Page 140 of Rain of Shadows and Endings

* * *

When they pulled up at Arius House, he tugged the blanket from Tessa’s body, his fingers grazing her arm.

“Tessa?” he murmured softly, trying to keep his distance. “Tessa, we’re home.”

Her eyes slowly fluttered open and met his briefly before she came fully awake and broke his stare. She sat up, grabbed the door handle, and climbed out without a word. Not even waiting for them to grab the bags, she began walking up the drive to the east wing entrance.

“Go. I’ve got them,” Axel said, watching her go. If their father saw her walking away from them like that, he’d be livid. Theon knew there would be no saving her from that wrath.

He jogged after her, slowing when he fell into step beside her. “You can’t just take off like that, Tessa.”

She said nothing, her eyes resolutely focused on the path ahead of her.

“You can’t stop talking to me either.”

Still nothing.

They continued in silence, but when they reached the door and she brought her hand up to pull it open, Theon leaned casually against it. She slowly slid those stormy eyes to his, leveling him with an unimpressed stare.

“I have a proposition for you.”

Tessa blinked once, the only sign of acknowledgment she gave.

“I will tell you what it is after you’ve showered,” he continued, and her lips pursed slightly. Her hand still rested on the door handle. Luka and Axel were almost upon them now too.

“We also need to eat,” he said nonchalantly. “Tell me what you’d like, and I’ll order it up so it’ll be waiting for you when you get out of the shower.” She arched her brows as if to say ‘Really?,’ and the accompanying lip curl told him how unlikely she found this to be. “Anything you want, beautiful,” he coaxed, trying to get her to say one godsdamn word to him.

Still nothing.

“Tessa,” he growled, unable to keep his frustration buried any longer. Darkness floated from his fingertips, reaching towards her, and she glanced down at it, stepping back from him. He forced himself to breathe deep. In an hour, this would be taken care of. In an hour, she’ll have heard his proposal, and everything will be fine.

He hooked his phone from his jeans pocket, pulling up the text thread with the kitchens. “Cheeseburger and fries it is then,” he said calmly. “Anything I should leave off or add to your burger?”

He saw her press her tongue to her cheek. It wasn’t a word, but at least it was a reaction other than nerves or anger.

“Last chance,” he prompted, his thumb hovering over the send button.

“Bacon on the burger,” she blurted before crossing her arms with a huff.

His lips curled in a half grin. “Will do, little storm,” he said, reaching for the door and pulling it open for her. She didn’t look at him when she strode past and began the trek to their rooms.

He let her walk ahead of him, giving her space as he hung back to walk with Luka and Axel.

“Food?” Axel said doubtfully. “That’s your big plan?”

“No, that’s not the plan,” Theon retorted. “I just wanted her to say something.”

“Because…?” Luka asked.

“Because we have a meeting with my father this afternoon, and I can’t have him picking up on tension between us.”

“Right. That’s why,” Luka said knowingly.

Theon didn’t say anything else. When they reached their rooms, Tessa had stopped outside, waiting for one of them to unlock the wards for her. Ironic, since she could easily pass right through them. She pushed by them all and went straight into the bedroom. Theon followed and heard the shower turn on before he even entered the room. He pushed out a long breath before going through the dressing room to pull out clothing for her. He pulled his shirt off, tossing it into the laundry bin. Then he slipped his shoes off and waited barefoot in the closet for her.

He heard the water shut off some time later, and she paused when she entered the dressing room, a towel wrapped tightly around her. He swallowed thickly, pushing the memories of his mouth on her skin away so he could focus.

“We have a meeting with my father later this afternoon, but I thought you’d want more comfortable clothing for now,” he said with a nod to the jeans and shirt he’d set out for her.

---