26. Tessa

Waiting for Theon to sleep, Tessa slips from bed, dresses quietly, and evades Axel dozing on the sofa. She rides the elevator down, retrieves her preordered agaveheart from the concierge, and steps outside to savor a brief sense of freedom despite the bond’s pull.

Outside, Tessa encounters mortal Tristyn, who offers lull-leaf and conversation. He lends his jacket and phone; Tessa calls Brecken and Dex, tearfully admitting she’s not okay after a brutal Level Five assessment and that Theon tightly controls her. Dex begs her to hold on until the Acropolis. Tristyn orders pizza, and they eat and talk; Tessa deflects details about Legacy life.

The bond flares: Theon arrives, shadows coiling, furious to find Tessa drinking, smoking, and with Tristyn. When Tessa stumbles, Tristyn steadies her, and Theon yanks her away, warning Tristyn off. He strips Tristyn’s jacket from her and drags her to the private elevator.

In the elevator, Theon Entrances Tessa to recount everything she did. Relieved she wasn’t touched, he commands silence to avoid waking Luka and Axel. In their room, he forces water on her and orders a shower to remove Tristyn’s scent. Tessa hides Tristyn’s business card before washing.

Back in Theon’s shirt, Tessa refuses to sleep next to him. Their argument escalates: she admits she sought comfort earlier only to survive the day, that she pretended to accept the bond to loosen his control and order agaveheart, and that she traditionally copes with assessments through alcohol and mortal flings. Theon counters that the bond amplifies real feelings and forbids others touching her.

Exhausted, Tessa asks for a truce. Theon agrees, settles her in bed, and chooses to sleep in the armchair, insisting his care is more than the bond. Tessa turns away, hoping the agaveheart and lull-leaf stave off nightmares as departure for the Acropolis nears.