Tessa Cade

***This article contains spoilers for Defy the Night and Defend the Dawn. If you have not read these books, it is recommended that you proceed with caution.***

Tessa Cade is the one of the main protagonists and narrators, a lowly, orphaned apothecary's apprentice, and rebel. Despite having little, Tessa uses what she has to fight to protect her people from the Fever, a mystery illness ravaging the population of Kandala.

## Biographical Information

### Sector

* Artis (formerly)
* Royal (currently)

## Physical Description

### Family

* Unnamed Mother †
* Unnamed Father †

### Friends

* Weston Lark † (best friend)
* Karri
* Quint
* Erik Rocco

### Romantic

* Weston Lark † (love interest)
* Prince Corrick (boyfriend, in love with)
* Rian Blakemore (love interest)

## Biography

### Early Life

*There is little information include in Defy the Night about Tessa's life before the events of the book took place.*

Tessa lived with her parents in Artis. Her parents worked with a rebel group, who sold them Moonflower petals they had stolen from the Royal sector. As apothecaries, they had the knowledge to turn the petals into the Cure. Rather than selling the Cure for a profit, they only charged their customers so much they could pay back the rebels. Despite not having much themselves, Tessa's parents wanted to be selfless in how they helped others.

Eventually, the pair were caught by the **King's** night patrol while distributing the medicine and were executed on sight. Tessa was hiding while it happened, and was only stopped from intervening and causing her own execution by Wes.

This was their first meeting, and the beginning of their partnership. They continued with her parents legacy.

After the death of her parents, Tessa lives alone in a rented room in a boarding house.

### Defy the Night

***In progress....***

While they are continuing with the work of Tessa's parents, Tessa and her best friend and potential love interest, Wes, have a slightly different system. They steal Moonflower petals from the rich living in the Royal sector, to turn into the Cure, and deliver to the poor (without charge) who cannot otherwise afford it. The two continue to work together until Wes's death.

Tessa feels she is no longer safe stealing and making the deliveries, on her own, so she stops for a period. During this time, she continues working as an apothecary, and the rebellion continues brewing.

It is not long, however, before the guilt of leaving people to die becomes too much, and Tessa decides to steal more moonflower, however, this time, not just from the royal sector - from inside the palace. She makes into the palace by blending in with the servants entering in the morning. After hiding out all day, she comes out when night falls, only to be caught.

## Personality

As soon as we are introduced to Tessa, she is a selfless young woman, who despite not having any family of her own, seems dearly loved by those she helps.

She has a fierce determination to make the kingdom a better and safer place for everyone, going so far as to put herself in danger in order to bring about positive change. When the possibility of a revolution arises, she is fearless in her actions, and claims she wants to be at the frontline.

While Tessa seems to be outwardly strong, and what some might consider to be aloof, throughout the book, we learn about her true depth of feeling and empathy. She truly believes the best in everyone, and is willing to give second chances. Even after she is betrayed by Wes (Corrick) she finds it in herself to forgive him, and the two become close friends and confidants once again.

## Physical Description

Tessa is described as having a lean frame, and being relatively short, yet able to move quickly and nimbly. She is described as having a tan complexion with freckles, hazel eyes, and long brown hair worn in a tight braid. Her face is round with high cheekbones, often framed by strands of hair.

Due to her social standing, Tessa is unable to afford extravagant garments, so she wears homespun clothes, described as plain, simple, and sometimes old and faded.

## Relationships

### Weston Lark

Weston is Tessa's best friend, and love interest at the beginning of 'Defy the Night'. They first meet after Tessa's parents are killed, Wes holding her back and saving her from her own execution. Together, they continue what Tessa and her parents had started, providing the cure to those who could not afford it, stealing from the rich elites in the royal sector.

Wes has a playful relationship with Tessa, the two often teasing each other. They are very protective of one another, Tessa often telling Wes she hates him for making her worry, and Wes doing things such as stealing food so Tessa would be able to eat. He is also very loyal, willing to go along with Tessa's ideas at the detriment of his own safety.

While at first Wes seems hesitant to start a romantic relationship with Tessa, the two do eventually kiss, before Wes's last trip into the Royal Sector.

### Karri

Tessa first meets Karri when she begins working at Mistress Solomon's Shop, where they are apothecary apprentices. Through their interactions at the shop, the two form a friendship, gossiping and chatting over their work. The two seem to be kindred spirits, caring for and looking out for each other. While trapped in the palace, Tessa often reminisces about how good to her Karri always was.

### Quint

Quint's first appearance is when he is introduced as the master of the castle. Although he is not in a position to become friends with Tessa, and all the information he possess suggests he should be treating her as a criminal, he is kind to her. It is as if he could always sense her apprehension, giving her comfort and support during her time in the palace. Quint's initial kindness is what allows him to form a tentative friendship with Tessa.

### Prince Corrick

Upon their first encounter, Tessa is wary of Prince Corrick. His reputation around the kingdom means Tessa is terrified of him, and certainly hesitant to get to know him.

Soon after meeting, Corrick reveals to Tessa that he is, in fact, Wes. This causes the opposite reaction in Tessa than Corrick has hoped for. She becomes even more wary of him, and claims to hate him. What he did caused her a lot of pain, and that was something Tessa needed time to forgive him for.

Throughout the book however, it is clear that the two still care deeply for each other. Corrick is very protective, ultimately saving Tessa from execution, and Tessa is always protective of Corrick's emotional wellbeing, due to the trauma caused by him being the King's Justice. Their relationship grows until they eventually kiss. The true extent of their feelings comes out once Lochlan reveals to the rebels that Wes is Corrick.

Ultimately, the pair have a strong relationship. They became solid friends, working through all their past issues, before they started a romantic relationship. Once they did, the were a pillar for one another, finding strength in each other.

In *Defend the Dawn*, they grow much closer, though they experience bumps along the way. Captain Rian Blakemore shows interest in Tessa, and Tessa finds it easy to like him and briefly turn away from Corrick due to Rian's altruistic ways, and Corrick's past cruelty. She eventually comes to realize that Corrick did the best he could and is a good person. The two confess their love for one another, with Tessa calling him Cory, a nickname previously only used by his brother.

### Rian Blakemore

Tessa believed Rian to be unexpected when they met, and she was surprised by his youth and looks. She also described him as very principled and as having extreme loyalty from his crew.

When on Rian's boat, they grow closer, with Rian teaching Tessa how to climb the rigging. Tessa finds it easy to like him due to his kindness and altruism.

Rian is jealous of Tessa's relationship with Corrick and tells her she is being manipulated. After Tessa discovers his true identity, she calls him a liar and even though she is furious at him, it is clear he still likes her a lot. He listened to her over Gwyn when she begged him not to hurt Rocco. She admits that she "has his ear."