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“Of course, my Lord,” the sentinel capitulated, stepping to the side.

Theon’s hand fell to the small of Tessa’s back, and he didn’t miss the small smirk that pulled at his father’s lips.

They followed the sentinel down the stairs and along a passage until he stopped outside a glass door. “Each Source has their own warded holding area. She cannot leave and only a priestess or Pantheon sentinel can enter.”

Theon almost huffed a laugh at the idea of wards keeping Tessa contained.

“I will be taking a private moment with her,” Theon replied, ushering Tessa into the room. The door fell shut, and he sent a sheet of shadows to cover the glass.

She had moved to the center of the room, her hands clasped in front of her.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

Her head tilted to the side. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I assumed you would be nervous, and this room is rather small.”

She smiled humorlessly. “Bigger than some wine cellars.”

He bit the inside of his cheek to keep from snapping back at her. Inhaling deeply, he said, “You know the agreement with my father was to try to deescalate the situation last night, right? That will not happen. Your power levels will be more than enough.”

She shrugged. “I understand where my value lies, but even if that were not the case, I do not care if I live or if I face death.”

Theon was fairly certain his heart stopped for the briefest of moments at her words, and he found himself directly in front of her, gripping her face in his hands. “You may not care right now, but I do.”

“Of course you do,” she replied calmly. “You’re the one who gets to have all the power.”

“That’s not—”

“Do you remember the Chaosphere game on the way here?” she asked suddenly.

He blinked a few times before he said, “Of course.”

“Do you remember kissing me there?”

“Every day.”

“You were going to ask something of me.”

“I was,” he agreed, his thumb swiping along her cheek.

“What was it?”

He searched those hauntingly beautiful new eyes, memorizing the feel of her soft skin beneath his palms. “I was going to ask you to not let me kiss you again until you were ready to admit this is more than a bond. Because I knew…” He swallowed as she just stared back at him, no emotion filling her eyes. His voice held a thread of defeat when he said, “Because I knew the next time I kissed you, it wouldn’t be enough. That I’d want more. That I’d want it all. Because you have become a need, little storm.”

He waited. Waited for her to react. Waited for her to say something. Waited for her to acknowledge what he’d just said in some way.

He wasn’t expecting her to push up onto her toes, but he didn’t hesitate to bend to meet her lips. The kiss was intoxicating, her tongue swiping gently against his, and the bond shuttered in relief.

Or maybe that was his soul.

He pulled back first, looking into violet-grey eyes that were still dark with her secrets. Brushing his thumb along her bottom lip, he rasped out, “I will come for you. After.”

She nodded, her features slightly flushed from the kiss.

“Does knowing that change anything?” he asked.

She stepped back from him, his hands slipping from her face. She intertwined her fingers in front of her once more as she answered, “No.”