Page 221 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
“Right.”
“We do not have a child,” Tristyn said tightly. “It’s complicated, but the long story short is that it’s forbidden.”
Tessa hummed, seeing Theon glance at her with a small frown.
“Where is Tessa?”
She jerked upright at the familiar voice.
“Tessa—” Theon started, but she was already running, racing from the kitchen and to the foyer.
She didn’t slow when she saw them, leaping into Lange’s arms and wrapping herself around him in a tight hug.
“By the gods, I’ve been so worried about you,” she murmured. She squeezed him another few seconds beforepulling back and dropping to her feet to go to Corbin. The male embraced her, kissing her cheek as she stepped back.
They looked…exhausted and a little haunted. She peered around them, searching for another.
“Where is Eviana?” she asked slowly.
“That’s why we’re here,” Corbin said. “But first…”
He hesitated as if unsure if he should ask, but Lange said, “We haven’t had a proper meal in months.”
“Of course,” Tessa said, turning and leading them back to the kitchen, everyone following.
She started pulling food from the fridge, needing something to do with her hands, and as Luka helped her make sandwiches, she asked, “How did you get here?”
“It hasn’t been easy. We’ve been traveling for weeks,” Corbin said.
“Two Fae traveling by themselves without proper paperwork,” Lange added, refilling his glass of water after drinking the first in a few gulps. “I still don’t know how we made it.”
“Traveling from Arius Kingdom?” Theon asked with a frown, arms crossed over his chest.
“No,” Lange answered around a bite of bread he’d swiped. Gods, whenhadthey eaten last? “We came from Serafina Kingdom.”
Luka stilled, the knife still in the mayo jar as he looked up. “What were you doing there?”
“She made us go with her,” Lange answered. “Spent weeks in the Dreamlock Woods.”
“And survived?” Theon asked, the shock evident.
Lange arched a brow. “Obviously.”
“Lange,” Corbin hissed, nudging him with his elbow. “He’s still the Arius Heir.”
“Actually,she’sthe AriusLady,” Theon said with a small smile and a nod at Tessa.
“Oh my gods,” she grumbled, returning to making the sandwiches.
“Wait, really?” Lange asked, sitting taller on his stool.
“I guess,” she mumbled, passing a plate over to him.
“That’s great news, Tess,” he said, picking up the sandwich. “You can help us get Eviana back.”
“Where is she?” Tessa asked again, sliding another plate to Corbin.
“We don’t know,” Corbin said grimly. “But we know who she’s with,” he added, his gaze sliding to Theon.
