Page 259 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
He gave her a frank look that said he didn’t believe her, but he let it go. Perhaps another birthday gift, but she knew he’d be back to push about it later. They both would.
“So Valter is next?” she asked, attempting to change the subject.
“Looks like it,” Theon said. “We’ll have to figure out exactly where the holdings are and then go from there.”
“Bree told us, and I can get us past the wards. After that, it’s just facing him. Between all of us, it shouldn’t be too difficult, right?”
“Depends on what he’s pulled together to control us with,” Theon answered.
“What do you mean?”
He shrugged. “He’ll have a threat, Tessa. It used to be harming Axel. It’s why Pen and Caris died. He has my mother there, and there’s still Maddox to think about. If this goes wrong, and he wants vengeance, he’ll go after him first.”
“It’s his grandchild,” she said, although she wasn’t sure why that would matter. Her grandparents were gods, and one wouldn’t hesitate to kill her.
“That is part Fae,” Theon said.
Fair point.
They fell silent, each of them eating and getting lost in their own thoughts. She was just rinsing her plate and dreaming about the shower she was about to take when a knock sounded again. Looking at Theon, she arched a brow, but he just shrugged while Luka went to get the door.
“Sorry to interrupt, but there is someone at the door for the Arius Lady,” the male said.
“For me?” Tessa asked in surprise.
He nodded. “He said it’s a matter of urgency, and that you’ve been expecting him.”
“Who is it?” Theon asked.
“Dagian Jove, sir.”
The three of them looked at one another, and then they were all rushing to the foyer. Dagian was there with Sasha, and when her brown eyes fell on Tessa, they flashed in relief.
“Sasha,” Tessa greeted, Theon and Luka flanking her on either side. Then she turned to the Achaz Heir. “Dagian.”
He nodded once, his features tight and hard. “I got it, but he knows. I can’t return home.”
Tessa glanced up at Theon. “They can stay here, right?”
When Theon didn’t say anything, Dagian scowled. “We made a bargain, St. Orcas. Besides, isn’tshethe Arius Lady now?”
“She is, but she is still ours to protect.”
“Sasha?” Tessa asked, watching the Fae.
She glanced at Dagian, clearly looking for permission. When he nodded, she said, “He’s not lying. We cannot return to Achaz Kingdom. In fact, I suspect the Achaz Lord will be on your doorstep before long.”
“Looking for you,” Theon said coldly.
“And you,” Dagian shot back. “You are the one who asked me to get this stupid thing.”
He tossed something to them, and Luka’s hand shot out, catching the ring.
“He did bring it here,” Tessa said.
“So we just trust him now?” Theon argued.
She looked back at the Achaz Heir. He appeared thinner. His cheeks a little more hollow. She didn’t want to know what he’d had to sacrifice for that ring, but whatever it was, it clearly haunted him. Something she knew all too well.
