“Not that one,” Cienna called, still not looking up from whatever it was they were studying.
Tessa frowned, her fingers still hovering over it.
“Theon,” Cienna warned.
Theon went to her side, lacing his fingers with hers before drawing her away. “The faster we speak with Cienna, the faster we can leave.”
“I’m not who you need to speak with,” Cienna said, and Luka tensed.
“Then why make us come all the way here?” he asked, the words laced with a growl.
“Because I am the one who can tell you who youdoneed to speak with,” she answered, finally deigning to turn and face them. With a pointed look at Tessa, she added, “Does she know why you’re here?”
Tessa’s brow furrowed. “What does that mean?”
Luka shifted on his feet. He didn’t really want to do this in front of everyone, but apparently he was going to.
“Luka?” she asked, her confusion shifting to panic down the bond.
“You’re worried about this Mark and me being upset,” Luka said, gesturing to his chest. “I know we talked about it, but you’re still unsure. I need you to understand that I would have chosen this. I do choose this. I choose you, not because I was forced to or because of some bond.”
“Okay,” she said, dragging out the word.
He pulled at the back of his neck. This was awkward as fuck.
Tessa’s head tilted to the side. “I’ve never seen you so…”
“Nervous?” Theon provided.
Luka glanced at him, flipping him his middle finger when he found a smirk of amusement on his face.
“I know you prefer action over pretty words,” Luka said, focusing back on her. “So I’m choosing a different Mark.”
“You’re…” Her eyes went wide, and she looked down at the Mark that encircled her wrist. “You’re going to take the Union Mark?”
“If that is still something you want,” he said, dropping his hands to his sides.
Her eyes came back to his, a smile lighting up her entire face. But not just her face. Her head, her arms, her aura all glowed faintly with her light.
“Of course I want that, Luka,” she said softly.
Thank the gods that was over.
He turned back to Cienna. “Now tell us why we need to talk to someone else?”
“Because I can’t perform the Mark you need,” she said simply.
“But you did for us,” Theon argued.
“Yes, for thetwoof you. Adding the third part makes it complicated. A new Mark had to be created,” Cienna said.
“No one can create new Marks.” But Cienna again looked pointedly at Tessa. “That’s different,” Theon gritted out.
“It’s not, but she will have to bestow it.”
“I don’t knowhowto create Marks,” Tessa said, shaking her head. “I won’t put them in danger like that.”
“You don’t have to. You need to talk to the one who created the Mark for you,” Cienna replied, already turning back to the work surface.
