Page 255 of Rain of Shadows and Endings

The same thing he had told her before shoving her into a small, windowless cellar.

“Rordan,” his father said curtly. “I believe you have something that belongs to my kingdom.”

Rordan smiled. “Would you like something to drink? Tessalyn has been sipping on water. We agreed that any alcohol may not do well with her body after I had to quell her impressive display of power.”

“Is there a reason she is here rather than at the Pantheon?” Valter demanded.

“There is, in fact,” Rordan replied. Then he turned to Dagian. Theon hadn’t even realized the heir was in the room. “Do help Frederick with the drinks for our guests, Dagian.”

Theon’s jaw nearly dropped. His father would never ask another Legacy to wait on someone, let alone ask his son to do so. That was a Fae’s job, far beneath a Legacy. Yet Dagian didn’t question it, moving to the beverage cart where the Fae who had escorted them in was filling glasses. Two females, the Achaz Sources, were standing near an opposite wall, quiet and watchful.

“Please take a seat,” Rordan said, gesturing to the surrounding vacant seating.

“This is not a social call,” his father snapped. “We came to retrieve what is ours, and we will be on our way.”

“Is she yours, though?” Rordan countered, his head tilting at the question.

“Of course she is,” Theon interjected. “She bears my Mark. Tessa, come here.”

Tessa was already tense, and now she stiffened at being addressed. But she had to obey him. It was in the oath to obey her Master above all others.

With a deep exhale, she slowly got to her feet, Dex standing to help her up and taking the water from her. She made her way to Theon, and the moment she was within arm’s reach, he was pulling her into his side. She leaned against him, utterly exhausted.

“Are you all right?” Theon asked in a low voice, tilting her chin up to look at her.

She only nodded, her eyes darting to the side.

“We will be leaving now,” his father said, turning on his heel.

But Rordan was pushing to his feet. “I am afraid we need to discuss these matters further.”

Valter rounded on him. “What is there to discuss? She was Selected. It is done. Only death can undo it.”

“Can a being who is not Fae truly be Selected as a Source?” Rordan mused, a hand slipping into his pocket while he brought his liquor glass to his lips.

“Evidently they can,” Valter sneered.

“And yet she belongs here, with me.”

“When, exactly, did you come to that conclusion?” Theon interjected.

“The moment she displayed the power of Achaz.” Rordan’s tone had gone low and dark, light flickering at the fingers gripping his glass. “Of course, not all of her gifts are like my own, and isn’t that interesting?”

Theon tugged her closer, her breath hitching.

“What are you insinuating?” Valter asked, darkness drifting around him.

“I am proposing that she be housed at the Pantheon until it can be determined what exactly she is.”

“No,” Theon snarled. “She belongs with me.”

Rordan smiled at him as though he were a child who couldn’t comprehend what was being said. Then he returned his attention to Valter. “I am assuming you have already considered she may be the key to everything?”

“Of course I have,” his father gritted out, and Theon didn’t understand anything that was being referenced.

Rordan took another sip of his drink, seeming to savor the taste before he said, “Then you already know where she belongs.”

“There is no proof,” Valter argued.

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