Page 329 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
“Use this,” he said, a ball of darkness forming in his palm.
The hounds had been excited before, but now they were yipping and prancing about.
“Show off,” she huffed, reaching for the mass of magic.
She chucked it, and the hounds took off, racing to be the first to retrieve it.
“Are you worried about how today will go?” Theon asked, Tessa shoving her hands into the pockets of her jacket.
“No,” she replied, smiling as the hounds came tearing back, Rigel with the prize.
“Then…?”
“I just wanted to ask Caris some questions,” she said. “That’s all. Are you ready to go?”
She turned to look up at him, her smile a little too bright. He cupped her cheek and leaned in, running the tip of his nose along the length of hers. “You are keeping something from us, little storm,” he murmured.
“Not really,” she replied. “Just… We’ll talk about it after the Tribunals. We have long days ahead.”
He was in his suit, and she was in a dress beneath her coat. Everyone else was meeting them at the Acropolis. So for now, he let it go.
Tessa Traveled them, and they strode up the steps of the brick building hand in hand. They’d needed something large enough to hold all the people who would be attending, and an academy in the western part of the Acropolis ended up being the best option.
They were led to an auditorium, where Tessa, Luka, and Theon joined Axel, the Ladies, their heirs, and several others at the front. The seats were full, and not just with Legacy. Fae. Night Children. Witches. Shifters. Even some mortals were here. Which was good. If this was going to be successful, everyone needed to feel they were part of the process.
Everyone took a seat behind the tables that were facing the crowd. Not in grand thrones, but simple chairs, and the room fell silent.
“I guess we should start with how we want the kingdoms to be run going forward,” Theon said, unbuttoning his suit jacket and settling back into his chair. “All ideas are welcome. There are microphones throughout the room for anyone to use. We’re in for a long several days, so let’s get going.”
“The most powerful of a bloodline will no longer be the sole leader of a kingdom,” Tessa said simply, speaking into the microphone before her on the table.
“Then who will?” the Celeste Lady asked. “The reason the most powerful has maintained that seat of power was for protection, yes. But it was also for simplicity.”
“And even then, it often took hours or days for the six rulers to come to agreements,” the Serafina Lady chimed in.
“So we maintain a primary Lord or Lady for each kingdom,” Theon suggested. “Only they are accountable to a Council within their kingdom.”
“A Council of more than just Legacy,” Tessa added. “Fae need to be included. Mortals.” She glanced to her left where Axel was sitting. “And those from the Underground who wish to rejoin the kingdoms.”
Arguments and debates went back and forth on the subject for the next few hours until most of the details were agreed to.
“One primary Lord or Lady for each kingdom,” Theon was saying. “Councils will include three Fae, three Legacy, a Witch, a Shifter, a Night Child, and a mortal. Elections can be held, and we can figure out the details down the road. We need interim leaders for now.”
“I suppose Tessa is simply going to maintain her place in both the Achaz and Arius Kingdoms?” the Serafina Heir asked, and Theon hid his smirk. The Ladies may have come to terms with things, but the heirs were still adjusting to undoing years of learned animosity.
“Actually, no,” Tessa said simply. “There isn’t really another option for the Achaz Kingdom at this time, but there is a better option for the Arius Kingdom.”
“Theon?” asked the Anala Heir.
“Axel,” Tessa replied.
“Wait, what?” Axel asked, lurching forward in his seat. “Tessa, what are you talking about? I don’t even have magic anymore.”
“No, but your wife does,” she said with a smile. “A Night Child and a Fae leading the Arius Kingdom seems fine to me. You are prominent in the Underground and have more than proven your loyalty.”
“But he’s not the most powerful Arius Legacy,” the Falein Lady cut in. “Which is what we just determined would dictate who would hold that seat.”
That was true. The heirs would assume their seats as Ladies of the Celeste, Falein, Anala, and Serafina Kingdoms. Tessa couldn’t lead both Arius and Achaz though. It would stretch her too thin, and while Theon could go back to Arius Kingdom, he didn’t want to split his time and focus. He would stay with Tessa, and so would Luka.
