Page 116 of Storm of Secrets and Sorrow

“Sorin’s Source Mark? We hardly saw it,” Axel said, his brow furrowing.

She waved him off. “That’s not the point.Thisis the point,” she said, dragging a book forward. Axel immediately recognized it as a basic academic book, the four Source Marks on the page. Pointing to the fourth and final Mark, she said, “Look how similar they are.”

He leaned forward more, his bare chest pressing to her shoulder as he did. The contact did something to him. Something he’d been trying to forget since kissing her in the Underground.

Axel lightly cleared his throat. “Again, we didn’t get a good look at Sorin’s Mark, but I would imagine they would be somewhat similar if they’re doing the same thing.”

Some sort of exasperated huff came from her.

He fought the small smile trying to form and said, “What am I missing here, kitten?”

She turned to look up at him again. “They must not do the same thing, or what would be the point in altering it? If only one Mark is needed to draw power, why require the other three?”

Axel swiped a hand down his face. This was like listening to Theon when he got going on one of his theories.

“I don’t know, Kat,” he sighed. “She did mention our world is more advanced. We probably found a way to make the Marks more streamlined.”

“More streamlined?” she said, blinking in disbelief. “How isfourMarks more streamlined than one?”

He frowned. “That’s a good point.”

“I know.”

“Has anyone ever told you that you’re incredibly humble?” he teased.

“It is not conceited to acknowledge I was right about something,” she tsked.

“Of course not.”

She twisted around to glare at him. “You have no desire to knowwhythe Marks are different here?”

“Who says they are different here?” Axel countered. “Maybe they’re different in whatever world Scarlett is from, and our Marks are the same as every other world.”

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“Why not?”

“One would think Scarlett would be more knowledgeable on the matter. She is a World Walker. ArealWorld Walker,” Kat said.

“As opposed to a fake World Walker?” That glare deepened, a spark flickering in her irises, and Axel chuckled. “She did seem rather upset by the Marks when we were talking about them.”

“She did,” Kat agreed.

“But one could assume, given what the other Marks do, they are given to strengthen the bond between the Master and Source,” Axel went on.

“I suppose,” Kat muttered. “But how?”

By the gods. Back to how again? She thought in circles like Theon did too.

“I don’t know, kitten,” he sighed, settling back into the sofa and tipping his head back. He let his eyes fall closed as he felt her lean forward and pick up another book.

“There are Marks in this book I’ve never come across before,” Kat said.

Axel cracked his eyes open, watching her flip through the pages. “What book is that?”

“The one Cienna gave me.”

“The one we can hardly translate?” he asked doubtfully.

---