43. Tessa

Confined after Theon departs, Tessa is summoned to the Emerging ceremony. A hooded figure with two wolves interrupts and personally marks her. As the ritual completes, Tessa erupts with blinding light, lightning, rain, and gale-force winds, throwing the Pantheon into chaos and exposing that her power is not Fae.

Axel reaches Tessa through the storm, coaxing her to focus and leading her into the corridors under cover of shadows while guards and Fae converge. Tessa’s volatile magic lashes out unpredictably as Axel fends off pursuers, emphasizing that her power trusts him while repelling others.

Achaz Lord Rordan Jove intercepts them, blasting Axel aside and binding Tessa with overwhelming light. He apologizes before knocking her unconscious, asserting control as the Pantheon collapses into panic behind them.

Tessa awakens in Rordan’s Acropolis manor, wrists banded to suppress her power. She overhears Rordan arguing with Dexter about a twenty-year plan disrupted by the Keeper’s appearance. Dexter reveals new Marks linking him to Achaz, promising to “handle it,” while Rordan treats Tessa courteously.

Rordan demonstrates light, confirms Tessa is not Fae—not even demi-Fae—and implies Achaz blood explains her abilities. He reframes the puzzle, asking why she is in Devram at all, signaling larger designs around Tessa’s origin and role.