1. Theon

Theon ransacks his father’s study and secret rooms at Arius House, desperate for any clue to Axel’s disappearance as his claim to leadership is ignored. He struggles with isolation, distrust of allies, and a tormented bond to Tessa. A nameless visitor’s message—“salvation or destruction is your choice”—draws him to the foyer, where Tristyn Blackheart arrives offering help.

Tristyn proposes taking Theon to the Underground and reveals he can Travel because he was not born in this realm. Theon brings Fae allies Corbin and Lange. After Traveling to Devram’s outskirts, they enter the tunnels; Tristyn hints at the danger of revealing too much knowledge, framing secrets as protection against meddling with fate.

They reach Cienna’s cavern. Cienna and Gia arrive with two newcomers: Razik Greybane, a dragon shifter and Guardian, and Eliza, Fire Court general. Scarlett is “forbidden to interfere,” but these two have come in her stead. Tense exchanges reveal hostility toward Legacy pretensions and that Theon’s education may be full of falsehoods.

When Razik mentions “the female who should not exist,” Theon bristles, ready to defend Tessa. The group raises the subject of a prophecy Theon apparently does not know. Frustrated by vagueness, Theon moves to leave.

Cienna stops him by invoking Tessa’s confessed dreams of Theon killing her. She warns that unless something changes, the dire visions will become the only way to stop Tessa, implying that prophecy, distorted history, and current choices are converging toward a lethal outcome.