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“Father,” Theon greeted curtly, with the smallest bow possible. He bent and kissed his mother on the cheek before moving to his seat. Tessa moved behind him as usual, but unlike every other night, he did not immediately tell her to sit.

She was utterly baffled. Was he truly upset with her about earlier today? But he’d sworn to her over and over before she’d fallen asleep that he didn’t blame her for that. Her confusion only escalated as drinks were ordered and Eviana was allowed to sit while she remained standing. Theon didn’t look her way and neither did Luka nor Axel. Valter, however, was shooting her curious glances every so often.

When the first course of a chilled soup had been placed before each seat, Theon casually said, “Tessalyn, sit and eat,” before resuming the conversation he was having with his parents.

She moved forward cautiously, taking her seat and picking up her spoon. She was just lifting the first spoonful to her mouth when Valter apparently couldn’t keep his curiosity at bay any longer.

“Trouble with your Source, son? You do not appear nearly as affectionate tonight,” the Arius Lord said.

Thank the gods someone had said it, because she clearly wasn’t allowed to voice her confusion.

“Everything is fine,” Theon said dismissively, taking a bite of bread. He didn’t elaborate further, despite Valter clearly expecting more of an explanation.

“Is there anything else we need to take care of before we leave for the Acropolis in a few days?” Luka cut in before Valter could pose further questions. Cressida let out a muffled sob at the words.

Tessa tuned out the dinner conversation as they fell into mundane small talk once again. Everything was certainly not fine. Ever since she’d woken up, Theon had been different. His tone had been harsher, and his demands had become firmer. Theon was treating her like—

Like a Source.

She nearly dropped her spoon at the realization and sat back in her seat abruptly. The few bites of soup she’d taken churned in her stomach. Theon’s gaze shot to her. She thought she saw a flicker of concern flash across those emerald eyes, but if she did, it was gone a moment later.

He leaned over to speak into her ear. “Are you unwell?”

She shook her head, despite the tightening in her chest.

“Then eat.”

He returned to his soup, and Tessa swallowed hard, sitting forward once more. Her hand was trembling as she brought her spoon to her lips.

She managed to finish her soup and her salad, forcing down the food. She was halfway through getting her main course of steamed fish and rice down when she heard her name. It took a moment to realize she was being addressed directly.

By Valter.

“Tell me, Tessalyn,” he was saying, “which element are you predicted to emerge with?”

She froze, looking at Theon. She had never once been spoken to during dinner conversation by anyone other than Theon. He wasn’t looking at her though. His eyes were narrowed on his father as he answered for her.

“You know her assessments all report her most likely to emerge with the air element.”

“Can she not speak for herself? You have kept her sequestered away nearly the entire time she has been here. Your mother and I have not been given an opportunity to get to know her, and in five days you leave for the Acropolis,” Valter admonished.

“I did not realize you had any interest in getting to know her in such a way,” Theon answered tightly.

“I assume she is going to be in our lives for the foreseeable future. Surely we should get to know each other a bit, no?” Valter countered, taking a sip of his liquor.

“Perhaps.”

Valter returned his full attention to Tessa, who had set her fork down beside her plate to avoid accidentally dropping it again. Her hands were clasped tightly in her lap to keep from wringing her fingers. She couldn’t falter here. She had quickly learned there was no room for mistakes when it came to the Arius Lord, and she certainly didn’t need Theon even more upset with her.

Theon reached over under the table and placed a hand on her knee, squeezing it as if in warning. Was she not supposed to speak? Her chest tightened more, and she tried to control her breathing. She didn’t know what she was supposed to do.

“Which Estate did you reside at, Tessalyn?” Valter asked, settling back casually in his chair. Eviana was still eating. So was Cressida. The males, however, were all focused on her.

Tessa glanced at Theon again, and he gave a nod to answer. She cleared her throat quietly before saying, “The Celeste Estate, my Lord.”

“And the Priestesses performed the assessments for your element there?”

“At the nearby health compound, yes, my Lord.”