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“Right then,” the female started, her gaze moving around the room as if she were marking every possible exit. “Do we need to worry about being overheard here?”

“Normally I would say no, but considering you just entered our wards without fuss, I can’t be so sure,” Theon said dryly.

She waved a hand dismissively. “No one else can do that.”

“Forgive me for not believing you after you attacked my Source last night.”

She glanced up at the male. “I thought you told him I wasn’t hurting her.”

He sighed. “I did, Love.”

She turned back to Theon, looking at him expectantly. As though she was waiting for some sort of explanation. As though heowedher an explanation.

As if he answered to her.

Tessa swallowed down her huff of laughter. She had no idea who this female was, but the way she was getting under Theon’s skin made her somewhat amused.

“Perhaps introductions would ease some tension,” the male cut in. “I’m Sorin Aditya. This is my wife, Scarlett Sutara Aditya.”

Scarlett had started wandering around the room, looking at various items. Luka seemed to have decided she was the bigger threat, keeping himself between her and them while Theon kepthis focus on Sorin. Luka wasn’t wrong. Tessa could sense both their magic, and while Sorin was indeed powerful, Scarlett was more so.

“And what kingdom are you from?” Theon demanded.

Scarlett glanced over her shoulder with a slight frown. “Rude not to introduce yourself. Aren’t you a prince or something?”

Tessa could feel Theon’s indignation down the bond, and she settled back in her chair, sipping on her wine.

“I am Theon St. Orcas,” he bit out through gritted teeth. “The Arius Heir.”

Scarlett only hummed an acknowledgment, studying a lamp.

“Axel St. Orcas, my brother,” Theon went on, and Tessa could hear the dismay in his voice. Gesturing at Luka, he said, “Luka Mors.”

“Mors?” Scarlett repeated, finally looking up from the lamp that seemed to fascinate her. “Interesting.”

“Why would that be interesting?” Axel asked.

She shrugged. “I was expecting a different surname. He’s a Guardian?”

“Yes, he’s my Guardian,” Theon answered.

“He’s your…” She trailed off, her nose scrunching for a brief moment. “Interesting.”

“How did you know he was my Guardian?”

“I didn’t know he wasyourGuardian,” she replied, picking up a remote for the television above the fireplace. “But I assumed he was one based on the annoying overprotectiveness. I have one of those too.”

Tessa couldn’t stop her huff of laughter this time, and Theon and Luka both turned to her, glaring. She shrugged, taking another sip of wine.

“If you have a Guardian, where is he?” Axel asked. “These two can scarcely stand to go to the bathroom without each other.”

“For fuck’s sake, Axel,” Theon groused.

“My Guardian stayed behind. Threw a fit about it too. But if I’d brought him, then Cyrus would have needed to come. It would have been a mess. Cyrus threw an even bigger fit about having to stay behind,” Scarlett answered.

“Cyrus is your Guardian?” Theon asked.

“No. Cassius is my Guardian. Cyrus is his…mate? Husband? I don’t know what you call them here,” she replied. “Can we finish the introductions?”