37. Theon

Returning from the social, Theon isolates Tessa and demands to know why she danced with Tristyn. He frames it as a public challenge to his control among Legacies; Tessa counters she was following his directive to learn, probing how Tristyn hid his Legacy status. Theon’s jealousy and possessiveness collide with Tessa’s defiance.

The confrontation turns psychological. Theon lists what he knows about Tessa and accuses her of secretly wanting this life; Tessa eviscerates Theon’s illusion of control and likens him to his father. Theon restrains her but deliberately maintains restraint, insisting he is controlling himself around her.

The standoff snaps into desire when Tessa deliberately seizes control by undressing. Theon binds her wrists with shadows and teases, demanding she admit their need is more than a bond. He pauses repeatedly to ensure consent, pushing her to “lie” and say it’s more; she finally begs him not to stop but refuses to call herself his.

They negotiate boundaries mid-escalation: Theon promises not to cross lines if told to stop, while insisting future intimacy requires her acknowledgment that it’s more than the bond. Tessa asserts she’ll never be his and that he’ll never be hers, revealing longing beneath denial.

Concluding the clash, Theon carries Tessa to the bed, vows that next time she will admit she is his, and, despite her refusal, they have sex. The scene cements mutual attraction but preserves the central conflict over control, belonging, and public perception.