Page 172 of Storm of Secrets and Sorrow

“But the Arius Kingdom hasn’t suffered. They are prosperous,” Tessa said, her confusion growing.

“Nowthey are,” Dagian replied. “It took centuries to get back to that state. For many of those centuries, their kingdom was a desolate place full of starving, desperate people. It’s why the kingdom is so dark and depraved.”

Tessa couldn’t exactly blame them. Outside of the elite, the common Legacy, Fae, and mortals were simply trying to survive. Desperation would make people do unspeakable things.If survival had depended on thieving, killing, and treachery, it was no wonder the kingdom had become what it was.

“The point is the kingdom cannot be trusted,” Dex said, interrupting her thoughts.

“Funny,” Tessa replied, turning back to the window. “Theon said the same thing to me about Achaz Kingdom before I left.”

“Of course he did,” Dex scoffed in annoyance.

Tessa bit the inside of her cheek to keep from saying something snarky in return. Every time she tried to talk to him about anything in the Arius Kingdom, he found a reason to insult them. Eventually, she’d stopped speaking about it at all. She didn’t want him to fix this, and she didn’t want his opinion. She’d simply wanted to talk through everything that had happened so she could process it, and he refused to let her do so.

Her heart rate picked up as they turned down the street with the ruling family townhouses. She half-expected Theon to be waiting on the side of the street for her, pacing like the annoying thing he was. But as the vehicle came to a stop, there was no one waiting for her. No one on the front step, not even a Fae.

That was fine. They probably had some engagement or other that they couldn’t change without angering Valter. She didn’tneedsomeone to greet her. Now that she thought about it, it would be rather nice to get back and settled. She could have a little alone time before Theon’s incessant hovering became the norm once more.

Dex, however, was sure to comment on their lack of presence as he escorted her up the walk. When they came to the front gate, he stopped, turning to face her. “I’d make sure you get inside safe, but I cannot cross their wards unless you let me cross with you?”

“It’s fine,” Tessa replied, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “It’s not like I have luggage to carry in.”

“It’s fine until something happens to you, and then they try to blame us,” he retorted bitterly.

“Us?” Tessa repeated.

“The Achaz Lord. You know what I mean,” he replied dismissively. Then, taking her shoulders in his hands, he said, “You did amazing this week, Tessie. Don’t hesitate to reach out to Lord Jove if you need anything.”

“Right,” she answered, worrying her bottom lip as she glanced at the townhouse. The lights on the top floor were on, sosomeonewas here. “I should go.”

Dex pulled her into a hug, and she returned it half-heartedly. “Be who you need to be now, so you can be who you were meant to be soon, Tessie,” he said softly, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek. “We’ll talk soon.”

She said nothing else, going through the gate and feeling the wards glide across her skin. Climbing the front steps, she pushed through the front door, flipping on the switch for the foyer. Warm light flooded the space, and she quietly unzipped her jacket, hanging it on the hook and then removing her heels.

She scooped them up as she padded barefoot through the main floor. Theon wasn’t here. The bond would know, and the disappointment flooding through her was as much her own as it was the bond’s. She’d been more than ready for some normalcy, even if that normalcy included Theon.

Although, if she were being honest with herself, she was looking forward to seeing Theon for more than that. Numerous times on the drive here she’d found her mind wandering back to being in bed with him. Letting him distract her from all her thoughts and choices that needed to be made. Letting him give her what she craved and needed, because as much as she hated it, he always knew. Gods, she’d let him do anything he wanted with her tonight if it meant ending the night so well-fucked she couldn’t think and didn’t dream.

The mere thought had her climbing the stairs a little faster. She paused on the second floor landing. Axel’s door was open, his room empty. Luka’s door was closed as always. She turned the knob, feeling the wards unlock around her. Peeking her head in, she found it dark as well, his bed a mess of blankets and pillows. Closing it once more, she started up the stairs to her room. Theon must have simply left a light on for when he came home.

This was fine. It would give her time to change and?—

Walking into their room, the heels slipped from her fingers, landing with a loud thud on the hardwood floor as she came to an abrupt halt.

A female with glossy chestnut hair lurched to her feet from the sofa. Her golden-tan skin glowed softly in the low light of the room, and her brown eyes were wide as she whirled to the doorway, a glass of red wine in her hand.

Felicity Davers.

Theon’s Match.

“My goodness,” she said breathily. “You startled me. We weren’t expecting you for a few more hours.”

“We?” Tessa asked, her voice eerily devoid of any emotion.

“Theon will be back in a bit,” Felicity said, setting her wineglass aside. “He was called to tend to a matter.”

Tessa just stared at her, unable to think of anything to say.

She washere.

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