Page 171 of Storm of Secrets and Sorrow

“Easy, Tessie,” Dex said from where he sat beside her in the car. “You’re all right.”

She nodded, willing her heart rate to slow as she recognized the outskirts of the Acropolis. Her brow fell back against the cool window. She was returning a day early. Granted, the sun was setting, so it wasn’t much earlier, but she’d been surprised whenRordan had greeted her that morning dressed for travel. He’d had something urgent come up and was satisfied with her time spent there, so he’d instructed Dagian to escort her back today rather than tomorrow. He’d already spoken with the St. Orcas family, and they would be expecting her early arrival.

Anticipation hummed through her, and she hated to admit it wasn’t just the bond. She’d been…worriedyesterday when Theon hadn’t answered her phone call. He always answered. Not just with her being gone this week, but anytime she’d needed to call him, he’d answered without fail. Granted, she only called when she trulyneededsomething, but there was a comfort in knowing he would answer.

She’d called Luka, who’d assured her he was fine, but his voice had been tight as he’d talked her through her panic. While he’d made her feel a little better, she’d hardly slept, and she’d been exhausted after another day of working extensively with her power. When she did sleep, her dreams were more vivid, everything feeling more real.

As though they weren’t dreams at all.

According to Elowyn, that was the case, and true to his word, Rordan had given her the time and space to do with that knowledge what she would. He’d never once asked her what her plans were. Even when he’d said goodbye this morning, he’d handed her a card containing a number to reach him directly and said he would see her soon back at the Acropolis.

That had been it.

And she didn’t know what to make of it, which seemed to be the story of her life these days. It was strange he’d askednothingof her.

Even knowing how powerful she was.

Even knowing she wasn’t Fae, wasn’t even Legacy.

Even knowing… Well, more than she did.

She didn’t trust any of it, but she was preparing herself for all of Theon’s questions. More than that, she found herselfwantingto talk this through with him. He’d have ideas and theories with these dreams or whatever they were. She knew he would. He’d specifically asked her about her dreams on a phone call, which meant he’d discovered things of his own while she’d been gone.

“Are you worried about going back?” Dex asked, glancing at her bouncing knee.

“No,” she answered absent-mindedly. “Why would I be worried?”

“It is the Arius Kingdom,” Dagian drawled from the bench seat across from her, the two seats facing each other in the back of the vehicle. “Everything about the kingdom is worrisome.”

“Why do you say that?” Tessa asked.

“Surely you know why they were banished in the first place,” he answered.

“I know the history that was taught, but I’ve learned that history is not quite accurate.”

“Don’t you have a private tutor for these matters?”

Tessa shifted, fiddling with the hem of the sweater dress she was wearing. The Acropolis was a little cooler than Faven had been, and she had a jacket draped across her knees. Overall though, the clothing she’d been provided had been quite comfortable and not nearly as formal as she was usually required to wear.

“I do,” she answered. “But I believe there is much she still keeps from me.”

Dagian huffed a derisive laugh. “I am not surprised in the slightest he hired someone ill-suited for the job.”

“Why?”

“Because Theon St. Orcas delights in controlling knowledge. I am sure she keeps much from you on his orders,” Dagian replied, sliding an arm along the back of the seat. Sasha leanedinto him as she continued reading her book, and for all the world, they looked like a couple truly content with each other. They portrayed the exact portrait Theon wanted the world to believe about their own bond.

“That is an accurate statement, I suppose,” Tessa conceded. “So will you tell me?”

Dagian studied her, some kind of approval flickering in his golden eyes. “The Arius Kingdom was sequestered to their corner of the realm because they refused to acknowledge the Revelation Decree, specifically the part about ‘life needing to rule.’ They were given many warnings and chances, but in the end, they still chose to ignore the decree. When it was discovered they were building an army and planned to start a war with the other kingdoms, something had to be done.”

Tessa’s brow furrowed. A war? She’d heard nothing of that.

“The other kingdoms came together and agreed to banish them to their mountains and the Shade Plains. They refused to trade with them, and anything they imported was heavily taxed,” Dagian continued, reciting the history in a bored tone.

“And these armies?” Tessa asked.

“Were dealt with. Many were sentenced to the Underground where they rotted away in the kingdom they made the poor decision to serve.”

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