Page 224 of Rain of Shadows and Endings

“In Rockmoor, but I didn’t—”

“So the night I found you with him, you already knew who he was?”

“No. I didn’t recognize the name. I mean, he told me he founded a company, but I didn’t know which one or what he did. Even when he gave me his card, I—”

“You have a way to contact him?” Theon demanded.

“I…” Her hand slowly fell from her chest, landing on the seat where her fingers curled into the leather. She swallowed audibly. “Yes.”

“And have you contacted him? Is that why he was at the social last night?”

“How would I have contacted him?” she bit out. “You monitor my phone, tablet. Everything.”

Theon smiled humorlessly. “You called your Fae without my knowledge. I wouldn’t put this past you too. Have you had contact with him?”

“No,” she insisted. “Only that night in Rockmoor and last night at the social. I didn’t know he was going to be there. I swear, Theon. I didn’t know. I didn’t know who he was. I still don’t understand why—”

“It is not your place to understand,” Theon snarled. “Your place is to serve, Tessa, not to hide things from me. Do you have any idea what you have jeopardized?”

“I’m sorry—”

“I do not need your apologies,” he snapped. “I need your obedience. I need your loyalty—”

“You’ve done nothing to earn it!”

He was across the backseat in his next breath, and she let out a yelp as he loomed over her. Snatching her hand, he held it up, twisting it so she could see the Mark. “This says I do not need to earn a godsdamn thing, Tessa.”

“Th—”

But his name stalled on her tongue.

Luka had parked. Axel was already out of the vehicle, heading for the door off the garage. Luka had realized what Theon had though, and black flames flared in front of the door, blocking Axel’s path.

“What the fuck?” Axel said, whirling to face them.

Tessa hadn’t been able to say his name. He’d given her permission to use it in front of Pen, so that could only mean someone else was here.

“Did you feel anyone at the Wards?” Theon asked.

He was out of the vehicle. Luka was helping Tessa out.

Understanding flashed in Axel’s eyes. “No,” he ground out.

The three of them stood facing the door. Axel shoved his hands in his pockets. Tessa was wisely silent behind them.

“He’s not coming until tomorrow, right?” Axel asked.

“Right,” Theon answered.

He didn’t know why he said it. He knew exactly who was waiting for them.

With a deep inhale, he stepped forward, pushing the door open and stepping into the foyer. Silently they made their way to the formal sitting room. The only sound was Tessa’s heels on the wood floors.

They found him sitting in one of the wing-backed chairs, a glass of amber liquid in his hand.

Theon stopped a few feet from him. Luka was at his side, Axel hanging back with Tessa, as Theon said, “Hello, Father.”

40

---