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He hated her because he knew she was right, that this was bigger than Devram. He knew the pieces were all there. He just couldn’t seem to put them all together to see the bigger picture.

But more than any of that, he hated her for giving Tessa a false sense of hope that didn’t matter in the end.

Theon headed across the street to collect Tessa from her last lesson. She was supposed to have her time with Cordelia again, but after the message he’d just received, that wouldn’t be happening.

He ducked inside the building, striding quickly through the halls. He didn’t bother knocking as he opened the door, finding the six Sources in chairs with their laptops balanced on their laps.

“Arius Heir,” Cordelia said, bowing her head while the Sources immediately stood and dropped to a knee.

Everyone except Tessa, who was staring at him with wide eyes, clearly confused.

“Tessalyn,” Cordelia snapped a moment before Tessa was scrambling to her feet, hissing in discomfort at the bands on her wrists. She dropped to her knee, one hand going to her throat, and Theon felt the momentary panic before she sucked in a sharp breath.

His eyes narrowed as he turned back to Cordelia, finding her tight-lipped and staring at Tessa with displeasure. It was all he needed to see to confirm his suspicion she’d used her magic on Tessa.

“I apologize for her disrespect,” Cordelia said. “I know this is the type of behavior you have asked me to rectify.”

Theon said nothing, darkness filling the edges of his vision. Instead, he moved further into the room, stopping in front of Tessa and holding out his hand. “Come. We have somewhere to be.” The minute her fingers touched his palm, he closed his hand around hers, pulling her to her feet. “Gather your things,” he said tightly.

She did as she was told, quickly packing up her laptop.

“We have a lesson after this, my Lord,” Cordelia cut in.

“The lesson has been cancelled,” he replied, not bothering to look at the Estate Mother.

“As you can see, her education is still lacking. I do not recommend missing such instruction,” Cordelia argued.

“And I do not recommend taking it upon yourself to discipline my Source when I am standing in the same room,” Theon retorted, his darkness appearing and snaking out. The other Sources all fidgeted where they remained on a knee. He let them stay there as the darkness found its way to Cordelia, pausing, coiled to strike. “Do we have an understanding?”

“Of course, my Lord,” she said, bowing her head.

Without another word, he led Tessa from the room. It wasn’t until they were stepping outside and she’d inhaled a breath of fresh air that she said, “You didn’t need to do that.”

“It’s not her place to discipline you, just as it isn’t your place to question me,” he retorted, dropping her hand and removing the bands, slipping them into his pocket.

“Of course,” she sneered under her breath.

He waited, watching her power flare with the bands off. Once he was sure she had it under control, he turned and headed down the walkway, Tessa trailing after him.

Neither of them said another word on the walk back to the townhouse, and when they were inside, she went straight to the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of water, and disappeared up the stairs. She didn’t even acknowledge Luka, who watched her the entire time.

Theon went straight to the liquor, pouring himself a drink before sliding his phone to Luka with the screen open to the message he’d received. The dragon’s face went dark, faint traces of smoke appearing on his exhale.

“I take it this is why her emotions are so conflicted at the moment,” Luka said, passing the phone back to Theon.

“I haven’t told her yet,” Theon said. “But why do you think her emotions are conflicted?”

“I’ve just learned to read her, I guess,” he replied.

Theon’s eyes narrowed. “And what do you think she is conflicted about?”

“I have no idea. What happened before you got home?”

“I picked her up early from her lessons. Cordeliacorrectedher behavior in front of me, and I made it clear that was not acceptable,” Theon answered.

Luka gave him a frank look. “And?”

Theon swirled his drink with a sigh. “And when Tessa told me I didn’t need to do that after the fact, I said things I shouldn’t have.”