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“You cannot even walk right now,” he argued.
She hauled herself to her feet, her face pure determination. Theon quickly got to his own, reaching for her, but she pulled away. She grimaced as she did and stumbled a step. When he reached to stabilize her, she pulled away again.
He gritted his teeth. “Godsdamnit, Tessa. Just let me help you.”
“I don’t need your help, Th—” She pressed her lips together in frustration as his name stalled on her tongue. “I’ll be fine.”
“Fine isn’t good enough,” he retorted, stalking across the room to grab the duffel bag from the floor.
“The restroom is just across the hall,” Rhett supplied slowly, his gaze flicking from Tessa to Theon and back again. “I can help her walk—”
“If you lay a finger on her without permission, it will be the last thing you do,” Theon said darkly, and inky shadows began creeping towards the Fae.
“Theon,” Axel cautioned from where he stood, and Theon could feel it. He was on the brink of losing complete control.
Rhett cast a worried look in Tessa’s direction, but she simply gestured for him to lead the way. Theon followed them out the door, staying close in case she stumbled again. Rhett led them across the hall, where he opened a door and flipped a switch on in a small bathroom.
“Sorry there isn’t a shower in there,” he said, looking at Tessa.
She smiled softly at him, her eyes seeming to warm a touch, and Theon ground his teeth together. She’d never offered him that look or that smile.
“This is more than enough,” Tessa replied. “Thank you, Rhett.”
“Get out,” Theon ordered, stepping into the bathroom behind them.
Rhett glanced at him before turning back to Tessa. “I did track down a toothbrush and toothpaste for you though. It’s by the sink.”
“Thank the gods,” Tessa replied, instantly moving in that direction. Theon hadn’t even thought to pack such things for her. He’d only packed her the change of clothing she’d requested.
Rhett left the small bathroom, and Theon moved to shut the door behind him.
“You can get out, too,” Tessa said, bracing her hands on the sink, clearly using it to hold herself up.
“I am not leaving you alone in here, Tessa.”
“Are you afraid there are vampyres lurking in the corners of the bathroom, Theon? I will be fine,” she replied, rolling her eyes.
“Why would there be vampyres in here? Is that a common thing after an assessment?” he asked, looking around the small bathroom.
“There are not…” Tessa gave him a perplexed look, as if she were at a loss for words. “There are not routinely vampyres in the bathrooms after assessments, Theon. I was being a smartass. What kind of childhood did you have to think vampyres are real?”
Theon ignored her question, instead staying, “Either way, you can hardly stand. Someone needs to help you.”
“You are the reason for that, Theon!” she cried. “You are the reason someone needs to take care of me. Again.”
Something deep inside his chest flinched back at the words, and it wasn’t the cord that connected them. He’d never felt the bond that deeply before. This was something else.
Tessa was glaring at him, her eyes the color of a stormy sky. When he didn’t say anything, she rolled her eyes again, turning to the sink. “Whatever, Theon.”
She unwrapped the new toothbrush and reached for the toothpaste. While she did that, Theon pulled her change of clothes from the duffel bag. He knew she’d be uncomfortable, but also knew they’d be attending a lunch with Felicity. He’d packed her a sundress, which now wouldn’t be appropriate for a dinner. They’d have to stop and pick her up something else after they were done with the forgery expert.
Theon turned back to Tessa to find she hadn’t started brushing her teeth yet. She was staring down at the sink.
“Tessa, are you all right?”
She jumped as though she’d forgotten he was in here with her. “I’m fine,” she answered quickly, bringing the toothbrush to her mouth.
When she had finished, she brought the items over and put them into a side pouch in the duffel bag, zipping it shut. She peeled off the leggings and sports bra she was wearing, and Theon didn’t bother to look away. She was his, after all. If he wanted to look at her, he was going to.
