Page 265 of Storm of Secrets and Sorrow

She peered over her shoulder at him. “It is a story of beginnings and endings.”

“And where did you hear this story?” he asked cautiously.

“In my dreams.”

“In a vision?”

She shrugged, reaching out as if she was going to touch the glass of the fireplace but stopped just short. “There was an agreement between beginnings and endings.”

“Achaz and Arius,” Theon clarified, trying to figure out where she was going with this.

“They were the perfect balance, and they were entrusted to keep that balance. They failed. Or rather, endings failed.”

She wasn’t looking at him, but rather had her attention fixed on the fire.

“He betrayed them all,” she said.

“Arius?”

She nodded. “He betrayed all the gods, all the beings born of Chaos, when he took what did not belong to him.” She looked over her shoulder again, violet-grey eyes connecting with his. “A sin his bloodline continues to commit.”

“Then what does that make you, Tessa?” Theon countered.

“Hush,” she snapped. “I’m not done with my story.”

“My apologies. Please continue,” he drawled.

She rolled her eyes, and something in his soul settled at seeing some of her snark peek through whatever this was.

“As if you know how to apologize for anything,” she retorted. “If I recall, you don’t show remorse.”

He stepped towards her, heat flooding through him as he watched her breath hitch the smallest amount. This is where they thrived. The push and pull. The constant battle of wills.

“I’ll never regret anything that led to this, beautiful.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Can I continue my story now?”

“By all means,” Theon said, edging closer still, smiling to himself when she didn’t step away from him.

“Arius took what did not belong to him, and because of that, a war that was meant to end continued.”

That had him pausing. “The Everlasting War?”

“They upset the balance. They could have ended one war, and instead started another. And now they must pay the price to right it.”

“Who are they?”

“Arius and Serafina.”

“Then what does that make you?” he asked again.

She smiled again, the smallest tilt of her lips. “Shh, Theon. I’m not done.” When he only nodded, she went on. “They created life together, something forbidden for the Firsts. They kept their sins a secret. So many secrets locked away. But secrets still have consequences. They tipped the balance too far, and because of that, destinies were changed.”

Theon waited for her to go on, and when she didn’t, he asked, “Is that it?”

“Mhmm.”

“Beautiful, that was a terrible story.”

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