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A warm hand slid along her jaw, tilting her face up as he stepped into her. He was so close, her front brushed against his.

“You’re not one of the monsters, Tessa. Do you hear me?”

But the corner of her mouth curled up as she whispered, “You’re wrong.”

He said nothing else. Only pulled her into him before stepping through the air. She recognized the sensation now. He’d done this when she’d found Felicity in Theon’s room. Itwas how he’d gotten her to the river so quickly. How many other times had he done the same thing?

In the next blink, they stood in his room at the townhouse. Before she could take a step, darkness was wrapping around her and yanking her from him. Her magic flared, already too anxious from everything else that had happened, but darkness wound around her power too, calling to something deep within her. With a shuddering gasp, she looked up at Theon. His eyes were so full of inky power, the emerald color could hardly be seen.

“Theon—” she started, but his darkness wound around her throat, effectively silencing her.

“Hush, Tessa,” he snarled, his furious gaze fixed on Luka. “My Guardian has been keeping secrets.”

36

LUKA

He stared at the male who’d been the equivalent of a brother to him his entire life. They’d grown up together. Tessa had once asked him about his earliest memories. They all included Theon. From sneaking sweets when they were younger to sneaking alcohol long before they should have. From academic lessons to late nights spent plotting as they learned what Valter was planning. From summer seasons spent away together at combat training camps to taking the punishment together for completing the Guardian bond behind his father’s back. They’d always survived together.

Now Theon was tucking Tessa behind him, refusing to turn his back on Luka. His darkness surrounded her, protecting her the only way he knew how—by controlling. It was why Theon valued control so much. When he had control, he could protect those he loved. Control meant safety, and safety meant love. It was what he’d done with her from the beginning. She didn’t understand that the only way he knewhowto love was to obsessively possess and protect. She didn’t understand that growing up, his father made sure he was so deprived of safety,sanctuary, and love, that having those things—and making sure those he called his own had them too—became an obsession.

“Maybe Tessa should go find Axel and the others so we can talk,” Luka said calmly, pulling off his soiled shirt.

“Is she hurt?” Theon gritted out.

“You could ask her yourself,” Tessa grumbled, stepping out from behind him a little.

Luka watched as she lifted a hand, her golden light slowly twining among Theon’s darkness as if studying it. That light glow still emanated around her like a golden aura. Violet-grey eyes flicked to him, and he held her stare, cataloging every mark and speck of blood on her fair skin. She’d heal, but the fact that they were there told him she’d fought. And to find her so viciously attacking when he’d arrived? With half of a fucking arrow at that?

He wasn’t surprised she’d finally put it together that she could feel his emotions tonight, but the dragon under his skin had certainly noticed all the blood and violence too. Even if he hadn’t been intrigued before, he sure as fuck would have been now.

“I think we should talk, and then we can get a full report from Tessa after she’s had a chance to…let the adrenaline settle a bit,” Luka said.

Tense silence filled the air until finally Theon said, “Your friends are worried about you. They are in the lounge.”

Tessa didn’t answer, but her lips pressed into a thin line, telling Luka she didn’t like being sent away yet again. With a sharp nod, she turned and left the room without another word.

Theon finally turned, shutting the door behind her with a sharp snap. Luka crossed his arms and waited for him to say something. He’d let Theon choose where to start. Luka knew him well enough to know he was trying to sort through everything he’d pieced together and everything he hadn’t.

When Theon lifted his head to meet his gaze again, he said, “When did you learn you could fucking Travel? That’s what it is, isn’t it?”

“That had always been my assumption, but seeing Scarlett and Sorin do it confirmed it,” Luka answered.

“Has always been your assumption? How long?”

Luka pulled the tie from his hair, moving to the brass tin he kept them in and placing it inside. “I learned about it shortly after my gifts manifested.”

“When we wereeleven years?”Theon said, and Luka could feel his disbelief down the bond he’d been roped into. “That was… You never said a fucking thing.”

“The first time it happened, I was terrified,” Luka replied, running his fingers along the gems inlaid in the brass tin. “We were at that combat training camp. Your father had requested we each receive private instruction, and the instructor… We were eleven years.”

Theon stared at him, and Luka could tell he was remembering the same thing Luka was. The very first time they were sent to the academy, neither of them had known what to expect. They’d assumed it was more academics, not combat training. They certainly hadn’t expected to endure beatings along with having their power drained and then be chained. They surely hadn’t expected to be taught how to fight with a fucking sword and dagger.

It definitely hadn’t been learning how to take a life and then live with yourself afterwards.

“The trainer you…”

Luka nodded. “Apparently I’d retained just enough power to Travel. I didn’t go far, but he saw me. I didn’t know what had happened. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know what your father would say. I panicked. I was untrained. My magic was panicking with me, protecting me, and I killed him. When itwas reported to your father, herewardedme by gifting me the dagger I’d used to do it. After a few more years of training, he started sending me on his little missions.”