Dawn of Chaos and Fury by Melissa K. Roehrich - 60

57

“ Y ou two are up early,” Theon said, strolling across the courtyard to where Tessa and his mother were throwing sticks for his hounds.

He was used to finding Tessa with Akira, trying to build some sort of tentative relationship, but finding her with his mother was new.

“I was just leaving to get ready,” Caris said, turning to him with a smile. “I’ll leave you two alone.”

Theon pressed a kiss to her cheek as she passed before he closed the distance to Tessa’s side. She brought her hand back, ready to throw the stick once more, and Theon caught her wrist. She looked at him, startled.

“Use this,” he said, a ball of darkness forming in his palm.

The hounds had been excited before, but now they were yipping and prancing about.

“Show off,” she huffed, reaching for the mass of magic.

She chucked it, and the hounds took off, racing to be the first to retrieve it.

“Are you worried about how today will go?” Theon asked, Tessa shoving her hands into the pockets of her jacket.

“No,” she replied, smiling as the hounds came tearing back, Rigel with the prize.

“Then…?”

“I just wanted to ask Caris some questions,” she said. “That’s all. Are you ready to go?”

She turned to look up at him, her smile a little too bright. He cupped her cheek and leaned in, running the tip of his nose along the length of hers. “You are keeping something from us, little storm,” he murmured.

“Not really,” she replied. “Just… We’ll talk about it after the Tribunals. We have long days ahead.”

He was in his suit, and she was in a dress beneath her coat. Everyone else was meeting them at the Acropolis. So for now, he let it go.

Tessa Traveled them, and they strode up the steps of the brick building hand in hand. They’d needed something large enough to hold all the people who would be attending, and an academy in the western part of the Acropolis ended up being the best option.

They were led to an auditorium, where Tessa, Luka, and Theon joined Axel, the Ladies, their heirs, and several others at the front. The seats were full, and not just with Legacy. Fae. Night Children. Witches. Shifters. Even some mortals were here. Which was good. If this was going to be successful, everyone needed to feel they were part of the process.

Everyone took a seat behind the tables that were facing the crowd. Not in grand thrones, but simple chairs, and the room fell silent.

“I guess we should start with how we want the kingdoms to be run going forward,” Theon said, unbuttoning his suit jacket and settling back into his chair. “All ideas are welcome. There are microphones throughout the room for anyone to use. We’re in for a long several days, so let’s get going.”

“The most powerful of a bloodline will no longer be the sole leader of a kingdom,” Tessa said simply, speaking into the microphone before her on the table.

“Then who will?” the Celeste Lady asked. “The reason the most powerful has maintained that seat of power was for protection, yes. But it was also for simplicity.”

“And even then, it often took hours or days for the six rulers to come to agreements,” the Serafina Lady chimed in.

“So we maintain a primary Lord or Lady for each kingdom,” Theon suggested. “Only they are accountable to a Council within their kingdom.”

“A Council of more than just Legacy,” Tessa added. “Fae need to be included. Mortals.” She glanced to her left where Axel was sitting. “And those from the Underground who wish to rejoin the kingdoms.”

Arguments and debates went back and forth on the subject for the next few hours until most of the details were agreed to.

“One primary Lord or Lady for each kingdom,” Theon was saying. “Councils will include three Fae, three Legacy, a Witch, a Shifter, a Night Child, and a mortal. Elections can be held, and we can figure out the details down the road. We need interim leaders for now.”

“I suppose Tessa is simply going to maintain her place in both the Achaz and Arius Kingdoms?” the Serafina Heir asked, and Theon hid his smirk. The Ladies may have come to terms with things, but the heirs were still adjusting to undoing years of learned animosity.

“Actually, no,” Tessa said simply. “There isn’t really another option for the Achaz Kingdom at this time, but there is a better option for the Arius Kingdom.”

“Theon?” asked the Anala Heir.

“Axel,” Tessa replied.

“Wait, what?” Axel asked, lurching forward in his seat. “Tessa, what are you talking about? I don’t even have magic anymore.”

“No, but your wife does,” she said with a smile. “A Night Child and a Fae leading the Arius Kingdom seems fine to me. You are prominent in the Underground and have more than proven your loyalty.”

“But he’s not the most powerful Arius Legacy,” the Falein Lady cut in. “Which is what we just determined would dictate who would hold that seat.”

That was true. The heirs would assume their seats as Ladies of the Celeste, Falein, Anala, and Serafina Kingdoms. Tessa couldn’t lead both Arius and Achaz though. It would stretch her too thin, and while Theon could go back to Arius Kingdom, he didn’t want to split his time and focus. He would stay with Tessa, and so would Luka.

“His son will be,” Tessa said. “I propose Axel and Kat hold the position until Maddox is old enough and ready to assume it.”

Axel was staring at her, clearly in shock, and murmuring broke out among the people.

“More than that,” Tessa continued, the crowd falling silent once more. “I will only be the interim Achaz Lady until we learn who should take over the position. I will work closely with Dagian regarding this matter.”

Tessa? Luka growled down the bond. We never discussed any of this.

Agreed, Theon said, working to keep his features impassive. What are we doing, Tessa?

“We are to believe that you are going to step down from everything after all this?” Lady Isleen asked, her suspicion evident in her tone. “What of you and your…husbands?”

“We have other responsibilities,” Tessa said.

“Such as?”

“While Rordan and Valter are gone, Achaz is not. There are still realms beyond that will face the same, and Achaz will likely try again. More than that, we have the Fates to contend with,” Tessa said calmly despite her chaos that had been thickening a little more as time passed. “I put forth that the three of us become the new Keepers. Guardians of the realm to ensure that no one from the outside comes here without our knowing. So that history just might not repeat itself yet again, and the people we are protecting will not be the cost.”

“The three of you would be the Keepers? We’re going to vote on everything else and not that?” the Celeste Lady asked.

“You are welcome to nominate another who would be as effective in the position,” Theon said, recovering quickly from Tessa’s little surprise.

“There isn’t another who would be effective,” Kyra said. “I believe Tessa, Theon, and Luka have all proven beyond a doubt they care for the realm, not just their own kingdoms. Tessa is the grandchild of three First gods. She is not demanding we bow to her. She is not demanding a throne. She is offering to take on the responsibility of protecting the realm so we can focus on protecting the people. That is a noble offering, and I agree to the proposal.”

“We will still have a say in the realm’s policies,” Theon interjected. “That is important to all three of us.”

“So you are, what? Simply Keepers of the Realm?” the Falein Heir asked.

“Yes,” Tessa said at the same time Theon said, “No.”

She turned to him, eyes wide with incredulity. “What?”

“You are not simply a Keeper of the Realm, Tessa,” he said. “You bled and sacrificed for a world that only tried to break you. You fought for a realm that only wanted to use you. You’re still here, fighting for all of us in a forgotten world. You could leave. You have that power. You could leave, Tessa, and you are choosing to stay.” He shook his head, her wide eyes fixed on him as he stood and took her hand, dropping to a knee before her. “You are the reason this realm still exists. So no, Tessalyn Ausra. You are not simply a Keeper of the Realm. You are a High Goddess of Chaos, because in Devram? Chaos reigns.”

“Theon, stop,” she hissed. “This isn’t⁠—”

But she stopped speaking as chairs scrapped. As people in the crowd stood. As everyone in the room dropped to a knee before the one who could have left them to answer for their depravity, and instead chose to become a villain with the rest of them.

“You need to see something.”

“Fucking Arius,” Theon barked as he came face-to-face with Axel when he opened the bathroom door, fresh from a shower. “Boundaries, fucker,” he muttered, shoving past him.

“Get dressed,” Axel said. “I need to show you something. Luka is already there.”

“Fine,” he grumbled, grabbing some lightweight pants.

Twenty-two days.

It had been twenty-two days of sitting for hours in that auditorium debating new policies and restructuring. Integrating the Underground population into the kingdoms. Dismantling the Fae Estates. Debating where new communities could be set up. Wages for the Fae and giving them the freedom to decide where they resided.

And Sources.

Gods, that had been three entire days in and of itself. Tessa refused to back down on Sources and demanded no more Selections be held. Instead, every five years, Tribunals just like they’d sat through would be held to make changes, elect new Council members, and more. But Sources? Any Legacy could now have one, but only if a Fae was willing. A new registry was being put together at Lilura Inquest where Fae could voluntarily offer to become a Source. Pairings would go through several counseling sessions to ensure it was mutually beneficial, and then it would be one Source Mark.

The true Source Mark.

But after twenty-two days of mentally exhausting debates, he’d been looking forward to falling into bed with Tessa and Luka and not having to be up before the sun tomorrow.

They’d gone back to Arius House and were planning to stay for a few days as a sort of holiday until they would return to the Acropolis. The Pantheon wasn’t being rebuilt, but there was a home that was going to be built there.

Their home.

For the Keepers and the High Goddess.

In the meantime, they would stay at the Arius Manor.

Theon followed Axel across the house to the private wing, which still felt strange to be in so freely. They climbed a few flights of stairs, coming to what he knew were Axel and Kat’s private quarters.

“Axel?” he sighed. “This couldn’t wait?”

He shook his head, leading him through their sitting room and then their bedroom. Luka and Kat were standing in a doorway, and Theon’s brow pinched. They were standing in the doorway of the nursery, and when Theon came up behind them, he stilled.

Tessa was in the nursery, asleep in the rocking chair, and nestled on her chest was a sleeping Maddox.

“She found me and asked if she could hold him,” Kat whispered. “I left her with him while I went to shower real quick, and when I came back…” She gestured to them.

“Do you want us to…take her?” Theon asked because Maddox was a few months old now, and this was the first time Tessa had held him.

“She’s fine,” Kat said. “You can stay as long as you want. I’m sure he’ll be waking in the next hour to eat.”

Theon nodded, Axel and Kat wandered out to the sitting room, and he and Luka ventured into the dim nursery, taking seats on the small sofa.

“Any ideas on what instigated this?” Luka asked, stretching his legs out and crossing them at the ankles.

“No idea,” Theon said, watching her with the sleeping babe. “Maybe she just needed time?”

“Doubt it,” Luka said. “This has been a thing since Maddox was born.”

“Yeah,” Theon sighed because he was right.

And so was Kat.

It was maybe twenty minutes later when Maddox started to stir, and Tessa’s eyes snapped open. Her features twisted as she tried to figure out what to do, but Theon was there, scooping up their nephew.

“I’ve got him, beautiful,” he said with a soft smile.

She looked a little embarrassed when her gaze darted to Luka. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

“We’re all exhausted, Tessa,” Luka replied, reaching for her hand and pulling her to her feet. “Let’s go to our rooms.”

They delivered Maddox to his parents and made their way back across the house, and as soon as the door closed behind them, she spun to face them.

“I need to tell you something,” she said, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip.

Theon and Luka both froze, waiting for her to go on.

“I…” She cleared her throat and crossed her arms, clearly working up the courage to tell them this. “In a few days, I’m going to see Cienna, and she is going to give me some Marks. I wanted to tell you before I went.”

“Okay,” Theon said tentatively as Luka made his way to the liquor cart. Guess they weren’t going to bed quite yet. “What are these Marks for?”

“I—” Her hands were in her hair, tugging at the ends. “I don’t want children,” she blurted.

He and Luka both froze again because where was this coming from?

“It’s not an impulsive decision,” she went on. “I don’t know the first thing about being a mother.”

“That is something that would come in time, Tessa,” Theon said carefully while Luka passed out liquor and wine.

“That’s not…” A sound of frustration came from her. “My existence nearly destroyed a realm. Can you imagine my child? With either one of you? With Luka, it would be a great-grandchild of four gods. With you and your surplus of power? A child would be hunted. They would upset the balance.”

“It would be different, Tessa,” Theon argued. “Our child wouldn’t be left alone.”

“You think Temural and Akira didn’t think the same thing?” she countered. “Because they did. I’ve been spending time with her. This isn’t what she wanted, but that’s not always how life goes. I cannot bring a child into the stars knowing what fate would await them. This isn’t like Maddox. Even if I had a child with a random mortal—” She paused when he and Luka both made unimpressed sounds at that idea. “I just mean any child of mine will be hunted. That is not fair to them. And I…” She was looking between them, her eyes pooling with tears as she begged them to understand. “I can scarcely handle my own Chaos most days. It is a constant battle, even with your help.” Those tears broke free. “I am sorry if this is a dream of yours, but I can’t.”

“And Maddox tonight?” Luka asked after an extended silence.

“I’ve avoided him,” she said, sounding utterly defeated. “Because I think that is something you want, and it is not something I am willing to give you. And tonight? I wanted to hold him. Just to see if something changed. If I had any inclination to want that, and I don’t. I wish I did.”

Luka had set his drink aside and was taking her wineglass back before he pulled her into him. “Baby girl, how long have you felt this way?”

“Since before he was born, and I didn’t— Look at everything we had to do to ensure his safety. My child would require so much more,” she answered. “And even if that wasn’t the case, it is something I do not want. I am content to be with you two for the rest of my days. To spoil Maddox and Priya and any other children others may have. Because some day, we may have to defend this world again, and I cannot have a child in it when I do so.”

“Okay, Tessa,” Luka murmured as she cried silently into his chest. “We would never force you. This is your choice. No one else’s.”

“But an heir⁠—”

“Does not matter,” Theon interjected. “As someone who was being forced to produce an heir, that will never happen again. To any of us.”

“But it is something you want,” she whispered, so much pain shining in her eyes.

Theon was crossing to them now, taking her chin in his hand. “There is nothing I want as much as you, Tessa. Do you understand?”

“But—”

“No buts. Like Luka said, this is your choice. Tell me of these Marks.”

She swallowed thickly several times, getting herself under control. “When Eliza was here, I asked of the Mark on her chest⁠—”

“You are not getting a Curse Mark,” Luka growled.

“No. I know. I mean, I did think about it,” Tessa admitted. “Until we freed Caris.”

“That’s what you were asking her about the morning I found you with her and the hounds,” Theon said in understanding.

She nodded. “Her Marks are permanent, and they differ from Eliza’s. I understand it’s permanent. Even if I ever did change my mind, I cannot bring a child into the stars,” she repeated. “If that is something we ever want, we could find a child in our own realm to give a home, right?”

“And you’ve been thinking about this for some time?”

She nodded. “I’ve never dwelled on it. Not until Maddox was born, and I know I should have said something before we all bound ourselves to one another, but⁠—”

“Tessa,” Luka interrupted, easing her back so he could look into her face. “Children were an option far into the future. You were never an option because you’ve always been inevitable.”

“You’re not upset?”

“Surprised? Yes. Will we need some time to process? Sure,” Luka answered, tucking her hair behind her ear. “But the only thing I’m upset about is you taking so long to talk to us.”

“I just wanted to be sure before I did,” she murmured.

Theon took her hand, tugging her to him. “We’re going with you for the Marks,” he answered.

She nodded, settling into him, a weight clearly lifted from her thoughts.

And later that night, as he watched her sleep with his head propped on a fist, he thought back on everything they’d survived to get to this point. He’d never really thought of children as a dream. It had always been an expected responsibility. The only thing he’d truly dreamed of was a family different from what he’d grown up with, and he had that right here in his bed. Unconventional and different in every possible way.

Because this had always been more than a bond.