Rain of Shadows and Endings

Watching Tessa chat animatedly with Luka about dragons, Theon reflects on his uncertainty about her bond. Tessa unconsciously leans into Theon as Luka explains that he was raised to be Valter’s Guardian but instead bonded with Theon at age 16. They performed the ceremony with a Witch, as Priestesses could not be trusted. Tessa learns that the Underground, where Witches are confined, lies beneath the Ozul Mountains in the Arius Kingdom and is overseen by the kingdom itself. Tessa is visibly disturbed when Theon explains that Legacy without Sources receive weekly rations of donated Fae blood to replenish their magic.

They arrive at the Acropolis portal station and drive to a three-story townhouse, where Penelope greets them warmly. Theon explains that Penelope’s deceased lover, Caris, was like a mother to him and Axel, but he does not explain how Caris died. That evening, Theon finds Tessa on the balcony and offers her a phone call. She warily agrees to video-call her friends, and Theon observes her relaxed happiness with Dex, Lange, Corbin, and Oralia. The conversation turns serious as they discuss her impulsiveness and past mistakes. When Corbin tells her they will help put her pieces back together, Tessa admits that she does not want to be a survivor anymore. After ending the call, she remains silent for the rest of the night.

The next morning, Theon finds a withdrawn Tessa on the balcony. At breakfast, when he mentions meeting Dagian Jove, Tessa shows distress. Theon reveals that Valter plans to seize control of the entire world of Devram. Tessa feels tricked into helping. Theon adds she will have combat training with Luka. He mentions a mirror in the Underground, where he claims to have seen a mysterious woman with silver hair and shadow-fire gifts. They walk to the Pantheon to attend scheduled meetings, and Theon is angered to discover that Tessa forgot her phone. In an alcove, he harshly instructs her to make everyone fear the supposed power of their bond. They enter the meeting last to find the other heirs, including Dagian Jove of Achaz, Lealla Isleen of Serafina, Mahina Candra of Celeste, Prudence Farhan of Falein, and Tana Aithne of Anala. High Priestess Sancia and Head Sentinel Evander greet them. Theon tells Tessa to watch and learn everything about the people in the room, then takes his seat among the Legacy.

After hours of observing Theon and the heirs, Tessa is escorted to an individual session with a private instructor, where she is shocked to find Mother Cordelia, the abusive Legacy who ran the Estate where she was raised. Cordelia informs her that Theon arranged three extra weekly hours to correct her inadequacies. Cordelia’s presence triggers Tessa’s conditioned fear and memories of confinement. Cordelia forces Tessa to sit motionless for an hour as punishment.

When dismissed, an overwhelmed Tessa flees barefoot through the streets until she reaches the Wynfell River outside the Acropolis walls. While lying on the riverbank, she spots a large wolf that quickly disappears. Suddenly, two cloaked females emerge, confirming they were sent to hunt down the Arius Source. As they lunge, Theon and Luka descend from the sky with shadow and dragon wings, respectively. Theon shields Tessa from the two attackers while Luka pursues their hidden accomplices. Theon tortures one attacker, then kills the other. Theon tells Tessa that the attackers are Night Children, or vampyres, then he kills the remaining creature with a nightstone blade. He flies Tessa back to the townhouse, where he offers to use his shadows to give her relief without touching her; she gives verbal consent.

After Tessa gives consent, Theon brings her to orgasm with his magic, all the while insisting that the emotions they feel for one another are “far more than a simple Source bond” (488). Although Tessa gives herself over to the moment, seeking release from the emotional trauma of the evening, she thinks to herself that “she couldn't let him have all of her. Not now. Not ever” (489). The encounter is full of tense, emotional confessions from Theon. Afterward, Tessa showers and berates herself for giving in to the Source bond; she resolves to maintain her autonomy no matter how much the bond affects her.

The next morning, an irate Axel wakes Tessa and takes her for a punishing run, then brings her to a training arena where Luka waits. Luka reveals that many of Theon’s actions have been to protect Tessa from worse treatment. Theon and Axel arrive. Following Axel’s idea, they give themselves Tracking Marks and force an identical Mark on Tessa while Luka restrains her with black flames. Theon then cuts Tessa’s arm and drinks her blood to replenish his depleted magic. As she processes this latest violation, her power manifests, and light and sparks shoot from her hands.

Theon reveals that his true political goal is to kill his father and give control of Devram to the Underground’s outcasts so that he can rule the Underground himself.

In the wake of Theon’s declaration, the group’s discussion about the attack by the Night Children causes Tessa’s power to flare as her ire rises. The men step back from her warily, and she observes her glowing palms and asks them what is happening. Theon theorizes that her power is so strong it is breaking through a binding. When he moves to approach her, Luka stops him, reminding him that when Tessa’s power threatens Theon, Luka, as Theon’s Guardian, is hard-pressed not to shift into a dragon to protect Theon. He references the fact that he nearly shifted and attacked her in Rockmoor. When Luka asks why Tessa ran last night, she explains her distress over her past history with the abusive Mother Cordelia. Frustrated, Theon leaves when his father calls, and Luka subjects Tessa to a brutal session of combat training.

For two days, Tessa goes on runs with Axel and trains with Luka while Theon remains distant. She notices that the bond feels muted during the day but surges when Theon returns at night. On the third evening, they attend a social event for the Legacy. Theon instructs Tessa to stay visible but gives her latitude to give others the impression that they have a stable bond. At one point, she encounters Tristyn Blackheart, and from his very presence there, she realizes that he is a Legacy, not a mortal as he previously claimed. While dancing with her, he recites a longer version of the prophetic Revelation Decree, claiming to have personal knowledge of its origin and casting doubt on the official story. He tells her that strength grows from adversity and that she, not Theon, will one day be the “nightmare.” He encourages her to embrace chaos.

Alerted that Tristyn is dancing with Tessa, Theon approaches with Axel and Luka, deciding to create the public impression that they have an alliance with Tristyn, and Tessa seamlessly plays the role of Theon’s devoted Source. To continue the performance, Theon dances with her, and they both pretend their bond is real.

The narrative shifts back in time slightly to record Theon’s perspective on recent events. At the social, Theon feels constrained by the bond. He reflects on the divine taste of Tessa’s blood and the control he required not to take more. He also realizes that her apathy toward him concerns him more than her defiance ever did. When Luka informs him that Tristyn is dancing with Tessa, Theon nearly loses control, but Axel and Luka steer him toward a more strategic approach, choosing to make it appear that they have an alliance with Tristyn. As Theon approaches her, Tessa stiffens but plays along. To maintain appearances, Theon dances with her. Both are aware it is an act but allow themselves to pretend otherwise for the duration of the song.

Back at the townhouse, Theon confronts Tessa about Tristyn. She claims she engaged with Tristyn in order to follow Theon’s orders to learn about the people in the room. Their argument escalates, and Tessa accuses Theon of craving control because his father controls him; she then calls him a failure for being like Valter. Enraged, Theon grabs her throat. Tessa taunts him about his lack of control and takes charge by letting her dress fall. The confrontation turns passionate, and Theon uses his shadows to both restrain and arouse her, demanding that she beg. He tells her that he will not stop unless she says so. Tessa whispers for him not to stop. As they continue struggling for control, Tessa says she is not his but will use him as he uses her. In a vulnerable moment, she cries that he will never be hers. Struck by her words, Theon tosses her onto the bed and tells her that next time, she will admit that she is his. She insists there will not be a next time. He then penetrates her for the first time.

As Tessa and Theon have sex, Theon insists yet again that their connection comes from more than just the bond and talks about feeling her magic. Afterward, he holds her, but Tessa cries silently, realizing that his comments have confirmed that he only values her for her power. As Theon sleeps, her power manifests as a glow in her palm.

The next morning, Theon informs her of a dinner with Dagian Jove, and Tessa reveals that her apprehension about Dagian stems from her assessment vision, in which Dagian tortured her. Theon confirms the existence of Fae “breeding” assignments and explains that had she not been chosen as his Source, the six kingdoms would have fought over her due to her power. He reiterates that she must train to protect herself, and he claims that she is his to fight for.

In the latest training session, Luka demands that she explain the previous night and threatens to entrance her. They argue, and Luka insists that she has been whining instead of fighting. He knocks her down and tells her to be the storm.