Page 76 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
The Serafina Lady’s eyes were narrowed on Rordan. “We have lost the Sirana Villas, the Pantheon, the Tribunal, and the trust of our kingdoms while she has been in your care.”
Two kingdoms that had always been steadfastly loyal to one another now on opposite sides.
All because of Tessa.
“And his people experienced a massacre of their own while under his care,” Rordan argued.
“Because ofher. While she wasyourresponsibility,” Lady Isleen snapped. She turned to the Celeste Lady. “Luna?”
The Celeste Lady appeared to hesitate, weighing her words, before she said, “We do have duties to our kingdoms to protect them. Their trust is how we maintain control, and we are losing that trust rapidly.”
“Because of her,” the Serafina Lady interjected. “Because no one can control her.”
“But there were not massacres or buildings being destroyed when she was with Theon,” the Falein Lady offered.
“Is that enough to offer him our blessing to proceed?” the Celeste Lady asked, looking among the Ladies, and Theon couldn’t help but notice they weren’t including Rordan in the discussion anymore. But they should be. Without his vote, none of this would matter.
“And what are we to do with Valter when he returns?” the Serafina Lady posed.
“He would have to answer for his absence and face such consequences,” Kyra said simply. “But if Theon is the one caring for their kingdom while Valter has seemingly disappeared, then concerns and meetings should involve him. Not Valter.”
“That is logical,” Lady Farhan agreed.
“And it is still his bloodline,” the Celeste Lady mused.
“But he doesn’t have a Source,” Rordan cut in, his knuckles white where they clenched the arms of his chair. “We are giving an heir without a Source a seat? Anyone could overthrow him.”
“Then I guess if Valter wants his seat back, that’s what he’d need to do,” Kyra said. “Besides, he does still technically have a Source.”
“So we are making him a Lordandgiving him the female?” Rordan demanded.
“Tessa,” Theon interjected. “She has a fucking name.”
At that, Rordan’s golden gaze slid to him, and Theon knew that smile all too well. That was the smile of someone who was about to play a winning card or move a chess piece into checkmate.
“He has a Source, but what of a Match?” Rordan said.
“He has a Match,” the Celeste Lady said, a crease appearing in her brow.
“But it is not official,” Rordan countered. “A Match Ceremony has not occurred.”
“It is a Selection Year,” Theon retorted, struggling to keep his darkness in check.
“If we are making exceptions for you to take a kingdom seat, then surely we can make an exception here as well.”
“What does me taking a Match have to do with any of this?”
“It is a sign you take your role seriously. A wife to produce an heir to keep the bloodline going, and by extension, the protection of your kingdom,” the Achaz Lord said with a smile. “We all had Matches before we took our seats. Am I incorrect, Ladies?”
“He is not,” the Falein Lady said. “But that is easily rectified if we are all in agreement.”
“Wait,” Theon said, forcing himself to stay seated and not lurch to his feet.
But what was his argument here? How was he supposed to argue against moving forward with his Match Contract? Especially with a fucking Bargain Mark still on his skin?
And when he locked eyes with Rordan once more, the Lord knew he had him backed into a corner.
“That is my stipulation,” the Achaz Lord said. “I will agree to Theon taking over as the Arius Lord as soon as his Match Contract is fulfilled and he has a wife.”
