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“Do you wish your son and Cornelius’s son to remain in the room?” Leonid asked. Tegan noted that both males in question straightened and looked determined not to move.
“What you have to say to me, can be said in front of my son,” Salem answered coldly.
“So, he knows about your affair with Celeste when you were betrothed to his mother?” Leonid’s retort was just as cold. Tegan noted from the way Salem flinched and the look on his son’s face, that perhaps his son did not know. “Well, he does now,” Leonid murmured as Salem turned to Michael.
“I will explain later,” Salem addressed both of the males who were looking at each other with uncertainty.
“It’s easier to explain it now,” Leonid’s smile was still cold as he appraised Salem. “Your father was betrothed to Mikayla as babes. Your grandfather was a heretic and a lunatic.” Salem glared at Leonid, but Leonid was unperturbed and carried on. “But although he did not believe in the Ancients…”
“He believed,” Salem snapped. “He sacrificed to all five of the Ancients before he died.”
“Yes, the fear of death and the unknown is the result of many a religious conversion,” Leonid answered glibly. “Can I continue?”
“My son does not need a history lesson on his grandfather.” Salem’s angry voice echoed in the room. “This does not tell me whysheis here.”
“I thought that was obvious,” Leonid looked at Salem and then turned to Marcus, who had remained quiet throughout. “The Lycan knows.”
“Knows what?” Michael asked, taking a step forward. “I don’t understand anything that is happening right now.”
“She’s your daughter Salem,” Marcus said with a sigh. “The resemblance to you is staggering. You look at her and see Celeste, I look at her and see you.”
Salem sat back in his chair; eyes wide as he looked at Tegan. “How?”
“Well, I don’t think I need to explainthosedetails.” Leonid turned to look at Tegan. “After all, there are ladies present.”
Suddenly Salem jumped to his feet and leaped across the desk, his hand tight around Leonid’s throat, he squeezed. “I asked how.Howdo you have my daughter?”
Tegan’s blade was at Salem’s throat before anyone could stop her. Salem looked at her as he slowly withdrew his hand from Leonid’s throat. He arched an eyebrow at her as if to say, ‘I moved, so should you.’
“Daughter,” Leonid instructed softly. Tegan quickly withdrew the dagger and stepped back. “As a Principal Elder, I would have thought you would remember that Vampyres do not need tobreathe,” Leonid’s eyes flashed with anger as he regarded Salem.
“I know,” Salem ran a hand over his hair. “I wasn’t thinking.” He looked at Tegan who looked back at him impassively. “That was impressive.”
“She is highly trained,” Leonid cast a quick smile to his daughter and Tegan, not expecting the open praise from her father, flushed.
“What’s your name?” Salem asked her, his tone softer than he had used with Leonid. Tegan’s eyes flicked to her father.
“Her name is Tegan,” Leonid supplied. “Will you allow me to tell the tale or not Salem? I grow impatient at your insolence.”
“Insolence?” Michael demanded. “You break into our Headquarters; you drop this bombshell on my dad and then you expect us to sit here and listen to your preposterous story.” Michael took a step forward, anger making him clench his fists.
“Stand down Michael,” Marcus sighed heavily. “The resemblance to your father and her mother are… remarkable. I do not doubt the Vampyres claim.”
“Blood tells family,” Michael snapped. “I say she bleeds.”
Tegan tilted her head slightly as she appraised him and then with a small smile, looked straight ahead again.
“Her name is Tegan,” Leonid repeated firmly, “and whether you like it or not child, she is your blood.” Leonid stood. “This is fruitless. We shall retire for the evening; we have travelled far to get here.”
Salem looked alarmed at the thought of them leaving without answers.
“You made her travel on foot?” Marcus enquired as he watched Leonid intently.
“From Jasper,” Leonid confirmed as he stared back at his former student.
Marcus snorted as he shook his head. “Always a training lesson isn’t it, Leonid? Is this a training lesson too? She,” he hesitated as he looked at Tegan. “Sorry, Tegan, hasn’t moved other than to defend you, even when you were in no danger. Yet you call her daughter.”
“I raised her,” Leonid looked over at Tegan with warmth in his eyes. “It is like she is my own.”
