Page 174 of Rain of Shadows and Endings

“My father believes we have been forced to the far corner of the realm long enough. He wishes to seize control of Devram,” Theon answered.

“You cannot speak so cavalierly about overthrowing the other kingdoms, Theon,” Tessa hissed, her voice low and quiet as though she were afraid of being overheard. Then her eyes went wide, and Theon was glad he was still holding her juice glass when her hands landed on the table. “Wait. Is that what you need my help with? Aiding your father in taking over the realm?”

“Yes and no,” he said, setting the juice aside and wiping his hands on his napkin.

A laugh of disbelief left her. “You said when you ran Arius Kingdom, I could have my own wing and be rid of you, but if your father succeeds, you will not run Arius Kingdom. You will be heir to the realm.” She sat back in her chair, and Theon didn’t need to know her at all to read the fury in her eyes. “You played me.”

Theon said nothing, sipping at his coffee. She was only partially correct, but she didn’t need to know that yet. Couldn’t know that yet. Not until the bond was in place could he fully trust her with all of their plans.

“What about the Revelation Decree?” she demanded. “It clearly states that the Achaz Kingdom must rule.”

“As Axel said, the Decree is open to interpretation.”

“How else do you interpret ‘For Dark must bow, And Light must rule?’”

“We prefer to focus on the ‘Life must give, And Death must take’ portion of the Decree.”

Tessa only blinked at him, for once at a loss for words.

“We will have plenty of time to discuss the Decree and what it may or may not mean,” Theon added, frowning at her plate. She’d only eaten a waffle and a few bites of fruit. “You should eat more.”

“I’m not hungry,” she stammered, sitting back in her chair.

“We have time. There is more we need to go over.”

“More?”

“We will resume your morning runs, and then you will train with Luka for two hours every morning,” Theon said, cutting into his sausage and taking a bite.

She glanced quickly at Luka. “What do you mean train with Luka?”

“Physical training. Combat training—”

“Combat training?”

“You need to learn to protect yourself, Tessa,” Theon said. “Metias and Pavil will not be the last ones to come for you, despite the obvious threats and consequences of such actions. While you are to always be with us, things happen that—”

“Things happen,” she said, interrupting him yet again, and it had him setting his silverware down sharply on the table. “What does that even mean?”

He turned to lean towards her, and he heard her sharp inhale at the action. “It means, little storm, that if Luka, Axel, and I can gain private access to someone’s Source, then someone can get access to mine, even with every precaution in place.”

She lurched back from him. “You’ve… But the Accords—”

“To many, the Accords are simply pretty words meant to make the realm feel safe and protected.”

“But not to the Arius Kingdom?”

The cruel grin returned. “Beautiful, if you think Arius Kingdom is the only one that operates outside the Accords and makes deals in the shadows, you are sorely mistaken. Some would argue that the other kingdoms can be even more cunning and ruthless. Personally, I think they tell themselves that for a sense of security because they still send their cursed to the Underground, so I think that proves which kingdom is feared the most.”

“And you believe that being the most cunning and wicked is something to boast about?” she challenged, leaning in towards him once more, that spark of defiance flashing in her eyes.

Theon reached over, tucking her hair behind her ear. “You will learn soon enough that being the most cunning and wicked is the only way to survive in a realm of villains, little storm.”

For several minutes, the only sound was silverware and chewing as the males finished their breakfasts. Tessa was silent, absent-mindedly eating pieces of fruit, and he let her sit with her thoughts. He wasn’t stupid. She might not have the wicked part down yet, but the cunning part of survival?

Tessa was more cunning than anyone realized. Her type of cunning was the most dangerous.

She cleared her throat when they were all finishing up their meals. “Is there anything else I need to be aware of?”

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