Page 81 of Rain of Shadows and Endings

“Eventually,” Theon answered. “I haven’t decided how to handle it yet. I need more details first.”

“You think she’ll be fine by dinner? Father won’t excuse her,” Axel continued.

Fuck.

Dinner.

“I guess she’ll have to be,” Theon said tightly.

They fell silent, all eyes on the female in the window for the next ten minutes. The bond was slowly shifting back to desire and craving her touch rather than wanting him to push her away. He wasn’t focused on that though. He was contemplating the fact that he was related to her biggest fears.

In some way or another, she was scared of him.

A part of him was satisfied with that response. He craved control and instilling fear was definitely one way to obtain that. He had a hard time believing she was that terrified of him though, and maybe that was his own fault. Maybe all of this was his fault, his failure. In trying to make her comfortable, he’d shielded her too much from their true natures.

He finally pushed off the counter and made his way towards her. She turned and met his gaze, dread still filling her grey eyes.

“What happened to your foot?” he asked roughly.

She flinched back, her eyes dropping to her feet. “I didn’t mean to. It was an accident.”

“I’m not upset, Tessa. I want to heal it for you.”

He saw her throat bob when she swallowed. “I landed wrong when I jumped from the trellis. I twisted my ankle.”

“You ran all the way to the stables on a sprained ankle?” Theon said stiffly, looking at her feet. One ankle was definitely swollen.

“I… Axel told me to run. I thought you’d want me to follow his orders since you weren’t here. I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“I’m not… Godsdamnit, Tessa. I’m not mad that you ran from those fuckers,” he said, reaching out and gently placing his hand on the swollen ankle. His magic swelled, the darkness pressing against his skin, flowing from his hand to her. It was different using his shadows for this, and without all four of her Marks in place, it was more draining than other times he used his gifts.

His gaze raked over the cuts and scratches crusted with dried blood all along her arms and abdomen, along with the bruises beginning to blossom on her skin. In a tight tone, he said, “I cannot heal everything at once. Tomorrow I will be able to do more, but I want to check them all. See if there are any that may need a Healer.”

Tessa nodded once, returning her attention out the window. The sky was the same color as her eyes. She tensed as his hands slid up her legs and over her bare stomach, cataloging every scratch. The bond began humming once more between the physical contact and the effects of Pavil’s and Metias’s gifts beginning to lessen, and he couldn’t help but wonder if it was doing the same for her. The way her limbs were tight and coiled beneath his hands, he would guess not, but that’s how she always seemed to be around him. Unless they were sleeping. When she slept, she looked like a goddess to be worshipped.

“Nothing seems extensive unless I missed something?” he asked.

She shook her head. “No. You’ve done far more than I deserve.”

Theon pushed his tongue into his cheek. What was he supposed to say to that?

“Why do you think you don’t deserve care for injuries? Did I miss any?”

“I disobeyed you, Theon. Leaving my injuries would be a justifiable consequence."

Gods, that was something his Father would say.

“I will heal them tomorrow, Tessa. Our bond is simply not strong enough yet to take care of them all at once. Are there any others I need to be aware of?” When she remained silent, he added, “Tell me, or I will force you to do so.” He didn’t think it was possible, but her face paled even more at the mention of entrancing. He went preternaturally still, his voice dark when he asked, “Did either of them entrance you?”

“No,” she answered, turning her arms over and holding them out to him. Scratches ran all along her forearms, some of the cuts still bleeding.

“Anywhere else?” he asked through gritted teeth. She shook her head, and Theon pushed out a long breath. “Come into the bathroom. We can clean those up, and you can bathe. Then you can rest for the afternoon before we need to get ready for dinner.”

She winced at the mention of dinner, but obediently got to her feet. He glanced over his shoulder to Luka and Axel, who were watching them silently, concern on their features.

“Can one of you order up some lunch?” Theon asked. “Something warm.”

“On it,” Axel said, hooking his phone from his pocket. “I will have it delivered in an hour.”

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