Page 29 of Storm of Secrets and Sorrow

“It’ll be easier to get what I want.”

“And what is it you want, Tessa?”

Her hand landed on the seat between them, her fingertips brushing his outer thigh, and Theon ground his teeth at the small touch she granted him. She leaned forward, closing the distance between them so her breath danced across his lips when she answered, “Your salvation and destruction.”

“You’re already both, little storm,” he said, his voice gravel and his gaze darting to her mouth when her tongue flicked along her lower lip.

Her other hand came up, a single nail tracing his jaw, and he could swear those violet rings around her eyes flared like lightning when she whispered, “Not yet, but I will be.”

Then she was pulling away, back to staring out the window. Nothing else was said, which was fine, because Theon wasn’t entirely sure how to feel about that entire exchange. He was sure that the lust that was flooding through him at her viciousness certainlywasn’twhat he should be feeling, but fuck. She’d left his balls aching since the one and only time they’d fucked. It was part of the reason he kept himself so godsdamn busy. He stayed up late to research, sure, but it also kept him out of their bed. Tessa had suddenly stopped caring if they fucked, and it clearly had done nothing to solidify this bond.

The vehicle slowed twenty minutes later, and they stepped out into the cool night air. Tessa immediately wrapped her arms around herself, and Theon stepped forward, pulling the stocking hat from his coat pocket, holding it out to her. She sighed, snatching it from his hand before tugging it down over her ears.

“The river?” she said dubiously, adjusting her hair beneath the hat. “This is where we won’t be seen?”

“The opposite side of the Wynfell,” Luka clarified, coming up beside them. “We’re in Arius Kingdom.”

“Arius Kingdom?” she repeated, spinning slowly to look around. The clouds were fewer tonight, the moonlight glinting off her golden strands that flowed out from beneath the hat.

Luka nodded. “As you know, the Wynfell runs through the Acropolis. It emerges on the other side where the Arius, Serafina, and Achaz Kingdoms meet. The bank we’re on is in Arius Kingdom.”

Tessa bit her lower lip. “And how do you two plan to contain my gifts?”

“We don’t want it contained,” Theon said. “It needs to be let out.”

“Then how do you plan to protect yourselves from it?” she asked.

“My gifts rival my father’s, and we have yet to find something that can withstand dragon fire.”

“Then wouldn’t that make Luka stronger than you?” Tessa asked.

“Arius is a First God. Sargon is a Lesser,” Theon answered.

Tessa only hummed in response.

“But I am here to protect Theon,” Luka cut in.

The corner of her lips tipped up. “Of course you are. You’re his Guardian. You have to protect him.”

“We’ve discussed this before, Tessa,” Luka said tightly.

“Yes, yes. Youchoseyour bond. The lesser of two evils. Just like me,” she retorted mockingly, taking a few steps closer to the river.

Theon threw a questioning glance at Luka, but his friend just waved him off, muttering, “Let’s do this.”

Tessa must have heard him, because she turned back to them, holding up her wrists. Theon stepped forward, gently pushing the sleeves of her jacket back and trying not to move the bands any more than they had to.

“Your magic will flare when the bands come off,” Theon explained. “We’re going to do one at a time to hopefully lessen the strain a bit. Don’t fight it. Let your magic do what it’s meantto do. Once both bands are off, I’ll use my power to help guide yours until you learn to do so yourself.”

“How can your power guide mine? They’re different,” Tessa said, her feet already planted in a stance Theon knew Luka made her stand in for hours during training.

“You’ll see,” Theon said. “You just have to?—”

“Trust you?” she finished for him when he stopped speaking.

“Yes,” he answered tightly.

“I don’t,” she said simply.

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