Page 153 of Rain of Shadows and Endings

“Probably because she hates confined spaces and has been trapped in a vehicle for hours,” Tessa muttered under her breath, instantly ceasing the tapping of her feet. She began drumming her fingers lightly on the laptop keys as the next song started up, staring at the screen. She hadn’t really been doing anything for the last hour. Nothing but trying to keep her mind busy so she could forget about being cooped up in a vehicle. They just kept moving her from one place to another, but that was to be her life now, she supposed. At least there’d be new scenery to stare at. See? She could find the silver lining or whatever it was the mortals said.

Fingers brushed along the top of her foot, and her stomach dipped. How could a single touch do that to her?

This fucking bond.

So why didn’t she pull away from him? She could. She didn’t have to follow all his ridiculous commands anymore when it was just them. But gods, did that single touch calm her restlessness just enough to make it bearable.

He kept his hand there, making small circles with his thumb, and she leaned her head back against the window, closing her eyes. Moments later, she felt the vehicle slowing, and she twisted to look outside as Luka pulled to a stop in a small town.

“Why are we stopping?” Tessa asked, pulling the earbuds from her ears.

“I need to get a phone charger, baby doll,” Axel said before sliding out of the vehicle.

“You don’t have an extra charger?” she asked Theon.

“No, but while we’re here, do you want to get out and walk around?”

“It can’t take that long to buy a phone charger,” she said doubtfully.

“We’re not in a hurry. There are no required engagements until tomorrow,” Theon said, opening his door. “Come on.”

Her eyes narrowed, but she reached for her socks and sneakers, quickly lacing them up and sliding across the seat. She immediately tipped her face up to the sky, breathing in the fresh air. When she reopened her eyes, she found Theon leaning against the vehicle, his hands in his pockets, watching her.

“What?” she asked, suddenly self-conscious as she wrapped her arms around herself.

“Nothing,” he said, pushing off the vehicle. He held out a hand to her. “Shall we?”

Not letting herself think about it, she slid her hand into his and let him lead her down the sidewalk. They passed a few shops until they came to a small park, an empty Chaosphere field stretching out behind them. It wasn’t in the best shape. The grass was overgrown and the boundary lines were faded, but it was something she would expect of a small community, she supposed. Theon took a seat on a bench and looked at her expectantly.

“I’m not sitting down.”

He arched a brow. “Why not?”

“I’ve been sitting in a vehicle for hours,” she replied, hopping from foot-to-foot. “And other than running with you, I’ve been cooped up in your rooms for weeks.”

“You forgot about your little rendezvous through the woods.”

She shot him a dry look.

A half-smile lifted on his lips. “Well, little storm, what would you like to do?”

She glanced behind her at the empty Chaosphere field. “Can we buy a ball?”

Both brows shot up at that. “You want to play Chaosphere?”

She shrugged. “You think you can score against me?”

“Doubtful,” came Axel’s voice behind them. “Theon never played Chaosphere. He was always too busy studying and researching.”

Tessa turned back to Theon. “You never played?”

“You did?”

“Of course I played. What child didn’t play Chaosphere? I mostly played by myself, but—” She cut herself off, then cleared her throat. “Yes. I would play. I took every opportunity to be outside.”

“I’ll go get a ball,” Axel said, dropping a bag near the bench.

Luka was standing nearby, an expression Tessa couldn’t read on his face as he looked between her and Theon. She kicked her foot back, grabbing her ankle and stretching.

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