Page 171 of Rain of Shadows and Endings

He’d pushed her to take this call so he could observe her with them, and he’d seen enough the moment she’d winced. He was about to go out there and end that godsdamn call himself, but he stopped when he heard—

“Fuck off, Dex. Give me the phone,” Lange said.

“Tessa, you can do this. We’ve survived worse,” came Corbin’s voice.

“But I was with all of you,” she whispered.

“We’re always with you,” Corbin said. “Is it like two years ago?”

Two years ago? What the fuck happened two years ago?

“Some days,” Tessa answered, and Theon could see a tear slipping down her cheek in the mirror.

“You’re a survivor, Tessa,” Corbin said.

“What if I don’t want to be one anymore?”

Theon stiffened at the words. This wasn’t the first time she’d spoken this way. She’d basically told them she’d attempted to take her own life, but Fae were like Legacy in that a simple dagger wouldn’t do it.

“You can shatter, Tessa,” Corbin said solemnly. “We’ll put the pieces back together just like we’ve always done.”

“What if there’s nothing left of me?” she asked, tears coursing down her face now.

“Then we’ll help you find yourself again. Just like before. Just like you’ve done for us.”

“You can do this, sweetheart,” Lange chimed in.

“They’re right, Tessie,” came Dex’s voice. “I’m sorry about what I said. I just… I’m worried about you.”

Theon moved then, appearing in the doorway of the closet and leaning against the doorjamb. Tessa glanced at him, swiftly wiping at her face.

“I have to go,” she said.

“We’ll find you. At the Emerging Ceremony, if not sooner,” Dex said. “Even if we can’t speak, we’ll see you. In person.”

“Tell Brecken hi. And Kat too.”

“We will.”

Then she quickly cut the call, tossing Theon’s phone onto the sofa cushion. She stared straight ahead, her hands resting on her knees where his phone had been.

She didn’t speak another word the rest of the night.

32

THEON

She was back on the balcony this morning, a mug of coffee clutched in her palms. Already showered and dressed, she was wearing a casual long-sleeve dress with some basic heels. Pen had set the outfit out when Theon had asked her to pick something simple yet classy for a day of meetings and preparations.

Tessa had slipped into bed without fuss last night. Theon had stayed up another few hours, sipping on a glass of liquor and going through correspondence. He’d wanted to research the phenomena with Tessa’s eyes, but, of course, shit was happening in the Underground now that he was here. There were three urgent messages from Bohden that his father had forwarded to him to “handle.”

Just like he’d been sent to handle the Selection.

To handle the other heirs.

And after handling the situations, he’d been too exhausted to look into the Fae elements anymore.

Sighing, he finished knotting his tie before he rolled back the sleeves of his shirt. He’d need to wear his suit jacket later, but for now, breakfast was ready and Tessa needed to eat.

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