“You think you can train us to advance quicker than scheduled?” Kallie asked as she looked at her companions questioningly.
“Of course, you just need to train harder and be willing.” Tegan swung her arms back and forward to loosen them up. “I just turned eighteen and I am on the Elite Guard, anything is possible if you are willing.”
“You just… turned eighteen?” Jax asked her. He looked at Michael in confusion and back to Tegan. “Are you Heir?”
“We both are,” Michael’s smile was tight, and Tegan nodded along with him in agreement.
“That’s cool,” Jax said, his quick glance to the others betrayed his uncertainty.
“Cool?” Tegan looked to Sloane.
“Good,” Sloane supplied.
“Oh, curious.” Tegan watched the four of them before turning to Michael. “Laps, lunges, squats then kali sticks?”
“Yeah, that should be a good start,” he nodded as he clapped his hands. “I want fifteen laps, then thirty reps of lunges and squats. First finished picks their sparring partner.”
Tegan, Sloane and Michael then stood back and watched the four Sentinels carry out their orders. Gable finished first with Briony close behind him. Tegan was disappointed when Gable chose Jax as a sparring partner. Height wise it made no sense. Gable towered over Jax and Briony was the same with Kallie. Using their height to their advantage the two taller Akrhyn soon had the smaller ones pinned.
Walking around them, Tegan motioned for them to get up. “Again, Jax with Kallie, Gable – Briony.”
“But she is a female,” Gable protested. Tegan’s roundhouse kick to his stomach brought him to his knees. “Did it hurt less because I am female?” she asked as she watched him.
“No, Elite Sentinel,” Gable groaned.
“Precisely,” Tegan smiled at him. “My father is a Vampyre, he cared not that I was female, breakable or needed to eat regularly. Briony is no less a Sentinel because she was born female.”
“No, Elite Sentinel, you misunderstand,” Gable stumbled to his feet. “I don’t think less of Briony or Kallie, because they are female. I was taught to respect our female Akrhyn but knowing that I am stronger than them, means I cannot fight at my true potential.”
“Stronger doesn’t mean better, you disrespect them by choosing a male opponent,” Tegan countered sharply. “Meet your partner on the mat and spar.”
She watched the two pairs start again, both hesitant at first, then Briony’s kali stick struck home in Gable’s side. Narrowing his eyes, Gable advanced.
“I knew he forgot to feed you,” Sloane muttered.
“Only a few times, and I also forgot to remind him,” Tegan shrugged. “No one is perfect.”
“You’re so weird sometimes,” Sloane said as he glanced at Kallie taking a hard hit from Jax.
“You like her?” Tegan murmured with a smile.
“No,” Sloane’s scoff was weak.
“She seems much nicer than Zahra,” Tegan commented.
“Tegan, that’s your sister.” Sloane protested, quickly making sure Michael hadn’t heard them.
“I know.”
“And my betrothed,” he reprimanded her softly.
“Nonsense, she was in that closet kissing that human boy,” Tegan shook her head. “You deserve better.”
“You love me,” Sloane smiled widely at her.
“I do?” Tegan thought about it. “No, not yet… but I think I will.”
“Harrian’s wrath you are so brutally honest, and they say I have no filter,” Sloane laughed as he went to join Michael.
The training session lasted for a few hours before Marcus came to remind them that they needed to eat before preparing for nightfall. Four very weary, very grateful that the training was over Akrhyn, quickly exited the room as soon as Michael dismissed them.
“Briony has great potential,” Tegan commented as she tidied up the mats. “Kallie has an enviable eye with those throwing daggers. Jax’s speed is hampered by his lack of coordination and Gable is just a big battering ram.” Tegan looked at Michael. “He will not be suited as a Scout. Not as he is.”
“We can train him to be lighter, delicate,” Michael said confidently. “If that’s what he wants to Trial for.”
“Do not be misguided by loyalty because he watched your sister,” Tegan admonished him.
“She is your sister too,” Michael reminded her softly.
“I’ll be content to call her an acquaintance,” Tegan’s smile held no malice which caused the words to wound Michael more.
“We need to go eat,” Sloane interrupted them both.
“Yes, I am hungry.” Tegan agreed as he led them from the training room.
“Sentinel Tegan.” She turned to see Jasper behind her. “Commander Bryce is holding an Elite Guard meeting in five minutes. He asked for you to join him if you are finished with training the recruits?”
“Of course. Sloane, save me food!” Tegan called as she hurried away with Jasper.
“Seriously, did we check she wasn’t part machine?” Sloane shook his head at Michael as they resumed walking.
Michael laughed as he glanced once over his shoulder at Tegan’s retreating back. “No. We did not, but… maybe we should.”
Commander Bryce held a brief meeting detailing where his Elite Guard were to be stationed before the sun went down. Tegan was allowed out of the monitoring station and was once again paired with Jasper. They were to be stationed at the back fence, where the Drakhyn had spoken last time. Castors had worked all day on reinforcing the wards on the fencing and the grounds. All three Casts had joined in their Casting, ensuring that the spells were the strongest. Tegan wondered idly who Cord would have deemed worthy of joining with his spell, deciding he probably wasn’t here yet.
When the meeting was over, Tegan met Sloane coming back from the kitchen with a tray of food for her. He carried it to her room for her and kept her company while she ate her lunch, careful not to take anything off her plate. A few – deliberate – near misses with Tegan’s knife had Sloane realising she wasn’t joking when she said that she didn’t share food until she had her fill.
Tegan was enjoying a longer shower than she usually had, her hair piled high on her head in a messy bun. The warm water soaked into her skin, easing some tension in her muscles. She knew she wouldn’t relax, the outcome of tonight was too unknown, but it was helping as much as it could. Stepping out and wrapping a towel around herself, she walked into her bedroom, pleased she had remembered to lock the adjoining room door. Sloane forgot sometimes and just walked in.
A soft knock on her outer door caused her to frown, glancing at the clock, knowing she hadn’t spent that long in the shower, she crossed to the door.
“Kai?” Tegan didn’t manage to hide her surprise.
“Quick, before your brother or cousin sees me,” Kai pushed his way in able to do so, due to Tegan being off guard. She was standing in a towel after all.
“Are you okay?” Tegan asked as she watched him. Kai suddenly realised she was clad only in a towel and his eyes travelled slowly over her. Tegan knew about male attraction, she wasn’t prepared for the level of desire in his eyes or how uncomfortable she felt as he looked at her. “Kai? Why are you here? Are you okay?” she asked again, shifting uncomfortably under his gaze.
“I am now,” he smiled at her. Kai was attractive, short blond hair, pleasing physique and blue eyes, Tegan knew she was attracted to him. But that didn’t mean she wanted him to be in her bedroom, staring at her in her state of undress.
“Maybe you would be better to wait outside, while I get dressed?”
“And have Michael see me?” Kai shook his head. “Nuh-uh. I wanted to see you. Anyway, that towel hides more than the outfit you wore on your first day here.”
“It does?” Tegan looked down at the white towel, it reached mid-thigh, showing her bare legs and feet. “Oh, I see why Sloane hid my training clothes,” she gave a light laugh.
Kai walked towards
her, cautiously Tegan took a step back. “Don’t be so timid, Tegan, it doesn’t suit you.” He reached out and gently took her arm, pulling her into him. Or tried too, Tegan resisted. “Tegan, I want to hold you, will you let me?”
“Oh, I didn’t realise,” her cheeks flushed as she looked at him, her frown deepening.
“You’re so amazing, but so utterly clueless too,” Kai laughed softly.
“I am? How?”
“Shh, just let me hold you,” Kai tugged gently on her arm and she stepped forward. His arms came around her, not the familiar way that Sloane’s did, and she felt herself stiffening. “Relax, babe,” he whispered in her ear. It wasn’t the same as when Cord whispered in her ear, it made her stiffen more. She heard Kai sigh in disappointment and hoped he was done with the hug.
A knock on the door caused her to step back, Kai grumbled under his breath, running his hand through his hair with frustration. Tegan hastened to open it, hoping it was Michael.
“Little tiger, you should not be opening your door dressed like that,” Cord smirked at her as he moved off of the doorframe. He stopped suddenly when he saw Kai. His eyes flashing to Tegan’s in annoyance. “Why is there a male in your room?” Cord strode passed her into the room ignoring Tegan’s cry of protest. “Correction, why is there a dishevelled male in your room?” Cord turned to her, his hard stare pining her in place.
“He wanted to hold me,” Tegan answered, clutching her towel a little tighter. She didn’t know why, but Cord looked angry at her.
“Hold you?” Cord turned to Kai, raking a hot glare over the slightly shorter male’s frame. “Get out.”
Kai went to protest, Cord flicked his wrist and Kai was gone.
“Delfar’s mercy!” Tegan cried out in shock. “What did you do to him?”
“Put him away from here,” Cord folded his arms over his red robes.
“You portalled him? By himself?” Tegan had never heard of such a thing, Cord’s power baffled her.
“What I did to the Akrhyn is of no importance,” Cord snapped. “Why are you letting him hold you? You’re naked!”
“I’m wearing a towel and he has seen me in more revealing clothes!” Tegan protested, meaning her training clothes. She wasn’t prepared for Cord’s cold fury or the utter stillness that came over him.
“I didn’t realise you were embracing your new life so freely,” his look was one of scorn.
Tegan rubbed her forehead. “I don’t know what you mean. I don’t understand anything that is happening,” she muttered frustratedly.
“I think I was right in the training room,” Cord’s eyes narrowed. “I think you play games.”
“What games?” Her frustration at the situation was rising, her temper fraying.
“Woah, Tegan,” Sloane said from the doorway, “Why are you in a towel? And brother, you should not be in here, I don’t care if there is a mate bond.”
“I’m not the only male in the little tiger’s room, I just removed Kai.” Cord’s disdain was strong, his eyes never leaving Tegan.
“Tegan?” Sloane asked, coming in and closing the door behind him. He quickly crossed the room, unlocking the adjoining room door and opening it wide.
“I need you both to leave,” Tegan answered them, holding her head high. “I have to report on duty soon. I need to get dressed.”
“Now you want clothes?” Cord jeered.
“You are pushing me, Castor,” Tegan’s anger was rising. “I don’t know what in the shade you think I have done, or what it has to do with you, but you will leave my room. Now.” Ignoring his narrowing eyes, she turned to Sloane. “Cousin, I need my space back, please.”
“Cord, come.” Sloane grabbed his brother’s arm and pulled him through to his room, closing the door firmly behind him. Tegan swiftly crossed to her main door and locked it too, before leaning against it for a brief moment.
What had that been? Her head was a jumbled mess. The way Kai had looked at her was the way Cord sometimes looked at her, the difference being it didn’t make her feel the same way as when Cord looked at her like that. The whisper of Kai’s words in her ear didn’t give her skin the tingles that Cord did. But had that been his intention? Maybe Kai had just wanted a hug? Sloane hugged her all the time. Maybe Kai was nervous about tonight, the whole Headquarters were prepared for an attack.
Shaking her head, she hurried to get ready. She was an Elite Sentinel of the Elite Guard, she had to do her duty first, she would think about these bothersome males later.
Standing on guard with Jasper, Tegan was on full alert. The grounds had bright power-balls shedding light onto the grounds, lighting up the nearby trees, making it hard to hide in the shadows.
“It’s been dark for a while,” Jasper commented softly, his eyes alert as he scanned the woods beyond the fence.
“They’re waiting,” Tegan replied softly, “or we aren’t who they want. She may not even be here.”
“She’s here,” Jasper said with a quick look at her.
“You sound confident?”
“They wouldn’t have revealed so much if she wasn’t.”
Tegan nodded. “I agree,” she stomped her feet slightly. “It’s so cold tonight.”
“The Castor didn’t give you a warming spell?” Jasper asked in surprise.
Tegan gritted her teeth, Cord had given her partner a warming spell and left her to freeze. He was such an intolerable male. “Yes, of course, I’m just still cold,” she lied.
“You get used to patrolling in winter, you’ll be an old pro before February,” Jasper smiled at her. Tegan smiled back hoping he didn’t mention her lack of warmth in Cord’s presence. She was used to winter, patrolling in winter with her father, but she was always moving, not standing still in one place, allowing the cold to seep into her bones.
Movement in the trees had her smile dropping, she took a step forward. The tall Drakhyn from before walked confidently into the light, Tegan heard the murmurs and warning cries from the Akrhyn.
“He’s alone,” Tegan whispered to Jasper.
“He can’t be, that’s suicide.”
“Tiger, where are you?” the mocking call rang out in the night.
“Don’t you dare,” Jasper’s hand stopped Tegan from moving forward.
“Tiger, tiger, where art thou?” His words causing many Sentinels to look at each other in alarm – was he… educated?
Salem advanced towards the Drakhyn, flanked on either side of him were Marcus and Commander Bryce. The Drakhyn watched, a smile on its face as they approached him.
“Why is the light not affecting it?” Tegan asked Jasper, he shook his head, as bewildered as she.
“What do you want?” Salem asked the Drakhyn.
“Tiger.”
“I am Principal Salem Holt, you will speak to me or no one.”
“Tiger.” The Drakhyn’s eyes narrowed as it looked past Salem into the grounds, its black eyes searching. His eyes landed on Tegan and his grin widened. “Tiger,” it hissed with pleasure.
Tegan stood firm, Jasper’s hand still on her arm, she couldn’t deny the dread she felt at seeing the Drakhyn again. Here. Asking for her.
“You will speak to me, and me alone. Or you will die.” Salem brought the Drakhyn’s attention back to him.
“Tiger.”
“Very well, Cord!”
Cord materialised behind the Drakhyn and slit its throat, its head tumbling at Salem’s feet. Cord’s eyes met Tegan’s, fury and something else in them. What, she didn’t know. She did know it caused her heart to race. He turned quickly to face the fence line. Nothing moved. No other Drakhyn came forward.
“Send out the Elite Guard.” Salem called, he turned to his Commander. “Males only.”
Bryce nodded and a small party of Elite Guard and other Sentinels ran into the woods. Again, Tegan made to move forward, but Jasper held her firm.
“Not you, no females, we aren’t finished with this yet.”
Tegan nodded, watching anxiousl
y as Cord disappeared into the trees.
“How many do you think they’ll find?” Tegan asked Jasper, the cold long forgotten. The answer came soon thereafter. No Drakhyn were found.
The woods were empty.
Tegan sat in Salem’s study waiting for him, he had asked her to meet him in the study and then had left to ‘see to something.’ What – she didn’t know, but she did know she was fed up waiting. Tegan hoped that it was to discuss the ridiculous order that she was to remain in the monitoring station and not patrol. It had been three days since Cord killed the Drakhyn on the grounds. Not one Drakhyn had been seen near the Canadian Headquarters since. Salem and Marcus were liaising with other Elite’s but the answers were the same, no Drakhyn approached any Headquarters or Territories on that night and all had been quiet since with only one or two sightings.
Cornelius was holding his ball tonight, he had been dismissive of the orders to prepare for an organised Drakhyn attack and Salem was barely holding his temper at the Elite. Tegan was not looking forward to the ball, it was supposed to be in her honour, reunited with her family, but she really did wish she didn’t have to go. Leonid had always kept her away from Court, away from others, she was terrible at socialising. Sloane and Michael had tried to teach her how to dance, it had been disastrous. Sloane had been delighted he could finally do something better than she could, she had thrown her dagger at him, ripping his favourite shirt. Michael had asked Sloane not to attend dance lessons again, asking Kai to help instead.
The door opened and Salem entered carrying a large box, Martha following him. Tegan jumped to her feet in delight, she had been so busy, she had only seen Martha at mealtimes. The older Akrhyn was kept busy too, taking over Blythe’s kitchens had been more than she expected, but Salem had given her free reign over the kitchen and the house Sentinels. Martha was busy but happy, it had been a long time since she had run a full household.
“Sweet child, I thought you had today off from patrol?” Martha asked taking in Tegan’s fatigues, white t-shirt and combat boots.
Into Darkness: The Akrhyn Series (Book 1) Page 23
