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Everyone else was already here, including Felicity, who immediately stood as they approached, bowing her head to the Arius Heirs.

“My darlings!” Cressida cried, clasping her hands together. Tessa could swear there were tears welling in her eyes.

“Mother,” Theon greeted, moving around the table to press a kiss to her cheek. “What a pleasant surprise.”

Axel did the same, and Tessa stayed close to Luka as he greeted her as well, but when Theon moved to take his seat,he noticed what Tessa already had. The table was set for eight, three on each side and two on the ends. Valter was obviously at the head of the table, his wife to his right and Source to his left. Theon always sat next to Eviana, and Tessa sat next to him, but that was where Felicity had been seated.

“I assumed you would want to sit next to your Match,” Valter said pointedly. “Your mother is excited that the two of you have finally decided to make the official announcement.”

“You will separate me from my Source?” Theon asked tightly and unmoving, as if he was rooted to the spot.

“She can sit across from you next to Luka,” Valter replied dismissively. “Soon enough she’ll be his Match anyway. Sit.”

Theon looked as though he was about to argue, but then seemed to wisely decide this was not something to make a scene over.

“Go with Luka, Tessa,” he said, that muscle ticking in his jaw, but she was already rounding the table. She stopped beside Theon, though, reaching up to brush back the lock of hair that always fell across his brow. She could swear he leaned into her touch.

“This is fine, Theon,” she said softly. “I know what is expected of me.”

She followed Luka around the table, taking the chair between him and Cressida. Theon proceeded to pull Felicity’s chair out for her, but he held Tessa’s gaze the entire time.

Wine was poured once everyone was settled, and the moment the wait staff had left, Cressida’s attention was on Theon and Felicity.

“I already have appointments scheduled with photographers and the press when you are home for Solstice,” she said.

“Come again?” Theon said, dragging his eyes from Tessa to his mother.

“For official photos to accompany the announcement,” Cressida clucked, swiping up her wine and taking a drink.

Theon turned slowly to Felicity. “Are you planning to visit Arius House over the Solstice holiday?”

Her smile was tentative, and rightfully so, Tessa thought as she rested her chin in her hand, watching this all unfold. Theon’s tone was too dark, too calm. She knew that voice too well.

“The Arius Lord was gracious enough to extend me an invitation,” Felicity replied, her hands in her lap.

Except all Tessa could think about was her hand resting on a rounded stomach. She felt her lip curl up, and Theon’s eyes snapped to her at the same moment Luka leaned over and said, “Find something you can control right now, Tessa.”

It was the same thing he always murmured into her ear when everything was becoming too much. So many times she had so little control, but there was always something. Her breathing. If her legs were crossed or uncrossed. If her hands were at her sides or in her lap. What she was looking at.

But she’d learned to control so much more than that these past weeks, past few months, and now his words reminded her she had a purpose tonight. It had nothing to do with Felicity, but she supposed it could be an added bonus to the evening if she played this right.

“We don’t even know what the Solstice is going to look like right now,” Axel said from down the table. “I mean, there’s so much unknown shit right now. Are we even going to be celebrating anything?”

“Language, Axel,” Cressida chided, but Valter’s glare had narrowed on his youngest.

“Care to expand on your concerns, Son?”

Gods, his tone was just like Theon’s. Dark. Calm. Dangerous.

Axel apparently didn’t give two fucks.

He sat back in his chair, glass of wine in hand. “The third Mark is to be given in four days. That is also Theon’s deadline, is it not?”

“It is,” Valter agreed.

“As far as I know, the two are still bonded, so one of them will probably be dead.”

“Axel!” Cressida exclaimed.