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“That’s impossible,” Axel said, all the mirth gone from his tone.

Henry smirked. “Is it? You brought asuspectedAchaz descendant into these caverns. Directly into the heart of your greatest weapon. She is a poison that will spread.” He paused, looking Theon up and down once. “Then again, there’s really no hope when she’s already so deeply rooted in Arius blood.”

Theon moved as fast as any Night Child, the dagger in his hand appearing a moment before it sank into Henry’s chest. The vampyre’s eyes went wide in shock, blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth.

“Don’t want the vitriol you’re spewing spreading throughout the Underground now, do I?” Theon said casually.

He pulled the dagger out before his darkness converged around the wound. The same dagger that had been used to stab Tessa. Henry’s veins turned black as his power moved, dark streaks webbing across his skin, until Theon pulled the magic back. When he did, a heart sat in the midst of the shadows, the organ just as black. Letting the body slump to the floor, the heart fell atop it. There was a sickening smack as it rolled off the lifeless body to the pristine floor, black blood splattering.

“Be sure and let the new clan leader know what happens should they try to rise against us,” Theon said, stepping back to avoid getting the pooling blood on his shoes.

“Dangerous games, my Lord,” Bree said with a soft venom.

“Just a reminder of who will always win those games,” Axel replied darkly before they both turned on their heels and left.

Theon slammed his laptop shut. Connections were dreadful in the Underground. The only place with decent technology service was the main gate. That was where Bohden, his father’s Commander-of-Forces, resided, but the male had eyes and ears everywhere. He knew just as much as Axel did when it came to the inner workings of the Underground. Which begged the question had he known of the unrest among the Night Children? Had his father and he’d just conveniently not mentioned it?

Sighing in frustration, he raked his hand through his hair, glancing over at the bed. They’d moved Tessa to his room after Gia had finished…whatever the fuck she’d done. Not enough,obviously. Tessa still slept. He still couldn’t feel her. Every once in a while, he was sure he felt a flicker of emotion, but it didn’t seem quite right. The emotions were a mixture of guilt and regret and longing. But the fact remained, she hadn’t so much as shifted in her sleep. She remained exactly as they’d placed her.

When he’d returned from the meeting with the clan leaders, he’d found her in fresh clothing, courtesy of Katya and Gia. He hadn’t seen the Witch since. She hadn’t checked in or even bothered to send a messenger to do so. If she were with Cienna when he saw her later today, they’d certainly be exchanging words about it.

It was day three. The day that Cienna had said to return to her. Theon had no choice but to go. If he refused, the-gods-only-knew when she would deign to invite him back. It was infuriating, but he more than deserved it.

The sound of footsteps had him lifting his head. He watched Luka enter the room and go straight to the armchair by the bed. He’d dragged it over there the moment they’d laid Tessa in the bed, and if he wasn’t in the bathroom, he was in that chair. At least this morning he had a mug of coffee in his hand as he took a seat.

“You need to take a break,” Theon said. “Go out. Stretch your wings.”

“I’m fine,” Luka said, taking a drink.

“At least you’re saying more than one word at a time now,” Theon scoffed, which earned him a middle finger from his friend. The seconds ticked by before Theon said, “We need to go back to Arius House.”

“I know.”

“She’s still unconscious.”

“I know.”

“My father will learn of the attack.”

“I know.”

“For fuck’s sake, stop,” Theon snapped, getting to his feet and moving to stand beside the bed. “I don’t know how to play this. Either he knew of the unrest and sent us in to be blindsided, or he didn’t know, and he will be livid when he learns of it.”

“You already took care of it. A dead clan leader should be more than enough to assuage his fury,” Luka said, settling back in the chair and bringing his ankle to rest on his knee.

“Who knows,” Theon muttered. “He’s on edge with this whole Source thing. We all are.”

Luka said nothing, taking another drink of coffee, but Theon knew he had something to say on the subject.

“Just say it,” Theon sighed, already knowing he wasn’t going to like it.

“Maybe it’s time to appease Valter a little, just to get him off your back for a bit,” Luka said.

“And how do you suggest I do that?”

“Spend time with Felicity.”

“Fuck off,” Theon said. “I already signed the Match contract. That’s enough for now.”