Page 44 of Rain of Shadows and Endings

“Just for one night, Tessa,” he urged. “For one night, pretend you accepted this. Welcomed it. Just try. For one night.”

She could do that for one night, right? She could try instead of focusing on everything he’d taken from her. She could let the Source bond take control for one night. Her eyes wandered to the Mark on the back of her hand, but Theon drew her back to him before her stare could linger.

“No, beautiful. Keep your eyes on me tonight, yes?” She nodded, not trusting herself to say anything. “And remember what I told you when we arrived: do not speak unless spoken to.”

She nodded again, and Theon took her hand in his, leading her from the dressing room and out into the main living space. Luka and Axel were there and waiting, dressed in suits similar to Theon. Both of them stilled when they entered, sapphire and emerald eyes trailing up and down her body. She felt her cheeks flush at the attention, and her other hand came up involuntarily, clutching at Theon’s arm.

Luka noticed immediately. His gaze bounced back and forth between her and Theon, but he didn’t say anything.

Axel cleared his throat and gestured to the door. “Shall we?”

“Do you need anything before we go?” Theon asked, looking down at her.

She shook her head, and he led her to the door, removing his arm from her hold and settling his hand on her lower back as she stepped through the door in front of him.

“I asked Father if I could move to the east wing as well,” Axel was saying as they traversed the various hallways. Tessa was only half-listening. She had never seen this part of the house. Luka had taken her in through a side entrance, and she hadn’t left Theon’s suite since.

While Theon’s room was modern, the rest of the house felt like she had stepped into some type of dark castle. The walls were all dark stone with pictures lining them. She caught glimpses of dragons and serpents, a landscape of what she assumed was the After; or rather, what the artist envisioned it might look like. Dark red rugs ran the length of the hallways over smooth dark floors, and the windows had dark curtains pulled back. The sun was already setting, and lamps along the walls every few feet emitted low light, casting shadows on the various potted plants spaced along the hall.

“I’m sure Father was very open to the idea,” Theon replied.

“Absolutely. He said he’d have my things moved to new rooms first thing tomorrow.”

“You’re full of shit,” Theon said, guiding Tessa around a corner.

Axel chuckled. “You’re right. He said when I was of age to Select a Source, I could move to that wing. Until then, he didn’t want me in this wing unsupervised.”

Tessa scoffed. “What kind of trouble could you possibly get into out here in the middle of nowhere?”

Three sets of eyes settled on her. She’d already forgotten about the whole not-speaking-unless-spoken-to thing. Fantastic.

“Based on our earlier interactions, I am going to assume you could find trouble at the bottom of a soup can,” Axel teased with a wink.

“That is…possibly accurate,” Tessa conceded with a flash of a small smile.

“Those are stories I would love to hear sometime,” Axel replied.

“You and me both,” Theon said as they approached a large set of dark doors.

The males collectively slowed, and Tessa could feel the tension slither around them. Theon stepped in front of her, sliding a hand to her cheek. “Eyes on me tonight, yes?”

“Yes,” she answered quietly.

He bent and pressed his lips to the top of her head before turning and entering the dining room, leaving Tessa to follow behind like the good little Source she was supposed to be. Valter was already seated at the head of the long table. High-backed cushioned chairs ran down each side. The table could easily seat twenty, more if needed. Cressida was seated to his left, and Eviana stood at his side.

Wait.

Would she be expected to stand beside Theon all night? In these shoes?

“Theon. Luka. How nice of you to join us this evening,” Valter greeted them, a tight smile tilting his lips.

“Your wording left little choice, Father,” Theon replied dryly, going around the table to the chairs at his father’s right. He paused on his way to bend down and press a kiss to Cressida’s cheek. “Good evening, Mother.”

“Theon, you grow more handsome every day, dear,” Cressida crooned, beaming up at her eldest son. As he moved around the table, Axel bent and pressed a kiss to her other cheek before sliding into the chair beside her. Luka took the chair next to Axel.

Tessa dutifully followed Theon, who bypassed the chair directly to his father’s right and took the next one. She paused, unsure of what she was to do. There were two empty place settings still on the table.

“Sit, Tessa,” Theon said, motioning to the chair across from Luka. Tessa moved forward, silently thankful for the direction. As she took her seat, Theon snapped his fingers at a Fae along the wall, and a moment later, a glass of whiskey was placed in his hand.

---