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A finger brushed over the Mark on her right hand. “This one allows us to feel each other’s physical presence. It’s why the bond craves closeness right now. It’s our essences getting to know each other, and it’s why…”

“You’re annoyingly needy?” she supplied, and Axel snickered from the front seat.

“Yes,” Theon said tightly. “You are supposed to be feeling the same way, but obviously are…not.”

Tessa flashed him a sardonic smile.

His finger left her hand and came to her chest, brushing over her heart. “The next one will go here. On the fall equinox,” he continued softly. “It will allow us to feel each other’s emotions.”

She swallowed as he held her gaze, something in her stomach unacceptably fluttering. “And if I don’t want you to know what I’m feeling?” she breathed.

He didn’t answer, his finger trailing up along her collarbone, around her throat until he brushed down her nape. He leaned forward to whisper in her ear. “And on the winter solstice, you’ll get the third Mark here, allowing us to hear each other’s thoughts.”

“And if I don’t want you in my head?” she whispered back.

“I am praying to any god that will listen that you will feel differently by that point,” he answered.

“How unfortunate for you the gods can’t hear those pleas. And if they can, there’s nothing they can do about them.”

Heated emerald eyes met her own. He lifted her left hand, his thumb brushing over the back of it. “The final Mark will go here. On the spring equinox.”

“And will allow you to draw power from me.”

“Yes,” Theon agreed, that heat in his gaze dying out a little and being replaced with something Tessa couldn’t quite put her finger on. “Each Mark adds another layer to the bond, but the final Mark… You will feel driven to react against any threat against me.”

She jerked back from him. “What?”

“That is where the theory about the Guardian Mark somehow being incorporated into the Source Marks comes from.”

“So let me get this straight,” Tessa said. “Not only will I lose all sense of self, all privacy, all of me, I will also be forced to give my life for yours if the situation demands such a thing?”

Theon opened his mouth but closed it again, saying nothing in response.

“You will literally take everything from me,” she whispered in realization.

“No,” Theon said, shaking his head, still gripping her left hand. She tried to pull it back, but he squeezed her fingers. “No, Tessa. That will never happen.”

“What do you mean that will never happen? Do you not intend to force the rest of the Marks?”

“No. I mean, yes. You will receive the rest of the Marks,” he amended quickly at her arched brows. “But you will never be required to give your life for mine.”

“You can’t say that, Theon. If the situation—”

“It won’t happen, Tessa.”

“How can you be so sure?” she demanded, her voice rising.

His hand came to her cheek. “Because I already have a Guardian, Tessa. A full Guardian. With a Guardian Mark and a Guardian Bond.”

“What? Who? How?” she asked, stumbling over her words as she tried to digest what he’d just told her.

“I already have a Guardian,” Theon repeated. “It’s how we know so much about the Guardian Bond.”

“Who?” she repeated.

“Luka.”

Tessa’s head whipped to the front seat. She pushed past Theon to lean over the center console. “You’re his Guardian?”