Page 185 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

“You can’t tell me there aren’t other types of bonds,” Theon said. “In all the realms and among all the stars, there’snothingelse? Only two?”

Razik sat back, rubbing at his jaw. “That’s a good point.”

“You’ve never come across anything in all your reading?”

“Have you?” Razik countered.

“No, but clearly my resources are not nearly as extensive as yours,” Theon replied.

“There are soulmates,” Razik said. “A bond between kindred souls that is completely platonic. They are people who understand each other on a deeper level, but there is no romantic attraction. The intimacy is deeper than friendship. Soul deep. Scarlett has such a thing with her Guardian and another in our world, and I have one with her brother.”

“Then that would not be me and Tessa,” Theon said.

“You are trying to figure out something between you and Tessa?”

“I know we cannot be twin flames, but we were drawn to each other before she bore a Mark. Luka was too, but none of the bonds we’ve discussed can be that,” Theon said.

“Perhaps it is simply a strong attraction,” Razik suggested.

“It has to be more than that.”

“It has to be, or you wish it to be?

More like heneededit to be, but he didn’t want to admit that aloud.

“She hated the Legacy even before I claimed her as my Source,” Theon said. “A strong attraction doesn’t explain that. It doesn’t explain why I was drawn to her from the moment I saw a photo of her. Same with Luka.”

“Luka is drawn to her?” Razik asked.

Theon nodded, standing to refill his drink. “He hasn’t outright said it to me, but his shields have slipped a few times. And more than that, I know him well enough to see the signs.”

“And you are okay with that?”

Theon didn’t answer right away, ice clinking as he dropped it into his glass before he tipped the alcohol bottle up. “We have shared partners in the past a few times, but that was only a physical thing. This is more than that.”

“And you are okay with that?” Razik repeated.

Theon turned to look at him, sipping on his drink. He wasn’t completely sure how he’d ended up in this conversation with the male, but he found it was nice to have someone to talk to with Luka and Axel both gone.

“I don’t know,” he finally admitted.

Razik picked up the book once more. “So you wish to know about another bond so you can substantiate your claim to her over his?”

“What? No, that’s not…”

But was that it? He was looking for something to explain the draw to her, yes. Maybe even try to convince her it truly was more than a bond like he’d always said, but what if Luka claimed the same? Luka was loyal to a fault, but Theon knew the more time he spent with her, the harder that pull was to resist. What if Luka decided to stop resisting? Would he be okay with that in the end?

“I will see what I can find on other types of bonds,” Razik said after a few minutes of silence. “As well as what we can find about Tessa’s visions.”

“It’s too bad we cannot speak to this Sorceress in your world,” Theon mused.

Razik’s laugh was humorless. “Even if we could, her cost would be steep. I do not know that anyone will ever make a bargain with her again.”

“Again?”

“It was necessary, but costly,” Razik replied. “But we are discounting an obvious resource here. Why are we not asking Cienna and Tristyn about this?”

“They are careful about what they reveal,” Theon replied. “They worry about tempting the Fates, and always say we must ask the right questions.”

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