Page 43 of Storm of Secrets and Sorrow

“Normal day until the evening,” Theon answered, watching Tessa from the corner of his eye. She was quiet, and her body language was relaxed. His father had kept him busy this week in constant meetings with various council members. He’d hardly had time to do his research at night, and a part of him wondered if his father even wanted him to figure this out.

Of course he did. This was just another one of his impossible tasks he expected Theon to complete. Failure anywhere along the line would be his own fault, and excuses would not be tolerated.

But with all the business, he hadn’t had much time to talk with Tessa either. They were still taking her to the river in Arius Kingdom every other day to let her power breathe. Her power never lessened, and he didn’t know if that meant it was replenishing itself or if her well of power was just that deep. There had been no other attacks, and on the drives to and from, he answered emails while Tessa stared out the window. With her first lesson with Cordelia looming over her, he hadn’t wanted to add to everything she was feeling by discussing this too.

And now he’d run out of time.

“We won’t have to stay at the Pantheon after this Mark like we did for the first one. We’ll come back here right away.”

“When do you plan to leave for Arius House?” Axel asked between bites.

That had Tessa going rigid. He couldn’t really blame her, but Theon was curious about Arius House making her react that way and not the next Mark.

“First thing the next morning, if we’re all feeling all right.”

They all knew he meant if Tessa was feeling all right.

Tessa took a long drink of her wine before saying, “We’re going back to Arius House?”

Theon nodded, reaching under the table and placing a hand on her knee. She might hate it, but he felt her immediately relax some at the touch as the bond eased some tension. “My father will go back tomorrow. They give us seven days to adjust to the newest Mark. The other Fae will continue their lessons. It’s another reason the Sources have a separate instructor.”

“Seven days,” Tessa murmured.

“Where will I stay while you are away?” Katya asked curiously, Theon noting she was also relaxing the more time passed.

“You’ll be coming with us,” Axel said, scooping more salad into his bowl.

“She will?” Theon asked. “What of her lessons?”

“She’ll be fine missing a week,” Axel replied. “I’m not going to leave her here alone with Ford, and Father demanded it anyway.”

Theon huffed in annoyance. Their father would never want her left alone when the fire Fae wasn’t even supposed to be claimed by a Kingdom other than Anala. But the words that came from Luka’s mouth next had Theon’s fingers tightening around Tessa’s knee.

“He strongly suggested that Kat should spend some time with you, Theon,” Luka added pointedly.

Tessa had stopped eating, her palms flat on the table, and he saw her fingers curl slightly.

“Of course she’ll spend time with him. We’ll all be together,” Axel said tersely.

“Is she to stay in Theon’s rooms?” Tessa asked just as tightly.

“No,” Axel said quickly. “She’ll stay in mine.”

Tessa sat back in her chair, studying Axel as Theon said, “Don’t be stupid. You really think it’s the best idea that she stay in the private wing of Arius House?”

“She can stay with us,” Tessa said with a too casual shrug. “There’s plenty of room.”

“There is not,” Axel said. “The bed in that small space is terrible.”

“I’m aware,” Tessa said dryly.

“I’ll stay with Theon and Tessa. You and Katya can stay in my rooms,” Luka said, standing and taking his dishes with him.

“No,” Tessa said flatly at the same time Axel said, “Really?”

Luka arched a brow. “No? Are you going tofightme on it, little one?” When Tessa only glared at him, he smirked. “That’s what I thought.”

“Eat, Tessa,” Theon said after Luka left and she hadn’t picked up her fork again.

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