Rain of Shadows and Endings — Chapter no 11

11

TESSA

T he sun had been high in the sky when she’d crept over the balcony railing and sidled along that narrow ledge to the trellis of climbing ivy. She’d prayed to anyone but the gods that it would hold her weight when she gingerly tested it and breathed out a sigh of relief as she shimmied down.

The wards had pressed along her skin, and these were strong. Some wards she could feel, but more in a she-knew-they-were-there sort of way. Few actually pressed to keep her out. Or in this case, keep her in. Weaker wards she didn’t feel at all. Which is why she so often found herself in trouble for being in places she wasn’t supposed to be as a child.

She’d never figured out how she could evade them. It was something she had just always been able to do. It had taken her a long time to figure out what was happening though, and by the time she fully understood it, she’d also long-since figured out how to sneak about without getting caught. Her ability to avoid the wards extended to whoever was with her, as long as they were touching. It was one of the things she never spoke of. One of the things they’d helped her keep hidden. If she was caught, Theon would question how she

evaded the wards.

So she wouldn’t get caught.

Theon’s suite overlooked the gardens along the back of the vast estate. Knowing there was no way she’d make it past the guards at the front gates, she’d gone the only way she could go—into the forest that climbed up the mountainside. Their property couldn’t go forever, right? Admittedly, she had not thought this plan through entirely. She rarely did.

Usually there were others with her when things inevitably went to shit, but she could do this. She’d find her way to a road eventually, and then… Well, she excelled at figuring things out in the moment. This wouldn’t be any different, she supposed.

She’d waited until after Axel had checked on her. She’d heard him creep into Theon’s room to make sure she was still…what? There? Breathing? Alive? Probably all three. He’d tried talking to her, but she’d ignored him just like she had Theon. As soon as Axel had gone back out to his video game though, she’d gotten out of bed. She’d already changed into jeans, a thermal, and sneakers so all she’d had to do was tie her sweatshirt around her waist and grab the small bag she’d found in the closet. She’d stuffed it with a couple bottles of water, an apple, cheese, and a bag of nuts she’d taken from the kitchen. That was all the small bag could hold. She likely wouldn’t have been able to carry anything else down the trellis or through the woods.

The sun was setting, and she paused to untie her sweatshirt and slip it over her head.

She hadn’t taken into account how quickly the temperature would drop or how she would stay warm tonight. Where was she even going to sleep? She could find a cave or something, maybe?

What if there were bears in the cave? Or something worse? There were rumors of all manner of creatures in the Ozul Mountains. Creatures that could fly… Tessa pushed those thoughts from her mind as she kept moving. She’d go until she couldn’t see anymore, getting as far away from Arius House as she possibly could and figure the rest out as she went. She didn’t really have much of a choice. She worked better under pressure anyway.

Her stomach grumbled loudly, and she sighed, reaching into the small crossbody bag and tugging out the apple to eat while she continued moving. She hadn’t eaten since dinner the night before. Another thing she really should have thought about before climbing down a three-story drop. She glanced at her muddy sneakers. Boots of some sort would have probably been a good idea too.

But she hadn’t been thinking. Her entire focus had been on getting out, getting away.

Her entire world had revolved around that one goal. Nothing else had mattered. She couldn’t think about anything else, too numb to really care. One step at a time. That’s all she could do. And each step she took away from that house was her reaching that goal.

And gods. To be outside. Not cooped up in a set of rooms, but out in the open. No rules. No boundaries. Nothing to keep her contained. Space to breathe.

Each step also sent a resounding jolt through her limbs as the Source bond protested loudly, reminding her this still wasn’t true freedom. It begged her to turn around and go back to Theon. It made her long for his touch and so much more. It pressed at her, pleading with her to give in, to serve him, to do everything in her power to please him. She gritted her teeth against the pain she’d grown used to as she’d run and eventually slowed to a walk.

She’d become numb to that too eventually. At least she hoped she would.

The sounds of the woods as she’d made her way over logs and through muddy patches had become soothing. Animals rustled and insects buzzed. She tried to keep her mind busy

as the sun sank lower.

Until she heard howling.

She couldn’t ignore that.

Those were wolves.

Tessa picked up her pace, her legs burning at the nonstop incline. Maybe she could get out of their range? But as she worked into a jog, the howling got closer. Along with barks and snarls.

Fuck this. Wolves can’t climb trees. If she had to spend the night clinging to a branch, then that’s what she’d do.

She raced forward, the bag slipping from her grasp as she ran, but she didn’t care.

There wasn’t time to stop. She slipped on the earth still wet from the storm last night, mud splattering as she stepped in puddles. Most of the trees here were pine trees, but she didn’t register the stinging cuts she got from the needles as she raced among them. The first climbable tree she found, she started making her way up. How high could wolves jump?

Four feet? Five feet? Six?

She went higher and higher until she was at least halfway up the giant tree just as two huge black wolves leapt from a clearing. She didn’t know wolves could be that big, but they looked like they could jump higher than six feet. Orange eyes glowed as if they were embers. They prowled to the base of the tree she was in, and one stood up on its hind legs, placing its huge front paws on the trunk. It tipped its head back and howled to the ever darkening sky. The wolf beside it began circling the tree, joining its brother in the chorus.

How many more were they calling to join them? How long would they stay here trying to reach her? Would they eventually give up?

The sound of branches breaking and thundering paws had her trembling as she tried to climb higher. Weapons. A weapon of some sort would have been a good idea to bring with her.

Difficult. Impulsive. Reckless.

She cried out as her foot slipped, her torso scraping along the bark and pulling her from her spiral of thoughts. Clinging to the branch she was grasping, she pulled herself back up until she was resting against the trunk.

The thundering of paws slowed and then ceased, and Tessa held her breath. Had they decided not to come after all? But the two wolves still paced around the base of her tree, yipping and pawing at the trunk. The sound of more twigs snapping had her whipping her head in the direction of the sound.

But it wasn’t wolves that emerged from between a cluster of trees. It was a massive black horse. It hadn’t been paws but thundering hooves. The wolves at the base of the tree ran to the horse then back to the tree, barking in excitement. The black horse and the wolves weren’t what held her attention though. It was the male on the back of the horse who was looking up at her with the rage of a thousand angry spirits from the depths of the Pits.

Theon brought his horse to a halt as another equally gigantic horse emerged from the opposite direction. Luka sat astride this horse, and when his eyes locked on Tessa, they seemed to glow faintly.

Theon gave a sharp whistle as he slid off the horse. The two wolves immediately quieted and sat at the base of the tree.

He reached into a bag tied to his saddle, and as he approached the wolves, he passed them each some type of meat. The wolves instantly tore into their rewards, soft snarling drifting up to her. Finally, he brought those emerald green eyes back to hers. She already couldn’t move, but now she couldn’t breathe either. The bond was having a fit in her chest, practically yanking her out of the tree to get to him.

“There are far scarier things in these woods than my hounds,” his smooth voice crooned, carrying up to her.

“You don’t scare me, Theon,” Tessa retorted, grateful her voice didn’t waiver because she was fucking terrified.

“I really, really should, beautiful,” he answered, a cruel smile twisting on his lips.

Darkness began to coil and swarm around his feet, creeping over the ground like a dense fog. It stood out starkly, even amongst the dimming light of dusk.

Theon lifted his palms, and Tessa’s eyes widened as the darkness slithered from him like snakes. Shadows darker than night twisted and wound their way up the tree to her. She tried to scramble away from them, but where was she going to go? She was up a fucking tree.

Such a stupid move. Who traps themselves in a tree?

Someone reckless and impulsive. That’s who.

The darkness wrapped itself around her waist before it suddenly jerked, wrenching her from the branch and suspending her fifteen feet from the ground. Tessa screamed as he held her there, Theon staring up at her with a satisfied smirk on his mouth. His wolves, having finished their treats, sat obediently at his side, and in that moment, all she could see was the God of Endings himself looking up at her. She saw everything his bloodline entailed. Power and death exuded from him in waves. And darkness. So much darkness.

As if the floor had been pulled from beneath her, Tessa was plunging to the forest floor.

Another scream ripped from her throat, but she was yanked to a halt and placed on her feet

by the shadows that clung to her waist. The wolves were on their feet, low growls sounding, but Theon strode purposefully forward. She backed up until she bumped into the tree she’d climbed. He didn’t slow, coming right up to her and forcing her to tilt her head back to look up at him. What was he going to do to her?

“Are you physically hurt anywhere?” he asked, his tone formal and authoritative. His hands came to her face, where he tilted her head from side-to-side, before systematically working his way down her body. He didn’t wait for her to answer, healing any scrapes and bruises he found as he went.

When he was satisfied she was fine, he gripped her elbow, hauling her over to his massive horse. With a flick of his fingers, his darkness again wrapped around her, and she gasped at the contact as she was lifted from her feet and onto the back of the horse. Theon hoisted himself into the saddle behind her, reaching around her to grip the reins. Tessa didn’t know what to do or how to sit. She’d never been on a horse before.

As if he suddenly realized this, Theon spoke low into her ear. “Relax and sit back into me, Tessa. We have quite a ride ahead of us, and you will be incredibly uncomfortable if you sit like that the entire time.”

His arm snaked around her waist where the darkness had been, and he tugged her back into the cradle of his hips. She couldn’t hold in the soft moan that fell from her lips as pleasure darted up her spine. Without thinking, she pressed back into him even more, her back flush against his chest.

“My thoughts precisely,” he murmured, his lips brushing the shell of her ear. “But this discussion will be had when we are back in our rooms.”

Tessa stiffened at the implications of those words as Theon urged the horse into motion. Her hands flew forward, grasping the saddle horn to keep herself steady, despite his arm wrapped tightly around her. She’d like to think he wouldn’t let her fall off the horse, but the one time she’d let herself trust him, he’d shoved her beneath a table.

Theon whistled sharply, and the wolves fell into step beside the horse, staying close to their master’s side. Luka came to ride beside them, and they worked the horses into a steady trot.

They rode for over two hours, covering the same distance that had taken her an entire afternoon and into the evening to traverse. All of that work and effort for nothing, and despite trying to relax into Theon, she was tense against him. He was warm though…

No.

That feeling was the damn bond.

Arius House came into view as they crested a small hill, and Tessa sucked in a breath as they slowed the horses. The wolves panted, clearly as tired as she felt.

“We better walk the rest of the way,” Theon said to Luka, speaking for the first time since he’d hauled her out of the tree. “The hounds need to rest.”

“They did good work today,” Luka commented casually. “It’s been a while since I’ve hunted with them.”

Tessa huffed. Hunted. She’d been hunted today. The arm that Theon still held tightly around her tensed at her disapproval.

“I thought of taking two of the younger ones, but I needed my best trackers,” Theon replied.

Luka shrugged as he considered. “True. You should bring a pup out with Kacela some time though. He’d learn from her.”

“Valid point. That is how Rigel became so skilled. I don’t get out as much as I used to.”

They rode in silence for a while longer until Luka said, “You know that Absko and Eyal are going to be upset they were left behind today, right?”

Theon huffed a laugh. “It isn’t as if we could each ride two horses.”

“They won’t see it that way,” Luka muttered. “They’re going to be a handful for the stablehands until you take them out.”

Theon was quiet for a few seconds before he said, “Maybe in a few days I can get back down here and take them out. However, the next couple of days are pretty full.”

“Is that right?” Luka asked with exaggerated curiosity.

His tone snagged Tessa’s interest, and she glanced at Luka, startled to find him staring straight at her. She quickly looked forward once more, swallowing nervously. The pace was more of a stroll now, and she was very ready to get off the horse and out of Theon’s arms.

She jolted as the bond punished her for such a thought. It had been happily humming away for the last two hours. She’d forgotten the brutality of the thing that she’d dealt with most of the day.

“What’s wrong?” Theon asked. She felt him dip his head to speak to her.

Refusing to look over her shoulder at him, she answered shortly, “Nothing. I’m fine.”

“Then what was that? Why did you jump?”

She pressed her lips together and ignored him.

Before Theon could press her for an answer, Luka spoke again. “What’s made your next couple of days so full, Theon?”

Theon sat up straighter. They had reached the paths of the gardens, and he turned the horse towards what Tessa assumed were the stables. “You know damn well why my next

couple of days are so full,” he said.

“I do, yes. But does she?”

Tessa stiffened. She didn’t want to know what she had to do with Theon’s next couple of days.

“She will find out soon enough,” Theon replied.

Nothing else was said until they reached the stables. Theon slid down, landing gracefully on his feet. He dropped to a knee, leaving her atop the horse while he praised his wolves for their excellent tracking. They rubbed against him, licking his hands and face, and Tessa couldn’t help but wonder how he’d trained wolves.

Luka had dismounted as well, untying a bag, and handing the reins off to a stablehand.

“Make sure they get rubbed down well. They were worked hard today.”

The Fae nodded, and as he led Luka’s horse away, a loud huffing sound came from a pen. Another massive black horse stuck his head over a gate and began knocking on his stall with his hoof.

“Told you,” Luka said pointedly to Theon.

Theon breathed out a laugh as he untied something from the saddle Tessa was still stuck in. How long was he going to leave her up here?

“Hold him steady,” he said, handing the reins to another waiting stablehand. She watched in dismay as he left her there and strode over to the disgruntled horse. As he

approached, yet another horse stuck its head out, huffing directly into Theon’s ear as he passed by. It was as if the horse had planned a surprise attack.

“Hey, now,” Theon scolded, but his tone was anything but upset. He pushed the horse away by his nose. “I’ll take you out soon. I promise.” The horse huffed again, and Theon reached into the bag, pulling out an apple. “Peace offering?”

At first, the large beast didn’t seem like he was going to take the fruit, but then it swiped it quickly from Theon’s outstretched palm. The first horse whinnied in displeasure.

“Relax, Absko,” Theon chided. “I have one for you too.”

When the horses appeared satisfied, Theon returned to the horse Tessa still sat upon.

He slung the bag over his shoulder, then flicked his wrist. Shadows appeared, winding around her again. They weren’t as rough as when they’d ripped her out of the tree, but it still took everything in her not to scream as they lifted her from the horse.

When her feet hit the ground, she stumbled a bit at being on her feet again, but Theon caught her. His hands on her hips, he waited until she was steady, then one hand clamped onto her elbow.

“Can you take Kacela and Rigel to the kennels and make sure they are fed and given water?” Theon asked Luka.

“I can,” Luka answered slowly, eyeing them both.

“Thank you. We will see you tomorrow for a late breakfast. Say mid-morning?”

Tessa started. No. Luka had to be there tonight. He wouldn’t leave her to deal with Theon on her own, would he?

Luka was quiet for a long moment before he finally sighed. “Are you sure you do not want assistance tonight?”

“That won’t be necessary,” Theon answered curtly, tugging her along beside him as he headed for the door. “We will see you in the morning.”

Tessa swallowed thickly while Theon led her through the garden paths and back to the house. He clearly knew the area well, but she stumbled along in the dark. She’d been dreading this moment. Not facing Theon and whatever consequences he may dole out for her trying to leave. But stepping back into this house? Two silent tears tracked down her face when Theon opened the door for her and motioned for her to enter first. His lips thinned when he noticed the tears, but he said nothing, following her through the side door of the east wing.

She dragged her feet as they climbed the stairs and went down the hall to Theon’s suite. The wards pulled back, recognizing Theon, and he tugged her through the door. Axel immediately stood from the sofa.

“Thank the gods you found her,” he said, coming over to them. Theon had finally released his hold on her and was removing his jacket and boots.

“Yes. Kacela and Rigel were exceptional as always,” Theon replied.

Axel was looking at Tessa, worry filling his emerald eyes. “Do you need me to do anything or…?” He trailed off, his gaze flickering from her to Theon and back again.

“No,” Theon answered, pulling his shirt from his jeans. “We are having a late breakfast tomorrow. You are welcome to join us mid-morning.”

“Is Luka coming back tonight?” Axel asked cautiously.

“He is not,” Theon said, crossing to the kitchen and pulling a bottle of whiskey from the liquor cabinet. “I need some time with my Source to discuss some things,” he

continued, pouring the liquor and taking a sip.

Tessa flinched back at the words.

My Source.

Not her name.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay a little longer?” Axel pressed, clear trepidation lining his features as he cast another worried look at her.

Tessa could have kissed him for trying.

“Good night, Axel,” Theon said firmly, glancing pointedly at the door. “Thank you for everything today.”

Axel gave Tessa a pitying look before he scooped up his phone and a sweatshirt and left without another word. Tessa stood rooted to the spot where Theon had left her. Her sneakers were muddy, and her clothing was just as filthy. Her hair was a mess from the ride back, and her face was tear-stained from the events of the last two days. She didn’t move as she waited for the barrage of questions and demands she was sure were coming.

What was she thinking?

Did she really think this would work?

Where did she think she was going to go?

How did she get past the wards?

Why couldn’t she simply obey commands and rules?

Why couldn’t she fall into line?

Too wild. Too disobedient. Too much of a hassle.

Theon drained the last of his whiskey, the glass settling back onto the counter with a faint clunk. He braced his hands against the edge of the countertop and stared at her. She couldn’t read his eyes or his features, but she held his gaze, staring right back at him.

After nearly an entire minute, he began walking slowly towards her, and she couldn’t help but take a step back. “What are you going to do?” she whispered.

“Oh, Tessa,” he said mockingly. “There is so much that needs to be said. So much that needs to be discussed. So much that needs to be done.”

With every step he took, the farther she stepped back until she hit the dining table. She looked around frantically, trying to find something to…what? Defend herself? It wouldn’t matter. She’d seen his magic in the woods, but she knew that wasn’t nearly the full extent of it. And when he could draw even more power from her? He’d be an unyielding force.

“But none of that is what I am going to do now.”

“It’s not?” she breathed.

“No, it’s not.” He stopped directly in front of her, his eyes roaming over her with an intensity she didn’t know what to do with. “Right now, I’m going to count to three, and then I’m going to kiss you.”

“You’re going to…” She trailed off, sure she wasn’t understanding what he was saying.

“If you do not want me to kiss you, say so before I get to three,” he added with a casual shrug. “One.”

He stepped further into her personal space. His hands came to her waist, lifting her smoothly onto the table, and Tessa’s breath caught in her throat. She was too flustered to

process what was happening.

“Two.”

Theon slid his hands down her thighs to her knees, where he pulled them apart and stepped between them. One hand came to the back of her neck, and he leaned forward, lining his lips up with hers.

She opened her mouth to tell him to stop, but nothing came out. The cord inside her was frenzied with anticipation, and something unacceptable was curling low in her

stomach, heat flooding through her.

“Three.”

He didn’t wait another second, pulling her the short distance that was left between their lips. This kiss wasn’t soft and slow. It was hard and punishing. This kiss possessed her very being. His tongue pressed against the seam of her lips, demanding access, and she let him in. He tasted of night and smoke as their tongues tangled with each other. His hand held her in place at the back of her head, while the hand on her hip worked its way under her layers to graze bare flesh.

Her skin tingled wherever he touched, and tiny sparks of energy seemed to follow his fingers. She gasped when his hand reached her breast, squeezing it over her bra.

This damn bond.

Or was it the bond?

She couldn’t focus enough to worry about it as his mouth left hers and began making its way down the column of her throat. Her hand sank into the silken strands of his black hair, while her other hand gripped the edge of the table. She was trying to remind herself that she was only feeling this way because of the bond. That if it weren’t for that, she wouldn’t be letting him touch her, but she couldn’t focus on anything but his lips on her neck as they sucked and teased. He was going to leave a different kind of mark on her skin at this rate, and a part of her didn’t care as she sank into the pleasure of it all.

When a soft moan escaped her lips, a dark growl came from Theon. His hands left her body, reaching for the edge of her sweatshirt and lifting it over her head in one swift movement. He wasted no time returning his lips to her skin, to her mouth.

His hands slid down her sides, over her hips, down her thighs, as if he couldn’t touch her enough, and she couldn’t get enough of his touch. Unable to stop herself any longer, her other hand finally wrapped around his neck, drawing him closer. He growled again in approval, and a hand slipped back under the thermal. Fingers dragged up along her spine.

Theon wrapped her ponytail around his other fist, yanking on it to tilt her head back.

At her gasp, he drew back, nipping her bottom lip. His eyes were darkened with want as he stared down at her, his breathing as ragged as her own. He seemed to search for something in her eyes, and she didn’t know if he found it or if he gave up when he said with a voice like gravel, “Go and shower, Tessa. I’ll have clothes laid out for you in the closet. You have five minutes, and I will be entering the bathroom.”

Still trying to think through her lust-addled mind, Tessa blinked several times. “I…I can’t be done showering in five minutes. I’m a mess.”

Theon released her hair and straightened, forcing Tessa to crane her neck back even more to look up into his face.

“If you think I am letting you out of my sight for longer than five minutes in the near future, you are sorely mistaken. You are lucky I am not following you into the shower itself.

If not to finish what we were doing here, then at the very least, to ensure you do not somehow figure out a way to slip down the godsdamn drain.”

Tessa felt her face flush at his words, and she lowered her eyes, biting her bottom lip.

Theon stepped back, and she nearly fell off the table.

“Go, Tessa. Your time is counting down.”

She scrambled down at those words, rushing across the room and into Theon’s bedroom. Lifting her shirt as she went, she kicked off her sneakers that had surely left a trail of mud. She undressed in the bathroom, not bothering to get her clothes to the laundry bin in the closet as she turned on a set of the shower heads to lukewarm. Despite how cold it was outside, her skin was on fire after what had just happened on the table.

What had just happened on the table?

She had expected rage and fury to be pouring off of Theon, and in a way, they had been. He had hardly spoken to her since finding her up a tree, and he’d seemed to take at least a small amount of pleasure from scaring her half to death when he yanked her off that branch with his magic. Luka had certainly hinted that Theon had plans for her, and Axel had seemed nervous about leaving her alone with him.

So why had he done that?

She was rinsing the conditioner from her long hair when movement caught her eye through the glass shower walls. Theon didn’t even glance at her as he moved through the bathroom and into the closet. He’d removed his own shirt and his jeans were unbuttoned.

He may not have looked at her, but she sure as shit watched him. Suddenly realizing her time was likely up, she quickly finished rinsing her hair before shutting off the water and grabbing her towels.

When she’d dried off and wrapped her hair up, she moved cautiously to the closet where he had indeed set out clothing on the island dresser. Theon was no longer in there though. She quickly dressed in the lounge pants and tank top he’d laid out for her. She knew she’d be grabbing a thermal to sleep in when she went to bed. The thin blanket she had would definitely not keep her warm enough, and that small room was drafty.

She went back to the bathroom to comb her hair, already dreading how long it was going to take to work out knots even after a conditioning treatment. Theon reentered as she was working the brush methodically through her strands. He stopped just inside the doorway, leaning against it and crossing his arms.

“I also need to clean up.”

“Okay…” she said slowly, going to set the brush down on the sink.

“You are not to leave the bathroom while I do.”

“I’m not staying in here while you shower, Theon,” she protested.

“You are, Tessa. You will stay where I can see you the entire time,” he replied, striding farther into the bathroom.

“I’m not going to go anywhere,” she muttered.

Theon gave her a dry look that had Tessa shrinking back.

“Do not leave the bathroom, Tessa,” he repeated before brushing past her. “If I have to chase you down while naked, I cannot be held entirely responsible for what will happen when I catch you.”

Tessa walked to the bench of the makeup table as the sound of clothing being shucked off and hitting the floor reached her ears before the shower was turned back on. She kept her back resolutely to him, ignoring the annoying voice telling her to sneak a peek over her shoulder.

A few minutes later, the shower shut off, and he walked by with a towel wrapped around his waist. “Don’t move,” he said without looking at her as he made his way into the closet.

Tessa scowled, crossing her arms. He returned in less than a minute in lounge pants and no shirt. Her eyes raked over his muscled torso and along the tapering trail that disappeared into the band of his pants. Part of her wanted to touch. The other part of her wanted to stab him with something.

Or make him sit at her feet beneath a godsdamn table.

“Do you need anything to eat or drink before we go to bed?” he asked, drawing her from her thoughts.

She shook her head. It wasn’t smart. Experience told her food would likely become sparse in the coming days. She’d hardly eaten, but she also had no appetite after how it had ended.

Theon nodded once before striding from the bathroom. Tessa sighed and stood, but instead of following him out to his bedroom, she crossed through the closet and into her small space. She frowned when she found the bed missing its blanket, but before she could ask about it, Theon called out from the other room.

“You are not sleeping in there tonight.”

She went rigid and stormed to his bedroom. He was pulling back the blankets on his bed before turning to place his phone on a charger on his bedside table.

“Where is my blanket?” she demanded.

“It was in the stables so Kacela and Rigel could learn your scent to track you down in the woods. One would assume it is still there,” he replied calmly.

“What am I supposed to use as a blanket?”

“There are plenty on the bed,” he said, giving a pointed look at the comforter.

“I am not sleeping in a bed with you.”

Theon’s gaze snapped to hers, and Tessa cringed at the darkness that crept across his irises.

“You are sleeping in this bed with me, Tessa. You were gone for hours. The bond is demanding your closeness right now, despite riding so closely on Osiris and what we did on the table. So yes, you will be sleeping in this bed with me tonight. You will sleep in this bed with me for the foreseeable future because you are my Source and that is what is required of you.”

Tessa opened and closed her mouth, not knowing what to say to that. She watched as he climbed into the bed.

With a sharp look, he said, “Come to bed, Tessa. If I am this tired, you are surely exhausted after traipsing through the woods for half a day.” When she still didn’t move, he sighed. “Do not make me force this. Tomorrow is going to be exhausting for both of us. It would do well for you to get a good night’s rest.”

“Why will tomorrow be exhausting?” Tessa asked, getting stuck on that one word.

“Because tomorrow we will discuss dinner last night, what happened today, how things will be different in the future, and everything in between. Now come to bed.”

Theon watched her warily when she finally began moving. He trailed her all the way to the bed, and she settled down on the very edge as far away from him as possible. There was another audible sigh before his arm looped around her waist and pulled her across the bed.

She tried to stiffen against him, but her body didn’t cooperate. Instead, all of her muscles relaxed, and she snuggled back against his bare chest. He worked his other arm under her, wrapping it across her shoulders, securing her to him. As she leaned her head back onto his shoulder, her eyes almost immediately closed, and she felt the barest touch of lips press to the top of her head.

Emotions roared inside of her, and for the life of her, she couldn’t figure out which were her own and which were because of the bond that had been forced on her. She had the strongest urge to apologize to him for the day. If he felt half of the agony she’d felt with every step she took, she knew he’d been in pain. Although, the thing seemed to work differently for him. But then again, maybe an apology tonight would lessen the blows that were going to come in the morning. She always seemed to earn food privileges back faster at the Estate when she admitted fault right away, even if she didn’t mean it.

Taking a deep breath, she whispered, “Theon?”

“Not tonight, Tessa. I don’t have the energy to deal with this tonight,” he murmured.

Tessa’s lips tilted into a frown. What did that mean? He didn’t have the energy for this conversation? Or to deal with her entirely?

You are too much of a hassle.

“But I—”

“Enough, Tessa,” he bit out sharply. “This will be handled in the morning.”

Tessa didn’t answer. Only nodded her head once to convey her understanding.

She knew Theon had fallen asleep when his breathing turned deep and steady. But she was still awake, her mind wandering and conjuring all the ways Theon might punish her tomorrow. Her thoughts swirled, and she spiraled until she found herself counting.

One, two, three.

It was something she’d started doing when she was younger, enduring whatever method Mother Cordelia was using to try to ‘fix her.’ It’d become a habit, always finding herself counting when she needed an escape. She’d count the seconds, telling herself she could do anything for one more second. And another. And another. One more second turned into one more minute, became one more hour.

But she hadn’t needed to count much since Dex and the others had come around.

They’d become the seconds, the minutes, the hours, helping her breathe until the light made

it through the cracks in the dark.

Fifty-six, fifty-seven, fifty-eight.

She counted long into the night before sleeping finally claimed her.