Rain of Shadows and Endings (The Legacy)

by Melissa K. Roehrich

Among those to emerge were six Firsts: Falein, goddess of wisdom and cleverness; Celeste, goddess of the sky and moon; Anala, goddess of day, fire, and the sun; Serafina, goddess of the stars and dreams; Achaz, god of beginnings; and Arius, god of endings.

New beings were created and scattered among the realms. Other beings were created and kept close. But as more and more came into existence, tension bloomed among the gods. Power balances began to shift, and the gods began to create beings with mortals— demigods, whose descendants became their Legacy. Fear took root that one of those bloodlines would become more powerful than the rest, so an accord was struck. There would be no more demigods created, and the Legacy across the realms were to be brought to one world. A realm created solely for them to grow and prosper and thrive. The Legacy were gifted mortals in their world to do the mundane tasks required for survival. They were also gifted the technologies from the most advanced of the worlds. And they were gifted the Fae. Beings created to balance out the power of the gods that ran in the veins of the Legacy. Power that was too great to let go unchecked. The magic flowing in the blood of the Fae fed the power of the Legacy, forcing them to rely on the Fae. In exchange for being this source of power for the Legacy, the Fae were given their own gifts—one of four elements. They were granted enhanced senses and an extended lifespan. All of these were given by the gods so that the Fae could watch over their Legacy and keep their bloodlines safe.

“I was finding some place to eat this without having to share,” she said, waving the chunk of chocolate in his face. Her other hand was still clasped in his. He just stared at her like he wasn’t quite sure what to say in response to that. “Which is why I was hiding in an alcove,” she added, beginning to fidget when he still didn’t say anything. She hated enclosed spaces. The alcove hadn’t been her first choice, but desperate times and all that. “I will just, um… Go back to the grand hall?” she said, trying to tug her fingers from his grasp, but his grip only tightened further. “That would be the wise thing to do,” he agreed. “Okay, well, then I sort of need my hand back.” Instead of releasing her though, he stepped closer, crowding her back further into the alcove. “Are you slated to be Selected?” “What?” she asked breathlessly. This was bad. So bad. Why in the world did she think she should come out here without Dex? “It is the first time in a millennium that all six kingdoms have heirs selecting their Sources at the same time,” the Legacy said. “I know that.” “It is a historic night.” “I know that,” Tessa repeated. “Everyone is incredibly apprehensive. The Lords and Ladies are on edge, and their heirs are full of anxious anticipation. The Fae are allowed to join in the celebrations, and you are out here.” His other hand came up and plucked the chocolate from her fingers. “Hiding and eating chocolate.”

“Do you always obey commands so well, Tessalyn?” he asked, stepping into her even more. She could feel a hard muscle brushing against her front. “Rarely.” “Another truth,” he said, that finger letting her curl go free and sliding along her jaw. She forced herself to remain still. “So you are either more obedient than you care to admit, or…” He trailed off, his fingers dropping to her bare shoulder and brushing down her arm. “Or what?” she gritted out. “Or it is just with me.” “It is neither of those things.”

As a Fae, she didn’t really have the right to deny a Legacy. Fae could not deny a Legacy anything unless they were claimed and Marked.

Then Tessa’s legs nearly gave out and an audible gasp passed her lips when the Legacy from the alcove peeled away from the other, finishing knotting a black tie at his throat. He slid his arms into the sleeves of a suit jacket that was as immaculate as the rest of his clothing, buttoning it as he fell into step beside the Arius Lord. But that couldn’t be. That wasn’t possible. Because if he was walking next to the Arius Lord and Lady… Emerald eyes cut to her, and the corner of his lips ticked up in a cunning smile. He was the Arius Heir here to claim a Source.

He was the Arius Heir. And she’d all but yelled at him. Over chocolate. Dear gods. She was lucky to still be standing, to still be breathing.

“I choose Tessalyn Ausra to be my bonded Source,” Theon announced, his voice skittering over her bones.

Theon closed the door behind her, turning to face Tessa fully. She couldn’t help but take a step back from him as his eyes slid over her from head to toe and back up again. He took a step forward, but paused when Tessa took another step back. “You are frightened,” he said, his head tilting to the side with a keen interest. Tessa couldn’t answer, her mouth too dry. She didn’t know what to say anyway. “If I were going to hurt you, I would have done so already,” Theon added. “You do not need to fear me.” “I don’t,” Tessa finally managed to say. He tsked at her, a knowing look entering his eyes. “We have already discussed you lying to me, Tessalyn.” “Tessa.” “What?” “My name. People call me Tessa. Not Tessalyn.” A brow arched. “You do not like your given name?” “It is fine enough. I just prefer to be called Tessa.” Theon’s eyes narrowed as if trying to figure something out, but he nodded in acquiescence. “Tessa it is then. Whenever possible.”

“You will want to change before your first Mark. It will be…exhausting. Furthermore, I do not think you want to travel in that gown, no matter how stunning you look in it,”

“So…you are hungry?” Theon asked, cocking his head to the side and studying her as if he couldn’t figure out a puzzle. “Yes. I’m hungry. You took my chocolate,” she snapped, and Theon’s eyes widened at her tone. “My apologies,” she added quickly, lowering her gaze to the floor. “No need to apologize. It is good to know you get irritable when you are hungry.” Her eyes snapped up at his almost teasing tone, and she found him standing directly in front of her. She gasped in surprise, bumping back against the wall and tripping on her dress. “Easy, beautiful,” he murmured, reaching out to steady her.

“I thought the first Mark was the initiation,” Tessa said, sipping the water again. Theon shook his head slowly, holding her stare. “Your body is not ready to accept the Marks yet.” “Okay… How do I make it ready?” Her knee was bouncing, unable to contain her nerves, and Theon’s attention flicked to the movement. She instantly stopped. “I will help with that,” he answered, stepping forward so their legs were nearly touching. He slowly crouched before her until he was looking up into her face. “Part of this bond is that you need to trust me implicitly, Tessa.” “But I don’t even know you,” Tessa argued. “And I definitely don’t trust you.” “That was…blunt.” “You told me not to lie to you.” His lips twitched as if amused, which was good, because she was essentially talking back to the Arius Heir. She didn’t give much thought to self-preservation a lot of the time, but this was pushing it, even for her. “Indeed I did,” he agreed. “But the bond tends to rush things like trust along. Once completed in its entirety, we will be connected so deeply, you will feel as if we are the same person. Our wants and desires will be the same.”

“I know you do not trust me right now, Tessa, and what I am about to do will likely not help with that,” Theon continued. “What are you going to do?” she demanded, lurching back in her chair and knocking the water glass over. “Relax, Tessa,” Theon said, pushing to his feet and moving to grab a towel to soak up the water. Once cleaned up, he leaned back against the small table. “To prepare your body for the Marks, a tonic was created. It does a couple things, but the main thing it does is it allows my power to slip through the magical barriers you have no control over yet to allow my magic in.” “That doesn’t make sense. I can’t access my magic yet,” Tessa said, her hands gripping the arms of her chair and her knee bouncing again. “That is the whole point,” Theon went on. “Because you cannot access your element yet, you cannot take down your own magical barriers. For the Marks to work, they need to get past those shields. The tonic creates a temporary crack in your shields that allows my magic to pass. Additionally, by taking the Marks before your magic is allowed to emerge, my magical signature will become intertwined with your own, which will allow me to draw on your magic once the bond is fully completed.” “Sounds great,” Tessa muttered. “Is it not an honor to be Selected as the Source of an heir?” Theon asked, shifting against the table. Tessa’s eyes fell to her lap. “For many, I’m sure it is.” “But not for you.” “I was not lying to you in the hall.”

“Tessa, look at me.” He waited until her eyes came back to his. “I know this may not be how you envisioned your future, but soon enough it will be the only future you want.” There was a sharp stinging at her neck. Tessa cried out, her hand reaching up to grasp the spot, but Theon was faster. The hand at her chin snapped out to grip her wrist. His other hand lowered, and Tessa saw the syringe in his hand, a needle at the end of it. “What did you do?” she gasped, trying to break free from his hold, but that was utterly futile. “Tessalyn, look at me,” he ordered, and her eyes widened in horror as she felt the command slip under her skin. Entrancing was a power gifted to all the Legacy. The ability to take complete control of another if they didn’t have the mental shields to block it. Fae were only taught to shield against it if their assignments required such a thing, and even then, it wasn’t something they could do until their gifts were allowed to emerge. She tried to fight it, but her body worked of its own volition, her eyes sliding back to his at the order. He crouched before her once more, his free hand coming up to cradle her cheek. Power—dark and cold—vibrated against her skin at his touch, working its way inside her very being. She tried to scream. Tried to look away. Tried to move away from him. But she was frozen. An effect of the tonic, she suddenly realized. He began speaking in a language she shouldn’t know, but her soul knew what he was saying as her heart thra...

The finality of his words rang through the center of her very being, and although she couldn’t move, two tears slipped down her cheeks. Theon wiped one away with his thumb, brushing the wetness along her cheekbone. “Acknowledge that you understand what has just happened, Tessa.” Her lips parted as though released from a hold. “I understand…Master.” She knew the word should taste bitter on her tongue, but to her horror, it was sweet and wanted. “Good girl,” he said, releasing her wrist and stroking her cheek once more. “When we are in private or with Luka Mors, and not in formal settings, you may call me Theon,” he added.

He stood then, pouring another glass of water and holding it out to her. “Drink, Tessa.” But she didn’t reach for the glass. “I’m not thirsty.” “It will make you feel better. Help clear your mind,” he insisted. “No, thank you.” Theon sighed. “This is not going at all as I had imagined it would,” he muttered under his breath. He rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger before finally saying, “Tessalyn, drink.” She glared at him, having no choice but to take the glass and drink the entire thing before handing it back to him. “Better?” “Oh, yes. It fixed everything,” she retorted, really not caring at all about self-preservation now as the thing beneath her skin grew restless. His brows rose. “You are…unexpected.” “Then you should have selected someone else.” Her tone was not as sharp as she’d intended. She hoped he didn’t hear the small thread of defeat in it. “I am certain I chose perfectly.”

Be what they want you to be now, so you can be who you were meant to be later.

“Tell me, Tessa, how long are you going to be this bitter about your fate?” She crossed her arms, pursing her lips. “I want to eat.” “I will have food brought to you.” “No. I want to go to the feast. Give me one last night of normalcy. You owe me that, Theon,” she pleaded. Theon tsked. “I owe you nothing.”

Theon’s hand came to the small of her back, his touch making her suppress a shiver. “Do not make it a habit to negotiate with me, Tessa,” he murmured into her ear. “This is a one-time thing.”

more. “I told you our negotiation was a one-time thing, Tessalyn. Now, I highly suggest you stop making a scene in front of everyone.” Tessa nodded once in understanding, but it wasn’t enough for him. “Verbal acknowledgment, Tessa.” “I understand,” she gritted out. “Good,” he said, leaning back and picking up his liquor once more, his legs spread wide in a purely arrogant male mannerism. Tessa leaned back in her own chair, crossing her arms. “Act properly, Tessa,” he murmured over his glass. “I will not have my Source seen pouting and sulking about.” “Of course, Master,” she answered with faux sweetness,

Theon slid his hand from her back and pressed it to her neck, right over where he’d forced the tonic into her body. Tessa jerked back at the pressure on the bruised and tender spot, her eyes snapping to his accusingly. “What are you doing?” “My power is healing the bruise.” “Arius Legacy don’t have healing gifts.” “I will be able to heal you. It is a component of the Source Markings, and it is proof the tonic has taken effect, allowing my magic to slip past and heal you.” “Why didn’t you do that to begin with?” “Because it is tradition for Sources to bear the bruises for the evening until they receive their first Mark,” he explained, reaching for her neck again. She felt his dark magic rush under her skin, soothing the ache. “I thought the Arius Kingdom did not care for customs?” “Careful, Tessalyn,” he warned. “My patience will only be pushed so far.”

“I told Theon you were going to be a handful,” he muttered, striding towards her with purpose. Tessa shrank back against the balcony railing, trembling for an entirely different reason now. When the Legacy reached her, he bent and retrieved the dropped phone. Snapping it in half, he tossed the pieces over the railing. Then he bent once more and slid strong arms under her knees and around her back, scooping her up. “Come on, little one. Your Master is waiting.”

“Tessa, are you all right?” Theon said, turning back to her and ignoring his question. Concern filled his features, but it was concern for his source of power, not for her. She knew that. “Godsdamnit, Tessa,” he swore, moving one hand to grip her chin and hold her in place. “Tessalyn, speak. Are you all right?” “No,” she answered, the entrancing pulling the word from her lips. He leaned back to look her over. “Where are you hurt?” His hands left her face, reaching under the jacket and running down her arms, turning her hands over. He instantly healed a small cut he found on her palm before continuing to check her over. She hardly noticed his hands brushing down her ribs and along her hips, moving her gown aside to check her shins and knees. “Anywhere else?” he demanded, lifting her leg to check the soles of her feet. Tessa shook her head wordlessly. “I don’t think her body is what she was referring to when she said she wasn’t all right, Theon,” the other Legacy offered from his spot against the wall. Theon stilled, his lips forming a thin line as he lowered her foot back to the ground.

“Theon St. Orcas, heir of the Arius Kingdom, you have come before a Priestess and requested the first Mark for your Source. Do you acknowledge your request?” “I do,” Theon said tightly. “Do you understand your Source becomes yours and yours alone? You assume complete dominium. Once the first Mark is given, there is no undoing the bond that will be started. Only the death of either party can end it,” the Priestess continued. “I understand,” Theon answered. Tessa couldn’t help but recognize the superiority playing out before her. These two Legacy spoke of her as a piece of property he was taking ownership of. The Priestess was asking him questions about her own existence as she sat silently, holding a fizzing cup of blue liquid and curling her bare toes into the rug to keep from fidgeting. “You recognize that the Source bond connects you in all forms— physically, emotionally, and mentally, allowing you the ability to share power and life as one entity?” the Priestess asked. “I do,” Theon answered, flexing the fingers of his other hand. “May Achaz bless this bonding, and may Arius offer judgment if it is ever broken,” the Priestess intoned. “Theon St. Orcas, who do you Select as your Source?” “Tessalyn Ausra.”

“Tessalyn Ausra, I have claimed you as my Source, to be bonded to me irrevocably. With this Mark, may the bond become physical, that we can always sense each other’s presence and crave each other’s closeness. My power claims you as its own.”

Theon dropped the dagger, taking her wrist from Luka and holding it firmly as he placed his bleeding palm atop the wound he’d created and the subsequent Mark. Searing pain whipped through her veins as their blood mixed beneath her skin. It was unlike anything she had ever experienced. It was an agony that made her wish for death. His dark and cold magic crashed into her, invading every piece of her body and soul. She was screaming and arching off the sofa, Luka pinning her beneath him. It felt as if death itself were coursing through her over and over, and gods. She wished it would just take her. Theon only tightened his hand around her own, refusing to break the connection, and something in her was buzzing and thrashing, trying to rise up. But Theon forced more and more of his magic into her, and it was suffocating. She couldn’t breathe, and that familiar sensation only made her panic more. Theon’s jaw was clenched, sweat beading on his brow, as he gritted out, “Just give in, Tessa.” But she didn’t know what he meant, and another scream ripped from her throat. Then a cord of purest gold was floating from her skin, rising up to meet one of obsidian black from Theon. The cords were twining around each other, tighter and tighter, and it felt as if they were wrapping around her chest. She thrashed beneath Luka, gasping for any amount of air. Darkness clouded the edges of her vision, and she thought for sure this was how she was going to die. His dark power was going to kill h...

“How bad do you think it will be?” “I don’t know,” Theon answered. “She fought back. Way more than I anticipated.”

Like black ink against her fair skin, a Mark stood out. Swirling lines that wove together, and in the center sat three inverted, interlocking triangles. The symbol of Arius. Branding her. Claiming ownership of her.

“Tessa, come here,” he said, reaching for her again, but she scrambled back from him, her arms nearly giving out. “No. Don’t come near me,” she rasped, but apparently that was the wrong thing to do. The cord that connected her to Theon jerked sharply within her, and she whimpered in pain. Theon dropped to his knees before her. Luka was standing, watching everything warily. “Tessa,” Theon said, trying to sound reassuring. “The Source bond demands we are close, especially right now. When you tell me to stay away, it reacts poorly. Come here.” “No,” she gasped, crying out as another jolt of pain ricocheted through her body. “Tessa,” Theon snapped in frustration. “You are about to experience something worse than the pain you are in right now. Let me near so I can help you through it.” “Don’t growl at her, Theon,” Luka cut in. “You know the adjustment will take time. She will need time to navigate this, and how it works. You both will.” “I am aware of that, but she does not need to be in pain,” Theon argued. “I do not want to see her in pain when I can do something about it.”

“What was that?” she finally whispered. Her throat was raw from all the screaming and now the vomiting. “My magic,” Theon answered. “To give you the Mark, I had to pour some of my raw power into your veins so that your own magic would become overwhelmed by it, and, in turn, recognize it. Your body is trying to adjust to my magic in your system, along with the bond that is starting to form.”

Tessa thought their meeting in that corridor was random. It was anything but. He’d had his choices narrowed down to five, and he’d sought them all out in the hours before the Selection Ceremony. She had been the last one he’d tracked down. He’d never expected her to be hiding in an alcove out in the corridor. Then again, maybe he should have based on the number of times she sneaked off the Fae Estate in the Celeste Kingdom.

That first Mark though? That had been unexpected. He’d anticipated some resistance from her dormant element, but fuck. He could still feel the shocks and flares of power as it had battled his own. It had drained him more than he’d liked, which meant he’d need to ask his father for an extra ration or suffer for the next two days. He’d rather suffer.

“Theon,” Luka sighed. “You should have Selected someone else if you wanted everything to go to plan. I’ve told you from the beginning she was not the one for this. You insisted on keeping her in the running. You found her hiding, away from the other Fae, eating food she’d obviously stolen. I told you she was going to be too hard to control, which will be a problem for you in and of itself.” “She will be fine. As the bond grows stronger, she will be more obedient. She will start to want what I want,” Theon argued, looking down at the sleeping female. “Besides, she did not lie to me in the corridor before she knew who I was. You think she will start now that she knows I am the Arius Heir? She is not stupid, and I’m not going to base the choice of my Source on some intuition you think you have about her.” “It is not intuition when she has dozens of infraction reports from her Estate Mother. She is the exact opposite of stupid. She did not lie to you because she knows when and how to avoid making a scene. How do you think she avoided being looked at twice by the other heirs? She is clever, and she is too wild, Theon,” Luka said, his eyes flicking to Theon’s in the rearview mirror. “We needed someone with more self-control for this.” “We need a little wildness for this to work,” Theon countered. “I did not say her wildness was a bad thing. But to make her be what you need her to be…” “It won’t be like that,” Theon insisted. “She will want to please me. She will want to obey me,...

She’d been the only one he hadn’t been able to track down. It had been pure coincidence that he’d stumbled upon her on his way back from washing his hands after another Legacy had bumped into him and caused wine to spill over the side of his glass and all over his hand. He’d watched as she’d slipped from that side door, looking stunning in that black and emerald gown that fit her body like a glove, showing off every dip and curve. And then she’d flitted into that alcove faster than a hummingbird, piquing his curiosity even more. She’d been tucked so far back that if he hadn’t seen her go in there, he wouldn’t have noticed her when passing by. He couldn’t believe his eyes when he’d found her smuggling chocolate of all things. He’d been irritated when she’d acted surprised at getting caught. He’d been annoyed when she wouldn’t speak, more than ready to walk away and choose Jaxson. Then he’d been intrigued beyond all reason when she did open her mouth and wave that piece of chocolate in his face. Five minutes in that alcove with her and he’d known she’d be coming home with him.

But when Theon’s gaze had landed on her, when he’d found her leaning against another male and he’d felt the prickle of irritation at seeing another’s hands on her, he’d known it was over.

“I’m in different clothing.” “Yes,” Theon confirmed. “Your other ones were soaked in sweat from the vomiting and…everything else. We thought you would want fresh clothing.” “You changed my clothing?” she gasped, clearly horrified. “Luka and I did.” “Oh my gods,” she moaned, dragging a hand down her face. “That crosses so many boundaries, Theon.” He couldn’t help the shiver that ran down his spine when his name fell from her lips. “You are my Source, Tessa. I am going to take care of you.”

“Easy, little one,” he murmured, his hands holding her tightly around the waist. “Let me know when you’re steady.” Theon gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay back and wait. Until he saw the silent tears tracking down her cheeks. “Tessa,” he breathed, stepping forward and reaching for her, but she shrank away from him, recoiling into Luka’s chest. He stilled. He had no idea what to do. She was his Source. Why was she leaning on Luka? Why was she letting him support her? The bond was thrashing in his chest, demanding he take her back. “Tessa, come here,” he demanded, holding out his hand to her. “Luka needs to refuel the vehicle.” “Give her a minute, Theon,” Luka said. “She is obviously in pain.” “And it would lessen if I were touching her. The bond would at least settle down, easing some of the discomfort,” Theon retorted. “Give her to me.” “Give her a fucking minute. She doesn’t even have shoes on to be walking around out here. Get yourself under control.”

“I don’t want to put on socks,” she replied, shaking her head. “Don’t you have a pair of sandals I could slip on? Flip-flops or something?” Flip-flops? As if she’d ever be allowed to wear something so informal again. Not as an

“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.

“Is this how it’s going to be? When I don’t act the way you desire, you will just entrance me?” His jaw clenched. “If you would simply listen when I ask you to do something, this would not be an issue, Tessa,” he finally ground out. He felt her tense at his words and try to push away from him, but he tightened his hold, keeping her in place. “Don’t, Tessa. Don’t do this. The bond wants us touching right now. It is how it strengthens and forms.” Still she struggled against him, and Theon couldn’t believe she was fighting him on this yet again. “For the love of the gods, yes! If you are going to act like a petulant child, I am going to treat you like a petulant child. Stop or I will force you to stop.” She sucked in a sharp breath at the words and stilled in his arms. After a full minute of silence, he heard her whisper, “As you wish, Master.”

She’d lost her godsdamn mind earlier, crying her despair to the gods that didn’t give a fuck about her or this world, the screaming in her head finally finding its way out. She couldn’t do that again. Too many things happened when she lost control like that. It was why Dex hated it when she went off by herself.

“My father shadow-walked them back to Arius House.” “Shadow-walked?” “It is best explained as his personal portal,” Theon answered. “It is something he can only do when drawing from his Source, and it takes a fair amount of power so he does not do it often.” “And you… You will be able to do that? When you draw from me?” Tessa asked. Theon glanced down at her again. “Yes. When you have all the Marks and the bond has been completed, I will be able to access all the gifts of Arius. Not often, and only for short periods of time. It drains both the Legacy and the Source to tap into the other gifts.”

“You are stunning, Tessa.” His hands were still on her waist where he’d placed them to turn her, and now they slipped down a few inches to her hips, his thumbs running along the upper swells of her backside. “Simply stunning.” Her eyes narrowed on his in the mirror. “I look like a gutter rat, Theon,” she replied, noting her limp and messy hair and tired eyes. “No, beautiful,” he said, shaking his head. “You look like salvation and temptation all rolled into one.”

“Socks are bad. You get difficult when you are hungry. What else do I need to know?” he asked, reaching up and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She met his gaze at the question, his hand lingering on her cheek. “That I’m not your salvation or your temptation. I’m not your anything.” His features hardened at her words, and his jaw clenched. “We both know that is not true, Tessa,” he finally said, brushing his thumb along her lower lip. Then he reached for her right hand and brought it to his lips, pressing them to the Mark there. Her breath hitched at the feel of his mouth on her skin. He rubbed his thumb along the Mark, studying it for a moment before he brought his eyes back to hers and said, “You can fight it all you want, but you are going to belong to me. Every piece of you.”

“Do not fight me or push me away in front of him, and do not ask questions,” he continued. His features were tense and anxious, his eyes hard and urgent. “I understand,” she finally replied. He was her Master after all. What had he said? She obeyed him above all others. “Good girl,” he murmured, leaning forward and pressing a soft kiss to her brow.

Luka glanced down at her. “I would be lying if I said I didn’t think your looks were part of it, Tessa, but I know it was not the entire reason.” “But what were the other reasons then?” “There were several things he was looking for in his Source. Personally, I think there were better options, but when he spoke with you in that alcove, his mind was almost instantly made up.” “You make it sound like he was picking out an item at the market. ‘I think there were better options,’” she mimicked. Luka sent her a dry look. “That mouth of yours is part of the reason I believe there were better options, little one.”

“Through there is Theon’s room and your room.” Tessa started at that. “My room is here? In his suite?” Luka met her gaze. “You are his Source, Tessa. You will be within reach at almost all times, especially once all the Marks have been given.”

“Theon will not like this,” Luka murmured as he left the room. What did Theon care anyway? He had done this to her. He got what he wanted. He got his precious Source. He got his strength and his power, even if it meant putting her through agony. Then it occurred to her that she was going to have to go through this again. And again. And again. She had to assume each new Mark would happen just like this. And what about when he drew power from her? Would that be as excruciating as being given the Marks? How often would he draw from her? They kept telling her she was going to be okay. They kept telling her that everything was going to be all right. But they were liars.

“The intensity and need lessen some as the bond settles into place. She appeared to be fulfilling the urges. I can only assume the same is happening in your bed as the bond strengthens,” Valter said, leaning forward and shuffling papers around on his desk. “You should be thanking me for the insistence of a female Source at this point.” Theon pressed his tongue to his cheek, refusing to respond to the comment. Mainly because he didn’t think they would be sharing a bed the way his father was clearly referencing. They may end up sleeping beside each other, but the way things were going, she wasn’t going to let him touch her in that way anytime soon. She could hardly stand to let him touch her to soothe her aches, let alone bring her pleasure. But gods, he wanted to. This wasn’t just some need for release either. The Source bond was creating a primal need to claim her and mark her as his in every way possible, not just with visible Marks on her skin. He wanted to taste her on his lips. Feel her tremble under his fingers from his touch rather than her fever. Feel what it felt like to be deep inside her. Fantasies weren’t going to cut it. If the desire was this strong after one Mark, what would it be like after two? After she’d received all the Marks?

“When you take her, you will want to believe that she loves you too.”