10. Theon

Theon, Tessa, and Luka enter the Arius Marking room. As they prepare, tensions surface about Axel’s Fae-blood addiction and Katya’s safety. The priestess arrives to observe by order of the ruling Lords and Ladies. The plan is to draw the Mark and remove one band to access Tessa’s magic.

When Luka is instructed to remove a band, Tessa panics and flees across the room, accusing them of using river visits as strategy rather than care. Bound by her bargain and Theon’s coaxing, she returns to the sofa and consents. The priestess draws the Mark after Theon’s cut, and Luka removes a band.

As Theon’s blood meets Tessa’s, her lightning-charged power surges, nearly endangering the priestess until Luka shields her. Theon urges Tessa to release control; her light first teases, then clamps down, overpowering his shadows. Feeling her torrent of agony, fear, loneliness, and fury, Theon realizes he cannot subdue her power alone.

At Theon’s insistence, Luka slices his palm and joins their magic. Darkness and black flames merge, forcing Tessa’s power to submit. The Mark manifests as an obsidian-and-gold cord threaded with silvery-blue—and an extra swirl that alarms the priestess. Drained and shaken, Tessa clings to Theon while he reveals the altered Mark.

The priestess declares the Mark irregular and must report it. Theon dismisses her and resolves to conceal that he and Luka combined magic. Luka protests the added risk, but they agree to keep Axel uninvolved. They steady Tessa, plan to get her home before sickness hits, and postpone unraveling the Mark’s implications.