Page 246 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
“It…changed them more,” Eviana tried. “Made them more determined to overthrow him.”
“It will never work. The whole of Devram would need to fall for anything to change,” Caris said, reaching for her book and turning back to her paltry dinner. A dismissal if Eviana had ever seen one.
“They aren’t alone,” Eviana blurted. “They… Theon has fallen for someone. Chosen her against Valter’s wishes, and she is changing things. It has caused division among the kingdoms.”
“Nothing will change in Devram unless the gods come and destroy it all to start anew,” Caris said again. “Good night, Eviana.”
“Not the gods, but what of Chaos?”
Caris stilled, slowly setting down the soup spoon she’d picked up. Moving the book aside once more, she turned back to Eviana. “You speak of the Revelation Decree.”
“I do,” Eviana answered, not sure how this was going to convince Caris to help her. She just needed to find a bargaining chip.Somethingto entice her.
“That is not really a decree,” Caris went on.
“Theon figured that out early on. He was only in his adolescent years when he started digging into it. Initially, Valterwas happy, but Theon became preoccupied with it,” Eviana said, and as she spoke, Caris leaned forward imperceptibly. Almost as if she was hanging on to every word.
“Pen was from the Falein Estate,” Caris said softly.
“I know.”
“She would have encouraged his love of academics.”
“She did,” Eviana confirmed. “Something Valter was often irritated with her for when it interfered with what he wanted Theon focused on. Theon can be…obsessive.”
“And all of this relates to Chaos how?”
“That obsession carries over to his personal relationships,” Eviana said. “The female he has fallen for was to be his Source, but she is not Fae. Hidden in the realm, she is the granddaughter of Arius and Achaz. Both.”
Caris’s brow furrowed. “Beginnings and endings cannot be in one.”
“But they are, and more. I do not understand it all as it is not my place, but her magic is Chaos itself,” Eviana continued. “She is the most powerful being in Devram, and she will bring the realm to its knees. She has already destroyed the Pantheon, and I am told Theon is now at her side once more.”
“And you? Where are you in all this?” Caris asked, crossing one leg over the other and resting her chin in her hand.
“What do you mean?”
Her smile was sharp. “I watched you with him for years, Eviana. Endured torture at your hand while cut off from my power. For decades, I have not been able to touch it.” Her emerald gaze darted to her wrists. “But you understand that some, I suppose.”
“It’s been days for me. Not decades,” Eviana deadpanned.
Her smile didn’t falter. “But it is still driving you mad.”
“How are you not?”
“Pen helped me learn to endure it long ago,” she answered, her smile turning dark and cold. “I had to endure many things, thanks to you and Valter. Forced to conceive a child against my will. Watch another claim my child as her own. Care for my son and be unable to tell him who I was.”
“I was…” Eviana trailed off, understanding the pain of what she was describing.
“Just trying to survive,” Caris supplied.
Eviana nodded, holding her stare. “But more and more I find myself wondering why I bothered.”
“Why did you?”
Silence hung in the air as she debated what to say. For seven years she’d kept this secret. No one knew about Priya, and it was part of keeping her safe. And yes, Priya was why she was here, trying to gain Caris’s trust to begin with, but she suddenly felt like she was telling her secrets to everyone. Tessa knew. She could assume she’d told Theon and Luka. Corbin. Lange. The more people who knew, the more she would be used against her. Caris wasn’t the only one who had a rightful grudge against her.
Finally, Eviana said, “If I was gone, he would just do the same to someone else.”
