Page 61 of Rain of Shadows and Endings

The knock came again, sharper and more demanding

“Theon,” Valter called from behind the door.

This time Tessa stepped back from him, feeling the color drain from her face.

Theon swore again, more colorfully than before. “Stay in here, Tessa. Do not come out to the main room. Do you understand?” She nodded mutely, gaze flashing to the door. “I’m going to need verbal acknowledgement.”

“Yes,” she whispered. “Yes, I understand.”

“We’ll continue this discussion in a moment.” His eyes lingered on her, but when Valter pounded on the door again, he hollered, “Coming, Father,” before turning and swiftly moving to let his father in. He pulled the bedroom door shut behind him.

Tessa turned and went back to the armchair, pulling her legs to her chest. She reached for her coffee, but it had grown cold.

“Good morning, Father,” she heard Theon say. “What can I do for you at this hour?”

“You can start by answering the door the first time I knock,” Valter answered, obvious annoyance in his tone.

“I apologize, Father. I wasn’t expecting you, let alone so early in the morning,” Theon replied.

“I came by yesterday afternoon, but you were not here. Axel said you’d gone for a hunt with Luka and taken your Source with you,” Valter answered.

“That is true. Why were you looking for me?”

“I realized after our meeting with Metias and Pavil, I never gave you these to look over.” There was a pause before Valter continued. “There are several options here, but I tagged the three I think would be most fruitful when it comes to heir production. Of course, I’m getting more offers every day, so something better could still come along.”

And there it was. One of the many reasons she couldn’t simply give in to the bond. Theon would be Matched with someone. He would have to take a wife to produce the next Arius Heir.

You and me.

That’s what he’d whispered into her ear moments ago. But it would never be just him and her. It was just as she’d realized on the floor at dinner. She would be his, but he would never be hers. She might not want him, but this couldn’t even be something to simply satisfy the bond. Theon would never let her seek out some form of companionship with someone else. That was becoming glaringly obvious.

“I will look over these later, but you could have simply forwarded them to me,” Theon was saying. “Is there anything else you need?”

“Where is your Source?” Valter asked, and Tessa went still as footsteps neared the bedroom door. “Don’t tell me she still sleeps while you are awake?”

“She is awake, Father. However, we were both still in the bedroom,” Theon answered.

Valter chuckled, clearly assuming he meant they were both in the bed together. “I suppose I can forgive the delay in answering the door this one time then. But next time I expect the door to be opened the first time I knock, whether you are fucking your Source or not.”

“Understood, Father.”

“I’ll let you get back to her then,” Valter answered, footsteps fading away from the door. Tessa let out a long breath. “I’ll expect you at dinner tonight.” Before Theon could reply, he added, “You leave for the Acropolis next week. Your mother is going into hysterics. Expect family dinners for the remainder of your time here.”

Tessa heard Theon agree, and she tipped her head back in dread, closing her eyes. She didn’t know when they were leaving for the Acropolis, but days of formal dinners sounded like her own personal Pit of Torment. And this would be her life. Endless meetings and dinners, sitting silently at Theon’s side.

The bedroom door opened a few minutes later, and she heard Theon’s footfalls. When he didn’t say anything, she opened her eyes to find him standing a few feet away. His hands were in his pockets, and he was studying her.

“When do we leave for the Acropolis?” she asked, void of emotion.

“Ten days. We are allowed into the ruling families’ district of the Acropolis a week before the other Legacy,” Theon answered.

Tessa nodded. Silence fell again for several moments before she said, “I am expected to attend your family dinners with you.”

A statement, not a question.

“You are. Where I go, you go,” Theon confirmed. “Which means we need to finish our conversation.” He closed the few feet of distance between them, coming to stand over her. Her head was still tilted back on the chair so she could look up at him. He reached out to cup her cheek, but she turned her face out of reach. He sighed. “So you’ve decided then?”

“Decided what? I don’t get choices anymore,” she countered.

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