Page 49 of Storm of Secrets and Sorrow

His gaze dropped to her chest as Luka appeared with a warm, damp cloth. Theon took it, gently wiping at the Mark, his brow furrowing. The Mark looked perfect, but there was an additional swirl that hadn’t been there before.

“This isn’t right,” the priestess said, reaching towards Tessa as if to trace the Mark, but a low rumble from Luka had her stilling. “This isn’t right,” she repeated.

“Is there anything we can do about it?” Theon asked.

After a moment of thought, she answered, “I have never seen a Mark like that. I do not know, but I am required to report this to?—”

“The ruling Lords and Ladies,” Theon interrupted. “If there is nothing to be done, your services are no longer required this evening.”

The dismissal was clear, and the priestess bowed her head before leaving, Luka shutting the door behind her.

Both of their attention settled on Tessa, who had curled back into Theon.

“What the fuck was that?” Luka demanded.

“I didn’t have a choice,” Theon answered.

“You didn’t have a choice?” Luka repeated. “We weren’t fucked enough? You had to add to it?”

“No one knows why it looks like that,” Theon argued. “They’re all going to assume it’s because she’s not Fae and that’s why the Mark looks different. Only the three of us know. We’ll keep it that way.”

Luka’s brow arched. “Axel?”

Theon looked away. “I’ve brought enough shit into Axel’s life. I don’t need to put this on him too.”

Silence fell for a minute before Luka said, “Think we can get her home before the vomiting starts?”

“Tessa?” Theon asked, stroking her hair. She only nodded against him.

That was good enough for him. Get her home. Get her safe. That was all he truly cared about in this moment. They’d figure the Mark out tomorrow.

He’d just add it to his never-ending list of things to figure out about her.

11

TESSA

She was curled into Theon as she always managed to do in sleep. Her hand was on his chest, Theon’s fingers loosely intertwined with hers, and she sighed, hating herself for taking this comfort from him.

Hating herself for being weak enough to need the comfort. She’d been just fine by herself for years.

But she’d also had the ability to drown in vices.

Maybe she’d never really been fine.

Gods, what she’d give for some time with a mortal right now. Then again, she knew it wouldn’t be enough. This godsdamn bond had made her crave Theon and only Theon, especially knowing what he could do to her with his hands and his mouth and his power…

A mortal would never be enough again.

Right now, that bond was so content, it warmed her soul as much as the hand on her hip did. That hand washot. So was the chest pressed to her back.

Wait. What?

With a start, her eyes flew open, and she sat up abruptly.

The males in the bed with her also woke, and godsdamn weapons appeared in their hands along with traces of their magic.

“Why are you holding a dagger?” Tessa asked, her voice raspy, likely from vomiting.

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