Page 28 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
All the Matches for Lords, Ladies, and heirs had to be sanctioned by the sitting rulers. It was a way to ensure balance and make sure one kingdom didn’t become more powerful than another. His father had been required to petition for their approval prior to Theon signing the Match contract with Felicity. Had his father initially wanted a different Match of his own, and it had been denied? More than that, how in the realms had they hidden the fact that he wasn’t Cressida’s?
Still holding her wrist, his darkness snapped out, wrapping around her throat once more. She gasped, surprised at the sudden attack. Her other hand slapped onto the desk behind her, searching for something to use against him, but the only thing she found was the paperweight. She threw it at him, but the toss was weak and he easily caught it.
“I will give you a choice, Cressida,” he said, tossing the weight aside. “You can either tell me where my supposed mother is being held, and I will have you locked up somewhere with dailyfood, water, and weekly blood rations. You will be…somewhat comfortable until I can deal with you properly. Or you can continue to keep your leverage to yourself, and I will make sure you are absolutely miserable for the rest of your days.”
Cressida glared at him. “You are not yet the Arius Lord, Theon St. Orcas. You do not have the authority to lock up a Lord’s wife. Someone will come for me.”
“If they can find you,” he said coldly. “Are you willing to wager your comfort on that? The gods know you’ve become accustomed to the finer things Devram has to offer.”
He watched the debate play out in her emerald eyes. Eyes he’d once thought he’d gotten from her. He saw the uncertainty flash, wondering if he was bluffing, and he gave away nothing. Only stared hard and cold back at her.
“You’re wasting my time,” he snapped after several seconds, lifting a hand and letting more of his power appear.
“Wait!” she cried, trying to push off the desk. His darkness shoved her back again, and a small cry escaped her lips.
“I don’t have time to wait, Cressida,” he replied, his power sliding up her throat again.
“I can’t tell you exactly where,” she said, panic entering her voice.
“Then I fail to see what use I have for you at this point.”
“You cannot kill a Lord’s wife!” she tried again.
“You’re incredibly confident for someone who knows the things I was forced to do for said Lord,” he mused.
Inky black skated under her chin, a tendril slipping into her mouth, and she whimpered, feeling the sting of it.
“I cannot tell you! I am bound!” she gasped.
“That Secrecy Mark has faded,” he countered. “You showed me yourself.”
“He keeps her where he keeps all things he does not want found,” she wailed as more darkness slid between her lips, ready to end.
He stilled, taking in her words.
Gods-fucking-dammit.
He knew exactly where she was talking about.
With a flick of his fingers, his power moved once more, wrapping around her wrists and wrenching her arms behind her back. He left the box of books and things sitting on the floor. He’d be back for it in a bit. Now he had something else to take care of.
Fishing his new phone from his pocket, he clicked on one of the few numbers he had stored as he started for the door. His power yanked, dragging Cressida along behind him. He heard her stumble, scrambling to keep her feet under her. The clicking of her shoes told him she was all but running to keep up with him, and he inwardly winced at how often he’d made Tessa do the same in heels.
“Where are you taking me?” Cressida asked. “I told you what I could.”
He didn’t bother looking over his shoulder at her. He didn’t bother even replying to her as he made his way through the house. Not as the call connected.
“Yes?”
“I need a favor,” Theon said, taking the stairs two at a time and not caring if Cressida fell down the damn things.
There was a pause, then a sigh. “You are accruing quite a debt of those.”
“Can you meet me outside Arius House? I need you to hold something for me.”
“Right now? The sun still slumbers, Theon.”
“I wouldn’t ask if?—”
