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Finally, she said, “I do not have all the answers you seek.”

“But you have information that will help,” Theon countered. “That is my question. She’s not Fae. She’s possibly not Legacy. So what else could she descend from?”

“There are countless realms and countless bloodlines,” Cienna said, reaching for another book. “Some still thrive. Some long gone. Some have been reborn.”

“That is not an answer, and you know it,” Theon argued.

Her violet eyes flashed with anger when they snapped back to Theon. “You may wish to tempt fate, Theon, but I do not. I will tell you what I can. If that is not sufficient, our business here is done.”

“But I still have a question,” Tessa suddenly chimed in. “Don’t fuck me out of my question, Theon.”

“I’m not—” Theon started, but Axel cut in.

“You said his name.”

Tessa didn’t acknowledge him, peering into one of the bubbling pots, but Theon spun towards her. “I feel your frustration at having revealed that. You can overcome the demands of the Source bond?”

“I don’t understand,” Katya said, looking up from her book.

“She isn’t supposed to be able to say my name in the presence of those outside of the four of us,” Theon explained, his gaze never leaving Tessa.

She finally turned to him, power flickering in her eyes that shouldn’t be there with those bands on her wrists. Axel found himself sliding closer to Kat, partially blocking her from Tessa.

The corner of Tessa’s mouth tipped up in a mocking smirk. “You insisted I had secrets when I didn’t, so I found some to keep.”

“You realize this information could help us figure all this out, right? Why would you keep this from me?” Theon demanded.

Her head canted to the side. “Why did you keep your suspicions of me not being a Legacy from me? Why did you keep information from me? Why do you continue to do so?”

“Enough of this,” Cienna cut in. “You asked me what other beings she could be descended from, I answered. I may not be able to give you the definitive answers you seek, but trust I have given you enough to find the answers on your own.”

Theon ran both his hands through his hair in frustration, and Axel watched his brother. Always in control. Always making sure he was the smartest and most informed in the room. That was why he pushed himself so hard on his studies. It was why his nose was always in a book while he and Luka were playing Chaosphere. It was why Theon had researched bizarre theorieson the off chance he might find the smallest bit of truth to give him an advantage. They might give him a hard time about it, but the truth was, Axel knew everything he’d ever done was to prepare for this. Their father wanted to rule Devram. Theon had only ever wanted to prevent that and to keep the people of the Arius Kingdom safe from any retribution from the other Kingdoms. They had been a shunned Kingdom for centuries, and they were fine being so.

It was during his unending research that he’d unearthed truths about the Underground. Then all their plans had changed. Then it wasn’t just Arius Kingdom.

Then it became about Devram.

“You have three questions remaining,” Cienna said into the silence that had descended.

“Give us a minute,” Theon snapped. He’d started pacing, and Luka was monitoring Tessa, who was continuing to explore everything in the space.

“Here’s my question,” Axel said, holding up his hand when Theon started to argue. Because fuck him dictating all this. There was more that needed to be learned. “How did no one know she wasn’t Fae for over two decades? How is that possible?”

“Who says no one knew?” Cienna countered.

“Even if they did, how was it kept a secret?” Axel said.

“Your power is released upon birth,” Cienna said. She nodded to the faint silvery Mark visible on Axel’s forearm due to his sleeves being rolled back. “She was obviously not given that Mark until the Emerging Ceremony.”

“But her power would have broken through that at some point,” Axel argued.

“It did,” Theon said. “From the day I Selected her.”

“But never before then? It doesn’t make sense,” Axel said.

“As I said, do not mistake what the priestesses are,” Cienna cut in, snapping her book shut. “They can create the same potions and elixirs I can. Some are just as skilled at Marks and glamours and all manner of spells.”

Theon drew up short. “Glamours? Like the ones Lilura Inquest is renowned for?”