Page 88 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

Which meant Tessa couldn’t be his twin flame, Theon realized. She couldn’t be anyone’s anything because she wasn’t Fae or Legacy.

She couldn’t be his, despite these Source Marks trying to force her to be just that.

“You said you could feel him, though?”

They all turned at Eliza’s voice, finding her standing in the bedroom doorway.

“I can’t say for sure,” Katya murmured, her eyes fixed on her hands that were folded in her lap.

“Yes, you can,” Eliza said, moving back into the room. Razik tracked her every move, already on his feet and meeting her halfway. He took her chin, tilting her head back. Again, they said nothing, but Theon could tell some silent exchange was happening.

That.

That was what he’d been wanting with Tessa.

Not the relationship he saw between his father and Eviana.

Not the bonds he witnessed between the other Legacy and their Source.

Butthat.

He just hadn’t realized it, and now? Tristyn was right. He was running out of time, and he still had no idea how to get to… Well,that.

“You felt him?” Eliza said, coming to stand in front of Katya. “When?”

“I…” Katya started, her eyes darting to Theon, and he nodded for her to go on. “I don’t know if I did.”

“How well do you know him?” Eliza asked. “Did he send you into hiding to protect you?”

“Yes, but…”

“And the two of you were inexplicably drawn to each other?” Eliza pressed.

“Not right away,” Katya argued.

“But Axel was,” Theon interjected. “The moment he saw her at the Emerging Ceremony. He insisted we claim her for the Arius Kingdom. Did so before we could stop him.”

Katya was blushing once more as Razik said, “A male usually feels the pull first.”

“And when emotions are incredibly heightened—fear, sadness, agony—the other can sometimes feel it even before a Mark is taken,” Eliza said. “If you think you felt him, there is a good chance you did.”

Katya was staring at them as she whispered, “He is not well, and I…”

“You can find him,” Eliza said.

“What?” Katya and Theon asked at the same time.

“Taking the Mark, if it is a true twin flame bond, will allow her to speak to him. He can tell her where he is. Or at the very least, give her a description of his surroundings. She’ll be able to feel the bond as she gets closer to him,” Eliza said.

Just like the first Source Mark.

“But what if they’re not twin flames?” Corbin asked, everyone turning to them now.

Eliza pressed her lips together, her eyes flicking to Razik. He was the one to answer.

“As with any Mark, there is a cost. Taking the twin flame Mark is an offering of a piece of one’s soul to another. If the two are true twin flames, their souls recognize one another, and the Trials are initiated. If they are not, the Mark fades after time, and the piece of the soul offered fades with it. Some believe they have found their twin flame but are too afraid to test it against the Marking, so they are content to simply be together without the bond,” he explained.

“But if I take it and Axel does not, how would we know?” Katya asked.

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