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“Yes,” Cord stood abruptly when he realised he was staring at her. “Come, let’s introduce you to the mad Cornelius.”
As they walked down the stairs, Tegan watched Cord from the corner of her eye. He was more than handsome, with his long hair styled to frame his face, bringing attention to his bone structure, his straight nose. She noticed that his bottom lip was slightly fuller than his top lip. An imperfection? No, it merely added to his looks.
“You’re staring again,” Cord murmured without looking at her.
“Not for the reasons you think,” Tegan muttered as she tried to hide her dismay at once again being caught.
“And what do I think, little tiger?” Cord smirked as he looked down at her.
“That I admire your form,” Tegan mumbled.
Cord chuckled softly at her obvious discomfort. “And you’re saying, what? You don’t?”
“I was wondering how you can Cast without aid.”
“Because I am justthatgood,” Cord mocked her as they walked along the hall. Tegan noticed the looks as they passed on their way as they walked, some were openly curious, more than some looked at them both with mistrust.
“You draw attention with your robes,” Tegan noted quietly.
Cord cast a condescending eye over the Akrhyn in the halls. “As I said, I’m just that good.” He glanced once more at Tegan. “You draw a fair amount of attention yourself.”
“It is to be expected, I am young and unknown to them.”
“Not for long though,” Cord said as they approached Salem’s study. “Cornelius will declare you to the world, whether you want it or not.”
“And if Salem refuses to allow it?” Tegan asked the Castor curiously.
“Cornelius hasn’t listened to Salem since I can remember, he won’t start now, especially where you are concerned.” Cord stopped outside the door, bending low he brought his mouth to Tegan’s ear. “Do not let him know we could be mates, give him nothing to hold over you,” he whispered.
Tegan drew back and looked at him, slightly bewildered. “You fear him?”
“No,” Cord looked her over carefully, “but I don’t encourage him either.”
“I understand,” she replied carefully. “Father warned me of him and his eccentricities.”
Cord barked out a laugh, “His madness you mean.”
The door to the study opened, cutting off Cord’s laughter as he regarded the Akrhyn in the doorway.
“Father,” Cord inclined his head as he walked past him into the room, leaving Tegan in the hall.
Tegan looked at the man in front of her. He looked like Sloane, or Sloane looked like him she corrected herself quickly. He was of good height, broad shoulders, his middle looked soft, she reasoned he wasn’t an active Elder like Salem was. His blond hair was dull with threads of grey through it, his eyes blue were like his son’s but where Sloane was warm and welcoming, Tegan saw the hardness in his Cornelius’s eyes. He looked nothing like her or her mother, she realised.
“Elder,” Tegan dipped her head as a sign of respect as she greeted her uncle.
“You will call me Uncle,” Cornelius answered as he stepped aside to let her enter the room. On entry Tegan noticed that almost everyone was here. Would she ever come into this room and not have so many people waiting to meet her, analyse her, she wondered?
“Cornelius let her in before you start making demands of her,” a soft female voice came from the corner.
Tegan turned, not having seen the slight female who sat there, her hand clasping Sloane’s as she held her other hand out to Cord, who took it and bent as he kissed the back of it before letting go.
“This is my mother, Delilah,” Sloane explained to Tegan. His hand was tight on his mother’s as he smiled warmly at her.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Tegan acknowledged the frail seeming Akrhyn, she received a cool smile in return.
“You took your time in getting her here,” Cornelius eyed his oldest son with scorn. “Couldn’t youmagicyour way here quicker?”
Tegan was surprised that Cord merely smiled indulgently at his father, considering the reaction he had givenherlast night when she referred to his Casting as magic. “I didn’t know you were so eager to see me, father.”
