8. Tessa

Tessa dreams she is restrained by Luka and Axel while Theon raises a black dagger to her heart. Tristyn and two mysterious warriors argue about interference and balance as thunder rolls, but Theon insists sacrifice is necessary to save their world. Despite Tessa’s pleas, Theon apologizes and drives the dagger into her chest.

Tessa jerks awake on the training floor with Luka over her, breathless and aching as if stabbed. Luka coolly insists she focus and breathe, brushing off the dream and pivoting to the prior night’s attack. He accuses her of not fighting back, stating he saw from the air that she did nothing even before a dagger reached her throat.

Pressed, Tessa cites the threat at her neck, but Luka argues she had tools to resist and that Theon would have reached her in time if she had tried. He provocatively suggests either secret collusion stemming from her time at Lord Jove’s residence or, more likely, her disregard for her own life, noting the dagger was no ordinary blade.

Tessa admits she has considered death before; Luka replies, “Theon is death,” but withholds telling Theon about her apathy. He asserts she is allowed to feel overwhelmed, yet only she can choose when to stop surrendering to it. He warns that without her decision to fight, their training is pointless.

As tempers flare, Luka reframes her sense of being used, revealing Valter once sought to exploit him and uses his own children similarly. He accuses Tessa of fearing control and letting others decide for her. When she lashes out, he ends the session, insisting she must decide she is worth the effort.

The exchange closes with Luka ordering Tessa to gather her things. He will take her to Theon, who will determine her placement until afternoon lessons, making clear that training resumes only when Tessa chooses to fight for herself.