Page 15

“I’m cold,” was all she’d said, wrapping her arms tightly around herself, and that was how she’d ended up with his suit coat draped around her shoulders.

“Here.”

Tessa turned to find Theon extending a glass of water to her. She nodded as she took the glass, swallowing a small sip before letting the glass dangle from her fingertips.

“This is good, Tessa,” Theon said. “It gives us time. Not as much time as I would have liked, but time to figure out a plan.”

She nodded again.

Time.

Theon had been given a deadline, but so had she.

The doors banging open made them all spin to the entry where Valter was striding into the study, Eviana a step behind him as always. Her red-brown hair hung loosely around her shoulders in waves, and her turquoise eyes slid over all of them. They lingered on Tessa for a moment, and Theon clearly noticed since he slid a step closer as though to block Tessa from view.

No one spoke while Valter settled into a wingback chair near the unlit hearth, taking a tumbler of liquor from Eviana when she brought it to him. Then the Fae retreated to a plush chair nearby, waiting until her Master needed her again.

“Would you consider today a success, Theon?” Valter asked after taking a deep drink, then proceeding to study the liquid in his glass.

“It was not ideal,” Theon answered, edging further in front of Tessa until he was standing completely in front of her.

“Not ideal?” Valter repeated.

“You were in the room for the conversation about the final decision, not me,” Theon answered mildly. “You had more say in this outcome than I did.”

Valter slowly lifted his gaze to Theon, and Tessa found herself reaching up and curling her fingers into the back of Theon’s shirt. She had no idea why. Maybe it was the bond, something instinctual. Theon didn’t react; she could only assume that was to keep his father from suspecting anything.

“I meant no disrespect,” Theon continued. “But what was said to make these contingencies agreeable to you?”

“Agreeable to me?” Valter sneered, sucking down the rest of his drink. “You know damn well I did not find these terms agreeable.”

“The others posed valid arguments,” Luka cut in, and Tessa tilted her head as she watched him several feet away.

His feet were planted in the same defensive stance he constantly made her stand in at training. His arms hung loose at his sides, and he’d loosened his tie. He was ready to defend Theon at a moment’s notice, and why wouldn’t he be? He was Theon’s Guardian, a bond that would drive him to protect Theon at all costs. A bond that was somehow worked into the Source Marks and would eventually require her to do the same.

“What is to stop future heirs from forcing Legacy to be their Sources if this is allowed to stand?” Luka continued.

“I am not discounting the concerns,” Valter snapped. “I simply wished for them to allow this to remain until we found a way to sever the Source bond that didn’t require death in some manner.”

“Lord Jove made it perfectly clear whose death would be required in this matter,” Theon said.

“If Rordan tries to end your life, Devram will no longer know the fragile peace it currently possesses,” Valter said.

The room fell silent, and all Tessa could think was that the male before them wouldn’t really start a war over this? Over Theon?

No. Ultimately, the war would be overher.

And it wouldn’t be the Legacy in this room who would pay the ultimate price. It would be the Fae forced to fight in their kingdom’s legions. It would be the lower Legacy shoved into sacrifice. It would be the mortals who simply existed in this godforsaken realm.

All those innocent lives lost would be because of her.

Just like Pen had been.

And suddenly, for the very first time in all of this, she found herself on the same side as Theon. Not because she was forced to be, but because their desired outcomes aligned in some twisted way.

Finally, Theon broke the silence as Eviana rose to refill Valter’s glass. “We will not need to worry about that. We were given time. Not as much as I would have liked, but time nonetheless. We will figure out Tessa’s lineage. We will figure out how to navigate this Source bond. No one’s death will be required.”

“And she will stay bound to our kingdom,” Valter added, and Tessa couldn’t help the wince, glad Theon’s frame was still hiding her from the Lord’s view. She reached behind her, setting her water glass on the windowsill.