Rain of Shadows and Endings — Chapter no 37

37

THEON

H e waited until they were upstairs in their room.

They’d left the social an hour later. Axel had stayed behind, back to whispering in the ear of the dark-haired female. Luka had driven them home, but he hadn’t even come into the house. He was already stripping off his jacket, tie, and shirt, clearly planning on flying under the cover of night.

Which left Theon completely alone with Tessa.

Her display of newfound fierceness had instantly vanished as she’d slid across the seat, giving him her back and staring out the window for the short drive home. She hadn’t said a word, and she wasn’t saying anything now as she strode straight into the dressing room.

Theon followed her, finding her struggling to reach the zipper on the back of her dress.

He brushed her hands out of the way, and she immediately tensed. Leaning in close, his lips brushed her ear when he asked, “Ready to tell me what the fuck you were doing with him?”

He let his fingers graze her skin as he slowly slid the zipper down.

“You saw us. We were dancing,” she answered, her tone clipped as she held the front of her dress against her chest.

“For the sake of clarity, you allowed another to touch you without my permission. Was I not clear what would happen if that occurred?”

“And yet Tristyn still breathes,” she retorted.

“For now,” he agreed, his hand falling to his side when she spun to face him.

“You can’t just kill him, Theon.”

“The events at Wynfell River suggest I could do just that.”

“He’s not just some vampyre. He’s a Legacy, same as you.”

Theon reached out, fingering a lock of her hair. “Oh, little storm. Do you think I have not shed the blood of a Legacy? For things far less than touching what is mine?”

“I am not yours,” she gritted out, moving to shove past him, but he gripped her arm, spinning her once more and moving her against the wall. He moved with her, his chest to her back as she gasped.

“What were you doing with him, Tessa? In front of dozens of Legacy looking for weaknesses?” he demanded.

“I was doing exactly what you asked of me,” she bit back. One hand was braced on the wall, keeping her face from pressing into it. Her other hand was still clutching her dress to

her front.

“How do you figure that?”

“Watch. Listen. Learn everything you can about the people in this room,” she spat. “So I was learning everything I could about Tristyn.”

That godsdamn smart mouth. That’s all Theon could think, and he couldn’t decide if he was furious with her or proud of her for finding a workaround. It was that kind of cunning he needed from her, but not to be used against him.

“Do you have any idea what that looked like to the other Legacy?” he asked, his voice far too calm. He could tell she felt it too, her body going even more rigid.

“I swear, Theon. I was only trying to find out information for you.”

He hummed at her non-answer. “And what did you learn for me?” While he spoke, he brought a hand to her shoulder, slipping the strap down and running his fingers along her flesh.

“I…I found it odd none of us realized he was a Legacy in Rockmoor. I was trying to figure out how that was possible,” she answered, her voice breathy as he did the same thing

to the other strap.

“And what did you learn?” he repeated.

“I—” Then with a burst of strength he wasn’t expecting, she twisted in his hold, spinning to face him. “Stop,” she snarled. “I can’t think when you’re doing that.”

“Maybe you can understand a fraction of what it was like to learn you were with him then,” Theon retorted, bracing his hands on the wall beside her head, caging her in. “The fury that made it impossible to focus on anything else.”

She smirked. “Oh, I understand helpless fury just fine, Theon.”

“Do you, little storm? Because lately it’s just been indifference.” Her lips pursed, her gaze darting to the side, and he gripped her chin, forcing it back to him. “Luka and Axel said the latest arrangements haven’t been working, and I’m inclined to agree.”

“That’s on you,” she sneered. “I don’t get a say in the arrangements. I’m told where to go and when, what to say and how to say it.”

“And yet you continuously do the opposite. You know what I think, Tessa?”

“I don’t care what you think.”

He released her chin, letting his fingers drag down her throat before he traced them along the neckline of the dress she was still clutching to her chest. “I think you enjoy toeing the line. It makes you feel alive.”

“You know nothing about me, Theon. Nothing.”

“I know you hate socks.” She clicked her tongue, turning away from him again, but he kept going. “I know you love food that is terrible for you. I know heels hurt your feet.”

“Heels hurt everyone’s feet. Anyone who tells you otherwise is a liar,” she grumbled.

“I know you’d rather be on a Chaosphere field than stuck inside. You prefer mornings over nights. You’ve discovered a love of music. You hate running, but love it at the same time. You’re impulsive and reckless, and your friends use that against you, but pretend they are doing you favors.”

Her eyes snapped back to his. “They do not do that.”

“No, perhaps not all of them. I’ll give you that,” he conceded. “But I know more than that.”

“I can’t wait to hear it,” she said with derision.

He leaned in close, bringing his face a mere inch from hers. “You didn’t want to be Selected as a Source, but a part of you is glad you were because it means you’re not as worthless as you’ve clearly been told you are. That someone just might see some value in you, even if you can’t see it yourself. It’s a little bit of hope you’re too afraid to cling to, so you let yourself sink instead. But that’s not what scares you the most. No, the thing that scares you most is that you want this life. You want to be more than forgotten. You want to be more than just another Fae assigned to some menial task in the kingdoms. I know you’re simply too afraid to admit you want it, let alone claim it. How did I do, little storm? How close am I? How well do I not know you?”

She was staring at him, and even with everything he did know about her, he still couldn’t read any of the emotions swimming in her eyes. He’d known this would go one of two ways. She’d either shut down or she’d fight, and gods, he hoped she was going to

fucking fight with him because she needed to let out all that rage before it consumed her. A person could only push that down so far before it boiled over.

Or in Tessa’s case, before he found himself being blasted across a fucking parking lot.

Her chest was heaving, and he waited, watching her every move. He’d moved back a fraction, just enough to give her a little space to breathe, but not enough to go anywhere.

Her lips suddenly curved, the smile so dark and wicked he didn’t think she was capable of such a thing. “You think I want this life?” she asked, and the chill of her tone sent the same through him. “Oh, Theon. Why in the realms would I want to be bonded to you for the rest of my years?”

A bark of incredulous laughter fell from her lips, and Theon almost smiled at the viciousness of it.

“You, Theon St. Orcas, are exactly the reason I didn’t want to be Selected. Who in their right mind wants to be chained to someone who craves control because he doesn’t have any?” He unwittingly took a step back from her, and that maniacal smile only grew, violet rings sparking in her eyes. “You think I haven’t noticed? You think I haven’t watched? Listened? Learned everything I can about the people I am forced to spend every wretched minute with? Axel deflects anything and everything, pacifying someone just enough until he can figure out how to get what he wants. Luka acts broody and apathetic, but in reality? He’s searching for himself and how he fits into all of this fuckery. And you?”

A pointed finger landed on his chest, a nail digging into the fabric of his shirt. “You think you have control because your father gives you the illusion that you do. You force everyone to bend to your will because you are forever forced to bend to his. You demand perfection.

Tell me failure is not an option, but you are the biggest failure of all, aren’t you? Because you are exactly like your father, despite every effort not to be.”

His hand was around her throat before she could blink—before he could blink— shoving her back against the wall once more.

She didn’t even flinch.

Instead, she continued to smirk at him, her eyes glowing brightly as she said, “How did I do, Master? How close am I? How well do I not know you?”

“Tell me why I shouldn’t hunt down Tristyn right now and make him pay for touching what is mine? To show just how in control I am, Tessalyn.”

“You call this control? Your hand is on my throat,” she tossed back.

And a dark smirk curved on his own lips as he answered, “If I wasn’t in control, Tessa, I’d be squeezing. You know that’s why I’ve left you to Luka and Axel the last few days, right? So I could make sure I was in control when I’m around you.”

She scoffed. “And you think you’re in control when you constantly need keepers to keep you in check?”

“I don’t need keepers,” he snapped, his fingers flexing the barest amount.

“You have no control, Theon,” she repeated. “They call me reckless and impulsive, but I can take control from you with one hand.”

“Is that so?” he countered.

“Yes.”

“Then do it.”

And she did.

With one hand, just like she said.

She released the dress she was still managing to clutch to her chest. The fabric slid down her body like water, pooling at her feet so she was left standing before him in barely there underthings and six-inch heels.

“Tessa.” Her name was a growl as his fingers flexed around her throat again.

“Tell me again about that control, Theon,” she taunted with malice. “You can’t even control me, the one person in the entire realm you’re supposed to have complete dominion over.”

Everything in him was reaching for her— his magic, the bond, his entire being in a need to… He didn’t even know anymore. Claim her? Show her who was in control? Give her control?

His breathing was ragged as he drank in all the skin bared to him. Golden hair spilled over her shoulders, concealing her breasts, and without conscious thought, he was brushing it back.

He felt her tremble beneath his hand, could feel her pulse beneath his fingers still wrapped around her throat. He regained the space he’d put between them, his front brushing against her bare torso.

“You’re regretting that impulsiveness right now, aren’t you?” he whispered, the same derision she held dripping in his tone. Not at her, but because of just how right she was.

“My life is one big regret. Why would this be any different?” she tried to retort, but it was breathy without the bite.

They stared at each other. This stand off of wills that seemed as though it was never

going to end.

Until it did.

He didn’t know who moved first. Maybe it was her pushing against his hold on her throat. Maybe it was him sliding his palm around her neck to drag her into him. But her soft lips were on his, and his tongue was in her mouth. There was no explanation for why she was wrapping her legs around his waist, her heels slipping from her feet, or why he was pressing her into the wall, his hips thrusting into her.

He was suddenly furious at the fact that he was still fully dressed while he had her like this. He wrenched away, his shadows twining around her wrists and bringing them above her head, holding her in place.

“Do not move,” he said, yanking at his tie while simultaneously trying to shuck off his

suit jacket.

“Theon, I—”

But her words dissolved into a low moan as he let his shadows play, rolling over her peaked nipples, down her torso, her thighs, but never where she wanted them.

No, he’d told her she’d beg for that, and after everything she’d just said to him, she’d be doing exactly that.

He took a deep breath, getting himself back under the control she’d fleetingly stolen.

He forced himself to undo each button of his shirt rather than just rip the fucking thing off.

His darkness was still keeping her where he wanted her, thighs rubbing together, hands above her head. For once—for fucking once—they had nowhere to be when she was letting him touch her.

He kicked his shoes off as his shirt slid to the floor before he lost his belt and undid his pants. They were still hanging off his hips when he stepped forward, unable to wait any

longer. He could feel her trembling beneath his power, but he needed to feel her beneath his fingers.

Tell me again about that control, Theon.

Her taunt echoed in his mind, and he choked down the growl that crawled up his

throat.

He was in control.

Of this.

Of her.

Of himself.

He pulled his darkness back, all of it but the shadows keeping her wrists secured above her head. Heated eyes watched his every move, and he smirked at her unwittingly following his demand from the other night. She knew what she wanted and remembered how to get it.

But he wasn’t going to make it that easy. Not this time.

He brought the tip of his finger to the hollow of her throat, and she sucked in a sharp

breath.

“Theon.”

“Shh, Tessa. Unless you are going to tell me to stop, not a word.” She swallowed, and he felt it beneath his fingertip. The motion had his hand back around her throat. “Do that

again.”

“What?”

“Do that again. Swallow.”

“Why?”

He leaned into her, feeling the gasp as his bare chest pressed to hers. “Because I want to imagine what it’s going to feel like when my cock is in your mouth, little storm.”

Whether or not on purpose, he felt her swallow, and he groaned, pulling back. She was squirming against the wall, tugging at the shadows keeping her arms suspended, and a knowing smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth.

Releasing her throat, he let his fingertips drag down her chest between the valley of her breasts. Let his thumb scrape along the underside of smooth flesh. Her thighs were clenching, and he kicked her feet apart, not allowing her any relief as he slid his fingertips to her other breast, circling around the peaked nipple.

She whimpered when his touch left her breast, moving back to her torso and continuing their path down her stomach, the curve of her hip, around her thigh where he began brushing them back and forth lightly along her soft skin.

“Tell me again about my lack of control, Tessa,” he murmured, his eyes fixed on his fingers as they slid up her inner thigh. Watched as she bucked her hips forward, chasing his touch when he dragged them back down.

“This isn’t control,” she rasped. “It’s nothing but another way to make me miserable.”

“You don’t appear too miserable right now,” he replied, letting his little finger skate along her center just enough to make her whimper again. He leaned in, his lips feathering along her cheek when he whispered, “You’re soaked, little storm.”

“It’s the bond,” she gritted out. “Nothing else.”

His fingers stilled, his teeth nipping at her jaw when he said, “Then there is no reason

to continue this, is there?”

“W-what?” she stammered.

It took everything in him, but he took a step back from her. His gaze slid from her bound wrists to her heaving chest to her writhing hips as his darkness kept her feet where he wanted them.

“Nothing else happens until you admit this is more than a fucking bond.”

“It’s not.”

Another sharp inhale when he shot forward, an arm braced above her head and his finger drawing light circles on her stomach. “So godsdamn stubborn,” he mused.

“What happened to not lying to you? I’ll be lying if I tell you this is something more than a physical need,” she retorted. This time when her hips thrust forward, he pressed his own to hers. The resulting moan from her lips mixed with his own groan as his cock pressed against her.

“Then lie to me, Tessa. Lie to me, and tell me it’s more,” he rasped.

“You’re asking me to lie to you now?”

“Yes,” he said, the word desperate and heady as he ground against her again.

“It’s more than a bond,” she gasped.

“Tell me you’re going to let me touch you.”

“As if you’d let me stop you,” she bit back, still fighting him, and why did that only make him harder?

“Maybe you’re right, Tessa,” he murmured, his lips working their way to her neck, his tongue tasting her as he moved. “Maybe I don’t have any control, but in this? This is the one place I won’t cross a line if you tell me to stop. So tell me. Tell me to stop if it’s nothing more than the bond.” But nothing but the sound of her ragged breaths reached him.

“I’m waiting, little storm.”

After what felt like an entire minute, she whispered, “Please don’t, Theon. Please don’t stop.”

His lips at her throat went from a light caress to sucking kisses, and he released her wrists, needing to feel her hands on him. She didn’t disappoint. Her nails dragged along his back before she was shoving at the pants still clinging to his hips.

“Don’t do this if you’re going to ask me to stop,” he snarled, helping her remove the rest of his clothing.

“I already sacrificed my dignity and said please, Theon. May as well make it worth it,” she sneered, her head tipping back when his lips returned to her throat.

“Will it always be like this, little storm? A constant battle with you?” he asked, pushing her undergarments down her legs.

“Yes,” she rasped when his fingers found their way back to her thighs.

“Good,” he replied, before he finally sank two fingers into her. There was nothing slow and tender about this, about them. There never had been. It had been a never-ending fight from the moment he’d snatched her chocolate in that alcove.

“Gods,” she gasped.

Her shoulders curled inward as her brow fell to his shoulder and her legs buckled, but he already had a thigh wedged between her legs, keeping her upright. Theon knew then this would forever be his favorite way to see her— writhing and needy for him and him alone.

And he needed more of it.

He pressed his thumb to her swollen clit, feeling her clench around his fingers as he pumped them in and out. Her breaths were nothing but sharp, staccato fricatives, her hips

moving with every thrust of his fingers.

“Your eyes, Tessa. Give them to me,” he demanded, and her head snapped up. Her grey eyes were glazed with want and desire, and fuck, he was nowhere near done with her.

“Ask me for it,” he ordered.

“Please, Theon,” she cried in frustration, her hips never ceasing their movement as they chased the pleasure from his fingers.

“Please what?” he pushed, pressing his thumb to her center again.

“Fuck!”

“Oh, we will, Tessa. Make no mistake about that,” he replied, a hand coming to her hip and forcing her to still.

The whine that came from her had a dark chuckle rumbling from his chest.

“Theon, please.”

“Please what?”

“Please let me come.”

The begging.

It did more to him than he thought it would.

He slid his fingers in and out once. So torturously slowly that she cried out in anguish.

“Tell me you’re mine, Tessa. Tell me that, and I’ll make you come. Now. Later.

Whenever you want.”

“No,” she ground out, attempting to move her hips again.

His hand stilled, his fingers deep in her soaking center.

“You’ll lie to me about everything else but that?”

But she turned her head to the side, breaking his gaze, and that just wouldn’t do. He’d never wanted an answer more in his life.

“Tell me why, Tessa,” he said, cupping her cheek and bringing her face back to his.

“No.”

“Tessa—”

“No,” she interjected. “I’m not yours, but I’ll use you the same way you’ll use me.”

“I’m not going to use you.”

“Now who’s the liar?” She was squirming against his hand again, trying her damnedest to rock her hips, and he lightly slid his thumb over her clit. “You can call me yours, but that won’t make it true,” she panted.

He pressed down more firmly, moving his thumb in a tight circle, and she cried out when he pulled back just as quickly. “Beautiful, you’ll always be mine. Just because you refuse to accept it doesn’t make it false.”

“But you’ll never be mine!”

Her head tipped back, her eyes falling closed, and he could tell by the look on her face she hadn’t meant to say that. That it had slipped out of her because she was a mess of want

and denial.

“Tessa—”

“Gods, Theon,” she snapped, her eyes flying back open and flaring brightly with streaks of violet. “Either fuck me and give us what we both want or just let me go. Please.”

He stared at her for a long moment, the echoes of her anguished words ringing in his ears, before he pulled his fingers from her. He saw the flash of disappointment before it

morphed into acceptance. Then he was scooping her up and hauling her out of the dressing

room.

“Theon—”

But she was cut off when he tossed her roughly onto the bed.

He’d been right. Everything had changed when they got home, but not in the way he’d been expecting.

Not as he looked down at her naked with her hair fanned across their bed and eyes wary but still a little glazed with unsated need.

He curled over her, bracing himself with one hand while the other gripped her chin.

“The next time we do this, you will tell me you’re mine, Tessa.”

“There won’t be a next time,” she spat, her hips already rising and seeking him out.

He hissed as he felt her slick cunt slide along his length. “There will be, Tessa, but not until you believe this is more than a bond. Not until you fully understand that you are mine.”

“Then there will never be a next time,” she repeated.

“We’ll see,” was all he said, before he gripped her thighs and yanked her to the edge of the bed. He pulled them wide before finally sinking into her.