Page 160 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
Luka’s gaze was also on the closed bathroom door. “You’re fine with this? Truly, Theon?”
“Is it what I envisioned? No,” Theon answered honestly. “But none of this is. I thought I’d have a submissive Source that Icould draw from to take down my father and be able to focus on our kingdom. Instead, we have this mouthy thing of chaos, who pushes back every chance she gets and is bringing the godsdamn realm to ruin.”
Luka huffed a dark laugh. “I thought you’d get your Source and take over the Arius Kingdom. We’d take care of our own. Eventually you’d take a Match and so would I because it’s tradition and required of us. Decades from now, we’d have children. Instead, Axel will be a father in a few months, and we’re…sharing.”
“Instead we’re sharing,” Theon echoed. When Luka didn’t say anything, he ventured, “Does that mean you’re accepting her stipulations?”
Luka sighed, setting his mug beside Tessa’s where he’d placed it on the bedside table. Grabbing a hair tie, he pulled his hair back, securing it as he said, “A part of me wanted to rip her away from you when you kissed her.”
“And the other part?”
“Wanted to join you,” he replied, his voice low and thick with want. “I know we’ve shared in the past. I just never thought we’d end up keeping the same female.”
They had shared in the past. Not often. A night here and there, usually after a brutal bout with his father when they were just trying to escape the reality of their fucked up lives. He supposed that was no different from the way Tessa would often try to drown herself in sex or alcohol for the same reason.
But maybe, in a way, it was all leading up to this in the end. He couldn’t believe he was admitting it, but maybe the Fates had orchestrated something new and chaotic. Maybe all the little things had been leading up to and preparing them for this. Maybe it’d become a way out for all of them if they could figure out how to claim it. How to balance Tessa. How to redeemDevram. How two fiercely possessive beings could suddenly share something they both coveted and would shed blood for.
“Are you going to tell her?” Theon finally asked, glancing at Luka as he stood, picking up the coffee cups.
“Eventually,” Luka said. “First, I need to shower.”
“Tessa’s showering,” Theon said, extracting himself from the blankets. He’d heard the shower water turn on a moment ago.
“I know,” Luka said, and Theon paused before he smirked. He was about to say something in return when there was a knock on the door and Axel poked his head in.
He scanned the room before he said, “Thank the gods. I didn’t know what I was going to walk in on with the three of you. It could have been nudity or bloodshed. Or both.”
“Fuck off, Axel,” Theon said, moving toward the dresser where he’d returned all the clothing Tessa had packed into a bag. Thinking she would sleep on the sofa. As if he wouldn’t throw her over his shoulder and haul her right back up here. “Need something?” he asked his brother.
“I don’t, but Dagian does,” Axel replied nonchalantly.
Theon whirled, Luka straightening. “Dagian? Dagian Jove?” Theon asked.
“The one and only. Sent a note asking to meet with you,” Axel said, pulling a piece of paper from his pocket.
“Just Dagian?” Theon asked, grabbing the paper and skimming the words.
“Sounds like it. What do you want me to do?”
Theon glanced at Luka, then to the bathroom door. They were here. The Underground was their domain. If it was just the Achaz Heir…
“Set it up,” Theon said.
“Are we sure sending Razik and Eliza to collect him was a good idea?” Axel asked where he was standing near Kat, who was seated on the sofa.
“Yes,” Theon answered. “No one knows who they are. If we’d sent Tristyn or Xan, they’re easily recognizable and known well by the Achaz Kingdom. Until the Pantheon, Razik and Eliza being here was kept quiet.”
“Yeah, but that’s the point. Theywereseen when the Pantheon was demolished.”
“It was our best bet,” Theon said, watching Tessa, who was pacing back and forth a few feet away.
“How did he get here so fast? He just sent that request yesterday,” she murmured, hands constantly drifting to her hair, but she’d stop herself before she touched the strands.
“He was insistent when I spoke to him,” Axel offered.
“It’s a trap.”
He shrugged. “Probably.”
