arms crossed as Tessa—
As she let her power devour. The seraphs screamed as their veins lit up, gold threads crackling along their skin. Blood dripped from their noses, mouths, and ears.
Tessa’s feet were off the ground, her wolves circling around her when the two seraphs finally crumpled to the ground. They were clearly dead, but Nylah and Roan pounced anyway, ripping out throats.
With a glance and a nod to Luka, they each sent their power to her, letting it tangle with her magic and brush along her skin. She turned, her head tilting to the side as she took them in, eyes and Marks glowing brightly.
Time to come back, little storm, Theon coaxed.
Time to go home, Luka added.
She blinked at the words, her toes touching the floor a few seconds later. They stood back, letting her wrestle with her magic and take back control, ready to intervene if she needed them. Until finally, she relaxed, her shoulders rolling inward, and she sucked in a shuddering breath.
Luka reached her first, taking her chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Are you back, baby girl?”
She nodded, stepping into him. His arms came around her, clutching her close. Resting her head on his chest, she met Theon’s gaze.
“Do you feel okay? Your reserves are full?” Theon asked.
She sighed and nodded. “I’m fine, Theon.”
He moved to their side, saying, “Let’s go home and get cleaned up. I’ll have the kitchens prepare some food.”
“Nothing gross,” she sighed again as he dropped a kiss to the top of her head.
He hesitated. Not about the food. He’d deal with that later, but—
“We’re going to the townhouse in the Acropolis, Tessa,” he said. “Luka went this morning and made sure it was vacant.”
She looked up at him. “You did?”
He nodded. “While you were sleeping.”
“But it’s only temporary,” Theon added. “Until we can be sure we can return to Arius House.”
She stared at him for a long minute, worrying her bottom lip. “Do I still get my own wing of the house and only have to see you when I want to?” she finally asked, batting her lashes.
“Oh, little storm,” he said in a low growl as he grabbed Luka’s arm, the male snickering. “As if you could ever hide from me now.”
“But I can run,” she crooned, mischief dancing in her eyes.
“Please do,” he answered. Leaning in close, he added, “But I’m not responsible for what happens when I catch you.”