25. Tessa

At dinner, Tessa struggles after a brutal Level Five assessment, recoiling at broth and clinging to the bond’s numb comfort. Theon tends to her publicly while courting Felicity Davers, who discloses a Gracil gift to sense and amplify conflict. Felicity deftly engages Theon on House roles and Match expectations; he admits selection will hinge on bloodline, power, and tolerability, and they agree to meet again at the Acropolis.

Outside, Theon corners Tessa, intent on extracting what she hides. In the car with Axel and Luka, Tessa grows defiant, hinting at overhearing Felicity’s demeaning comparison and revealing she bribed the hostess to send top-shelf agaveheart to the hotel. Banter escalates as Axel teases and Theon demands answers, while Tessa rejects his control and voices exhaustion.

At the hotel lobby, Tessa briefly escapes into playful banter with a mortal, Tristyn, who shows simple concern. Theon arrives, openly possessive, pulling Tessa away as Tristyn leaves a room number. Luka and Axel usher everyone to the elevator before the confrontation turns public.

In the suite, Theon tries to assert authority, but Tessa, drained, fires back and finally admits the last weeks have driven her to suicidal thoughts, especially during the Marking and assessment. Theon insists acceptance of the bond would resolve her turmoil; Luka urges him to give space, noting their coercion is backfiring. Axel is shaken by her admission.

With tensions high, Theon stands down for the night. Privately, Tessa resolves to exploit Theon’s belief that she’s warming to the bond to secure small freedoms—starting with retrieving her agaveheart—while the trio debates how to handle the deepening rift.