Page 163 of Rain of Shadows and Endings

“We are a very private kingdom, Tessa.”

“The Priestess who did my assessment?”

Theon shook his head. “No. She may work in our kingdom. But like every other Zinta Legacy, she is first and foremost loyal to her bloodline, and the Zinta bloodline is loyal to the Achaz Kingdom. She took a blood vow regarding your assessment, but we would still never trust them with something like this.”

Her brow furrowed. “Then who would have given the Mark?”

“A Witch.”

Her eyes flew wide as she stared up at Theon. “A Witch? But they are banished to the…” She trailed off, horror filling her grey eyes as she whispered, “The Witches are confined to the Underground.”

Theon nodded. “They are.”

“You went to the Underground for this Guardian Mark.”

“Do you know where the Underground is located, Tessa?”

She shook her head. “No one knows where the Underground is. Only that you do not wish to find out.”

A dark smile tilted on his lips. “For some, that is certainly the case.”

He saw her throat bob as she swallowed, edging away from him the smallest amount. “And for others?”

“For others, it is a place to find what they need.”

He watched her debate her next question. Saw the resolve fill her eyes before she asked. “Where is the Underground, Theon?”

“In the northern part of the Arius Kingdom. Beneath the Ozul Mountains.”

“The Arius Kingdom controls the Underground?”

“I don’t know that control would be the best word choice, but we oversee it, yes,” Theon confirmed.

Tessa went quiet, turning to look out the window, but she didn’t move any further from him. Not like he’d expected her to. They were all quiet, waiting to see what she said next. This was information she would have been learning soon enough. He didn’t think it’d be like this, with her still resisting the bond, but they were out of time. Along with everything she’d be doing at the Acropolis, she’d be getting detailed history lessons from them on the Arius Kingdom. She may not have to go through the Selection process and trials like the other Fae, but she would be just as busy.

“Do you go there often?” she finally asked.

“Not as much as Luka and Axel do,” he answered.

Her eyes darted to the others. Both of the males were staring ahead, letting Theon tell her what he wanted her to know for the moment.

“Why do they go there?”

“Sometimes on business for my father.”

“And other times?”

“Business of our own.” She turned away to look out the window again, but not before he saw the flash of acceptance on her face. When she didn’t ask another question, he found himself adding, “There are things I need to share with you—things I will share with you—but I would prefer to do so later tonight. Once we are settled.”

Tessa only nodded, her attention now fixed out the window.

After several minutes of silence, Axel said, “Luka can breathe fire.”

“What?” Tessa’s head swung to him, her eyes wide, and she was once again leaning between the front seats. “You can breathe fire?”

Luka threw Axel an irritated glare, but he answered her. “I can breathe fire, but it drains my magic reserves faster.”

“How long does it take to refill your reserves?” Tessa asked, reaching forward to take a doughnut Axel was handing to her.

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