Page 201 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
“And?” she prompted.
He hesitated before he ventured, “I’ve been working on a plan, but we don’t do it if you don’t want to.”
“Me?” she asked, brows arching in surprise.
He nodded. “Yes, you. Not just for this, but for Dagian. Axel. Us. Everything.”
Silence hung in the air as Tessa and Luka stared at him.
“I’ve been working it out for weeks,” he added, studying them just as carefully. “But I can come up with something else if you don’t want to do it.”
Finally, Tessa said, “Tell us everything.”
PART THREE
BALANCE
36
LUKA
The soft sound of her throat clearing drew his attention. His eyes connected with hers in the mirror he was facing while going through his morning training routine.
He’d known she was there. Even without that aspect of the bond, he could sense her. Apparently it had something to do with the inevitable bond they now shared, cemented into place when he’d nearly died for her. The only thing that seemed to differ from the bond she shared with Theon was that she could draw from him because of the true Source Mark incorporated with the fourth Source Mark of Devram. But he wasn’t even entirely sure if that was true. He’d seen Razik and Eliza combine their gifts when they’d freed Xan. They said it was part of the twin flame bond, but a part of him wondered if it was more than that. Something he’d need to ask his father, he supposed.
He finished the pull-ups he was doing in the training room of his cave, dropping to the floor. She was still near the door, as if unsure if she should enter.
“Those aren’t training clothes,” he noted, eyeing the full-length silk robe she had cinched at her waist.
She rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. “Obviously.”
“Where’s Theon?”
“Making phone calls. Preparing for tomorrow,” she said with a shrug, looking around the room.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why won’t you look at me?” That had her eyes snapping back to his before she looked away again. “Tessa,” he said, the name a warning. “We just had a discussion yesterday about secrets.”
She huffed a soft laugh. “Is that what we’re calling it? A discussion?”
He smirked. “Sure. I think we should have another one today. I’ll coordinate with Theon and let you know when and where.”
She laughed again, a little louder, and his chest tightened at the sound. It was one they were hearing a little more with each passing day.
Taking a long drink from his water bottle, he made his way across the room, stopping in front of her. The lightheartedness had faded. She was clearly nervous about something. And despite everything that had been repaired these last weeks, he couldn’t help the suspicion that coursed through him. Couldn’t help but wonder if whatever she was worried about would be as devastating as the secret of his father.
“What’s wrong, Tessa?” he said again, trying to keep that distrust out of his voice.
She shifted on her feet, tucking her hair behind her ear before crossing her arms once more. Toeing at something invisible on the floor, she said, “I need to ask you something.”
“Go on.”
“Are you…upset about the Mark? The one on your chest, I mean.”
He looked down at the Mark in the very center of his chest. His eyes going back to her, she glanced up when he didn’t say anything.
