Page 272 of Storm of Secrets and Sorrow

It wasn’t until he felt his friend’s utter heartbreak and ruin that he’d Traveled to Arius House and found him.

“How long have you been on the bathroom floor?” Luka asked, taking a seat on the vanity stool just as he’d done when he’d watched Tessa in this same position.

“Since she left,” Theon rasped, heaving himself up so he was leaning against the wall. “Had to fucking crawl to get in here.”

“Did she stay to watch that? I imagine it is something she would have enjoyed.”

Theon said nothing. Only lifted his middle finger, tipping his head back against the wall.

Luka leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he clasped his hands in front of him. “What happened?”

Theon didn’t speak for a long time, and Luka knew him well enough to know he was collecting his thoughts. Funny he never figured out Tessa needed the same courtesy.

“You were right all along,” Theon finally said.

“Right about what?”

“She wasn’t the one for this, and because I tried to force her to be, I’ve brought about the very thing we were trying to prevent.”

“What are you talking about?” Luka asked, sitting up straighter.

Emerald eyes met his, fractured and broken. “We thought if we overthrew my father, things would be better. We didn’t want Devram like he did. We just wanted our kingdom and the Underground. That’s all we ever wanted, but it’s always been about so much more.”

“Theon…”

“My father isn’t the only one who wants the realm. The Augury has been right all along.”

“The Augury is a bunch of eccentric zealots,” Luka said.

Theon shook his head, but then winced, his eyes darting to the toilet as if he was debating whether or not he was going to vomit again. “They’re extremists, yes, but their beliefs about the Revelation Decree and what it truly means are not. I’ve always said it’s a prophecy or omen of some kind.” He lifted his gaze to Luka’s again. “It’s always been about her. It’s always been part of something bigger, and she’s a major player without realizing it.”

“How can you possibly figure that?” Luka demanded as Theon struggled to articulate his thoughts.

“Because she is the granddaughter of Arius, yes, but she is also a direct descendant of Achaz. She’s both. Light and dark. Beginnings and endings.”

“But the Witch heritage,” Luka argued.

“I translated some old texts. If it is correct, Achaz had a child with one of Zinta’s daughters.”

“And you think Tessa is this daughter?” Luka shook his head. “I’m dying to hear how you made that leap.”

“I don’t know if she’s that daughter, but Tessa has to be a descendant. Arius and Serafina. Achaz and Zinta. All four,” Theon said flatly, face pale and eyes rimmed in red. “She’s not a Legacy. She’s too powerful. Cienna said she may as well be a god. All power comes from Chaos; she has more than anyone in Devram. Tessa may as well be Chaos, and she now sides with Achaz.”

“Did she say that?” Luka snapped, getting to his feet. To do what? He wasn’t sure, so he started pacing in the small space.

Theon shook his head again. “No, but it all fits. The Decree was a prophecy given to ensure Devram didn’t fall. The first ruling Lords and Ladies decided the Decree was meant to govern the realm. It became what it is today over time, but that was never the original intention of the Decree.”

How many times had Luka listened to Theon go on and on about this theory? Too many times to count. So many times, Luka and Axel eventually started turning up the Chaosphere games they’d be watching to drown him out. Eventually, he’d stopped talking to them about it. He recognized this had played a minor role in Theon’s need to have things figured out and sorted before filling everyone else in, but fuck. This was still so ludicrous, and yet after talking with Tristyn, it wasn’t as far-fetched as he’d once believed.

“None of this explains why you think it’s connected to Tessa,” Luka said.

“She’s bringing war to Devram,” Theon replied. “There are too many coincidences for her not to be connected to it all. I don’t know how. I’m still working on it, but she’ll play a role. And I…” His throat bobbed as he swallowed, wincing at the action. “I just lost her.”

Luka slid his phone from his pocket. “Have you heard from Axel?”

Theon shook his head. “Not since he stormed out of my room at the townhouse.”

Luka’s brows furrowed. “He’s not here? When did he leave the townhouse?”

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