Page 89 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

“Taking the twin flame Mark without a companion is offering a piece of your soul up for anyone to find. It is drawn to its twin flame, but if it is not accepted, it continues to try to find its counterpart and drains its owner of their power. It weakens them until they have depleted their magical reserves or until something else finds it,” Eliza said quietly.

“Something else?” Corbin interjected.

“There are plenty of beings in the various worlds. Some who gain their power from the souls of others,” Razik said darkly.

“There is another way to find him,” Theon cut in, not liking the sound of any of that for Katya.

“What do you mean?” Katya asked,

“It was what I needed to discuss with you. Tessa was here today and gave me information that might help us find him.”

“Might?” she repeated skeptically.

“I don’t know how true it is, but we can start there. She said my father has holdings in the Leisure District of the Underground. If that’s true, I did not know such holdings existed,” he replied.

“How will you know?”

“I need to go visit the Shifter Alpha and Beta. They control the Leisure District and would know.”

“When will you go?”

“That’s the thing,” Theon said, rubbing at the back of his neck. “I’ve sent a formal request to see them, but I have to wait for their reply.”

“You are the Arius Lord,” Katya said, panic creeping into her voice as she pushed to her feet.

“I know, but it’s best not to piss them off when I’m not officially appointed yet,” he replied.

“It’s been weeks, Theon,” she insisted.

“I know, Kat. I know, but…”

But one misstep could throw his world off balance more than it already was.

She turned to Eliza. “I’ll do it. Give me the Mark.”

“Katya, no,” Theon interjected. “Give me a day at least.”

“And if they do not reply, that is a day wasted,” she argued.

“It’s one day, Kat.”

“And he has been gone for too many days already!” she cried. “If I truly felt him… Theon, he is not well.”

He stepped forward then, gently taking her shoulders. “What do you think Axel will do if I let you do this, and it is not what they say it is? Sacrificing a piece of your soul?”

“That will be my burden to bear,” she answered, tears welling in her eyes.

“But he will blame me,” Theon said.

She was quiet for a long moment, amber eyes never leaving his. Finally, she said, “He sacrificed everything for me. The least I can do is sacrifice a piece of myself for him. I am asking you to let me do the very thing you would do for Tessa without a second thought.”

“I’m his older brother. It’s my job to protect him, not yours.”

“Theon, you can’t protect us all,” she said softly.

“Yes, I can. I just need a little more time,” he insisted.

“I think we’re living on borrowed time now, don’t you?” When he didn’t answer right away, she added, “You’re one person, Theon. You can’t save the world by yourself. You need him, and I… I didn’t know I needed him until he found me.”

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