Page 178 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
The Mark on Luka’s chest had been pulsing a faint gold color, growing brighter, but then it had started to shift, growing darker.
Cienna had appeared, despite not staying at the penthouse with them while in the Underground. Her violet eyes had met his, and all she’d had to do was nod. “Go find her, Theon.”
Because of course she knew what was happening.
It had taken every bit of his strength to shadow-walk and follow the Tracking Mark that still let him know where Tessa was. And now that he was back and she was here, he sank onto the small leather sofa in the room, trying not to vomit. Trying not to fall to his knees when he couldn’t push down the utter agony of the Guardian bond dying once again.
Tears were coursing down Tessa’s face as she stared down at Luka, her hands moving erratically as if she didn’t know if she should touch him. Her head snapped up, lightning sparking in their depths when she found Cienna.
“Why are you just standing there?” she cried. “Do something!”
But the Witch just stood stoically to the side, keen eyes watching on. “There is nothing I can do,” she answered simply.
“Nothing you can…” Tessa trailed off in outrage, her power seeping from her as she lost more control. “Then what good are you?” Her eyes swept the room in fury. “What good are any of you?” she screamed, her rage and helplessness flooding him down their bond.
But the agony in his chest was lessening, allowing him to think a little more clearly with each passing second. He watched her smooth her hands down Luka’s face. Watched her push his hair back. Watched her lay her head atop his chest, right beside that Mark that wasn’t pulsing quite so violently anymore. That was calming and settling back into a stagnant, pale white Mark on Luka’s flesh.
“Where were you?” Cienna asked, watching them as carefully as Theon was.
“The Falein Kingdom,” Theon answered, his voice steely.
“By yourself?” Cienna asked Tessa.
“With Tristyn and— Brecken,” Theon answered, feeling Tessa’s flinch down the bond at his name.
“Did they come back with you?”
“They’re downstairs.”
“Stop answering for me,” Tessa snarled, glaring up at him. “Why does any of this matter? Why is no one doing anything?”
“Becauseyouare the only one who can do something,” Kat interjected.
And maybe it was because it was her, but Tessa tensed, clearly biting her tongue instead of snapping back a retort. Whatever it was, she was listening now, and Theon knew without a doubt that Kat had worked out the same thing he had.
Because everything in his soul had settled. The Guardian bond was fine. His bond with Tessa was humming in contentment at having her close once more. Luka’s chest was rising and falling steadily.
Katya moved forward, awkwardly lowering to her knees on the other side of Tessa despite Axel’s protest.
“He’s fine, Tessa,” she said softly. “Look.”
Taking Tessa’s hand, she shifted it so they could all see the Mark clearly. That perfectly calm and sedate Mark.
“I don’t understand,” Tessa rasped, wiping at her face.
Theon moved then, unable to stand seeing her in that godsdamn jacket a second longer. His panic and fear had subsided, and it was replaced by an anger that he was swallowing down with every breath. He strode around Luka’s feet, coming to Tessa’s side. Slipping his fingers beneath the collar, he slid it down her arms. In her own panic and confusion, she didn’t fight, and he tossed it aside.
Katya glanced up at him, and he nodded in confirmation before he replied, “You gave him that Mark, Tessa.”
“I know, but I don’t know what it does,” she said, having picked up one of Luka’s hands. She looked up at Theon, worry there, but also an underlying grief she was pushing down.
“Neither did we until now,” he answered. “But it appears you’ve bound his life to your presence in some way.”
“That’s not… What? I can’t do that,” she said, shaking her head.
“But you did,” he answered. “You gave him life, and if he strays too far from that, death takes.”
“No,” she said, shaking her head in denial. “I would never do that to him without… No.”
