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“It is not going well?”

“No, that is not what I mean,” Theon amended. “I thought the Source bond and everything it entails would instantly snap into place as soon as everything was initiated, but it does not.”

“Maybe you are right,” Felicity supplied. “Maybe once the Marks are in place, and she has emerged, it will be different. Easier. For all involved.”

Not wanting her to think he wasn’t in control of his Source, he took another sip of his drink before saying, “They come to love the hand that feeds and cares for them.”

“I suppose that is one way to look at it,” Felicity said thoughtfully, her eyes flicking to something over his shoulder. “Like your famed hunting hounds in a way.”

“My hounds cannot talk back to me,” Theon muttered.

Felicity let out a soft laugh at that. “I am sure you took care of any resistance quickly and effortlessly.” She paused before adding, “I thought maybe it would be different since you will eventually be able to read her emotions and thoughts. Is it not odd to have someone constantly with you at all times?”

Theon shrugged a shoulder. “Perhaps, but considering I will be able to draw from her power after the bonding is completed, I would rather have her with me than anywhere else.”

“Of course you would want to protect one of your most valuable assets,” Felicity said with a nod.

“She is definitely that,” he agreed, sinking the last of his drink.

The server arrived with the salads and bread, and a moment later, Tessa was sliding back into her seat beside him. He turned to speak with her and found her pale, her cosmetics too dark against her skin. There was almost a greenish hue to her skin tone.

Theon leaned towards her. “Are you all right?”

“Fine,” she answered tightly, pulling her napkin into her lap. She reached for her water glass, her hand trembling slightly.

“Tessa.” He brought his hand up to touch her, and she closed her eyes, clearly fighting the urge to pull away from him. Her entire body was rigid and taut. Her breathing was shallow. What the fuck had happened while she was gone? “Did someone do something to you?”

She shook her head.

“What do you need?”

He shot a quick glance at Felicity, who was politely trying to look anywhere else as she ate her salad. Beside him, Tessa took in a deep breath and held it for a moment before pushing the air back out of her lungs. She finally opened her eyes again, her gaze fixed on the salad plate before her.

“I apologize,” she said. “It has been a long day, but I am fine…Master.”

The muscle ticked in his jaw at the title, and he sat back some. Gesturing to her salad, he said, “Eat, Tessa. You have not eaten all day.”

She dutifully picked up her fork and stabbed some lettuce and croutons, bringing the bite to her nearly bloodless lips. He reached for the bread, buttering a slice and placing it on her plate. She glanced at it briefly before bringing another bite of salad to her mouth. If possible, her face turned a little more green, and she reached for her water once more.

“Tessa…”

“I’m fine!” she snapped, and her eyes widened as she lost control of her tongue. Her gaze dropped to her lap. “My apologies,” she gritted out.

But it was a lie. Her tone told him she wasn’t sorry at all. Theon’s eyes narrowed, and he glanced at Felicity out of the corner of his eye. She was eyeing them now, her fork halfway to her mouth with her last bite of salad. He couldn’t let this go. He couldn’t let a public outburst at him go without consequence.

But what was he to do with her here?

He reached over, his hand capturing her chin and turning her face to his. “Do you not remember our discussion of stated expectations, Tessalyn? Particularly the portion of what will happen if those expectations are not met?”

Her eyes went wide. “I— Yes, of course,” she replied, stumbling over her words. A mixture of panic and fury entered her eyes.

“And would you agree expectations are not currently being met?”

Thin pools of silver began to well in her eyes, and he knew they were not tears of regret but anger as she blinked them back.

“Answer me,” he ordered.

“I would agree.”