Page 25 of Rain of Shadows and Endings

“Shh,” he said, trying to soothe her. “It’s okay, Tessa.”

“It’s not okay,” she cried. “None of this is okay. I’m miserable. I feel like I was hit by a truck. Now I have to travel for hours. Can’t you use your magic and heal me like you did before?”

He shook his head, the bond humming at her closeness despite her obvious misery. “I can’t, Tessa. Your body is reacting to my magic. If I flooded it with more, it would make it worse. Any magic right now would make it worse.”

She didn’t say anything. Just kept sobbing into his shoulder. He pulled his phone from his pocket, sending a quick message to Luka asking him to get his sweatshirt from the vehicle.

“We can stop as often as you need to if it helps to get out and move around,” he said when he finished.

“Gods, Theon,” she bit out. “Don’t act like you actually care.” She pushed off of him, struggling to her feet.

“Of course I care. I am here, aren’t I?” he retorted, getting to his feet and backing up so she could exit the stall. When she made it past him, she moved to the sink, turning the tap on and splashing water across her face, wiping at the ruined makeup. Theon retrieved paper towels for her, handing them over.

As she wiped her face, he took a breath and tried again. “I care, Tessa. You are my Source. I take care of what is mine.”

She whirled on him, nearly falling over as she lost her balance. Theon shot forward, catching her before she hit her head on the basin, but she shoved his hands off of her, backing up against the wall.

“I am not yours,” she snarled, her features twisting into a fury that was really quite remarkable considering how weak she was.

“Of course you are mine, Tessa. I Selected you. You bear my Mark,” he retorted, nodding at her right hand.

She looked down, staring at the back of her hand. Fresh tears fell onto the black Mark as she stared at it, slowly sinking down to the floor when it became too painful to remain standing. She didn’t even look up when Luka came through the door, Theon’s sweatshirt in his hand. He threw Theon an accusatory glare, coming to a halt at the sight of Tessa sitting on the dirty floor of a convenience store bathroom.

Theon sighed for the millionth time and pulled his t-shirt over his head. He lowered down before Tessa, reaching out to lift her chin. She winced at his touch, which was the exact opposite of how his body reacted to him touching her again. His bond purred and hummed in pleasure. He held up the shirt to show her.

“Let’s put this on. It will be big on you, so the material won’t rub on your skin. I do not have looser pants for you though,” he said. Tessa just stared back at him, and something seemed fractured in the grey eyes that held his own. When she said nothing, he reached for the hem of the sweatshirt she was wearing. “Let’s get this off, okay?”

As gently as he could and touching her as little as possible, he removed the sweatshirt, then the shirt beneath it. He didn’t offer to remove the bra, assuming she wouldn’t appreciate that after her reaction to them changing her clothing earlier. Theon slipped his shirt over her head, guiding her arms through the sleeves. Then he reached behind him for the sweatshirt Luka still held.

“Do you want this?” he asked, holding it up. She nodded once, and he helped her into it. “Are you ready to stand?” She bit her bottom lip, her eyes falling to the floor, and Theon glanced up at Luka who just shrugged, clearly not knowing what was going on either. “Tessa, are you ready to go?” Theon tried again.

“I’m tired, and my skin hurts,” she murmured, drawing her hands into the sleeves of his sweatshirt that was far too big for her.

“I know. We can go,” he replied. “I will help you up.”

She let him pull her up and loop an arm around her waist again, but when she stumbled three times just crossing the restroom, Theon stopped and scooped her into his arms. She didn’t protest, settling against his bare chest.

Luka helped him get her back into the vehicle. Theon moved to put the clothing she’d been wearing into the back and dug out another shirt for himself, then moved to get in on the other side. But when he opened the door, he froze. She was in the process of peeling the black leggings off.

“What are you doing, Tessa?”

“My skin hurts,” she whimpered, ripping the material off her foot before moving to the other leg and trying to work the fabric down.

Luka was already sliding back out of the front seat and opening the back door, helping her slide the leggings the rest of the way off. She sighed in relief, Theon’s sweatshirt pooling in her lap. Her bare legs captured Theon’s attention, and all he could do for a moment was stare.

Luka reached over her, grabbing the fleece blanket and draping it over her lap. “Better?” he asked gently.

Tessa nodded, and Theon climbed into the backseat. They had been stopped longer than he’d wanted, and the sun was already breaking the horizon. They wouldn’t be getting back to Arius House until evening at this rate.

Tessa leaned her head against the window again, her eyes drifting shut.

“Tessa, come lie down. You will be more comfortable,” he said, reaching for her.

“No,” she murmured, not even opening her eyes to look at him.

“Damnit, Tessa. It will help with the pain. It is part of the bond,” he replied, trying not to lose his temper again.

“I’m fine, Theon.”

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