Page 228

“I understand,” she whispered on another broken sob. “I’m sorry I loved you too late. But I’m yours. Every piece of me.”

Theon didn’t say another word.

In a sudden burst of power, his darkness yanked her from Luka’s arms. She screamed, and Luka bellowed a roar that she felt in her soul. Black flames flared, but it was Auryon who appeared, blocking Theon’s dagger with one of her own as Roan and Niylah prowled around them, brushing up against Tessa’s legs. Midnight hair flowed around the female, her bare feet planted as she stared up at Theon, a dark grin on her face.

Her voice was a predatory purr as she said, “You may have stolen her Guardian from her, but that only means you must now deal with me.”

“You know this has to happen, Auryon,” Theon said, desperation entering his tone.

“I know a great number of things,” the female replied, stepping to Tessa’s side. “I know she was meant to be a tempest of wrath and vengeance in this world.”

She never took her eyes off Theon as she reached for Tessa’s hand.

And slid the ring from her finger.

40

AXEL

Kat shot to her feet when Axel came through the door of their room. He’d been across the hall in Luka’s room. Tessa still slept, her body adjusting to the new Mark. Theon was awake, but looked exhausted. He was clearly still drained from the Marking. Luka had seemed just as tired. He likely hadn’t slept while Theon and Tessa did, too paranoid to leave them in such a vulnerable state. Not that he didn’t have a reason to be paranoid. Paranoia was just part of being raised in Arius House. Or maybe Arius Kingdom? Devram in general?

“What did he think about everything?” Kat asked, wringing her hands together. She’d offered to go with him, but she’d needed to get ready for this meeting with his father this morning.

Axel swiped a hand down his face. “They are going to spend the entire day researching everything. Maybe it will help Theon tomorrow.”

“When we get back, we can help,” she said, smoothing her hands down her dress.

It was a simple yet classy thing. Long-sleeves. Shallow v-neck. Material that clung subtly to her curves. His father would approve. It was why Axel picked it out for her to wear.

“Right,” he said, flashing her a weak smile.

She wasn’t an optimist. Kat was a realist. This was a show she was putting on for him.

But they’d both been in denial these past few weeks. There wasn’t any other way to put it. Going about their days, coming back here at the end of them, and acting like this could ever be normal for them. What he would give for such a dull life of monotony if it meant he could spend his days and nights with her.

Kat cleared her throat before she said, “It hasn’t felt this awkward since the first night you stayed in here.”

He huffed a bark of laughter despite the circumstances. There was the bluntness he knew.

“Are you going to say anything?” she finally asked when Axel just leaned against the door. “It does not lessen the awkwardness when you stare at me like that.”

“We’ve established multiple times I am a rude fuck,” Axel said, but she was right. He was staring at her, trying to memorize this moment. Trying to memorizeher. Like this. Whole. Happy. Safe.

The moment they left for the meeting she would no longer be the last one on that list. He doubted by the end of the meeting she would be any of those things.

This was his fault. He didn’t get to sit here and memorize this and wish for something they could never have. He’d been selfish, and now she was going to suffer for it.

Pushing off the doorframe, he brushed past her and made his way to the closet. Having left the top two buttons of his shirt undone, he finished buttoning them now before grabbing a tie from the tie rack. Dark red.

Blood red.

Just in case.

He looped it around his neck, quickly knotting it before grabbing his black suit jacket.

When he came back out, Katya hadn’t moved. She still stood in the same spot, hands clasped before her and waiting. But her eyes… Fuck, those godsdamn amber eyes were fixed on him, seeing straight to his soul like she always did.

Still he said nothing, moving around the room and gathering his things. A messenger bag with a laptop he rarely took out once he got home for the evening. Several files. A phone charger. Who knew how long he’d be gone, and if she didn’t come back with him…