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“I say it is,” his hand raised, and Tegan felt her hair spill down her back.
“Cord!”
“Much better,” his finger caught a wayward curl and he placed it gently over her shoulder.
Tegan nudged him out of the way as she crossed the hall in search of a mirror. “I’m going to look like a common goatherd!” she grumbled at him.
“You don’t even know what that is.”
Cord’s chuckle irritated her more. “Martha used to call me it when I was little,” Tegan defended herself. As she checked her hair, she realised it wasn’t so bad, she hastily gathered her hair in her hands and then tipping her head back, shook it out as she let go. Tossing her head from side to side, Tegan was relieved to see that the time in the bun had given her hair a soft wave. Her hair actually looked good. Cord approached and stood close behind her. He watched her watch him in the mirror.
“I didn’t think you were vain,” he murmured behind her.
“I’m not, but tonight is important, I needed to look my best.”
“The bun made you look like a child,” Cord’s head dipped into her hair. “This is better.”
“Are you smelling my hair?”
“Yes,” his simple honest answer flustered her.
“We should go,” she reminded him.
“We should.” He was so close to her, they were almost touching. His grey eyes held hers in the mirror, neither of them moved.
“Cord?” Tegan’s soft voice brought him out of his silent contemplation of her.
Blinking, he stepped away from her, brushing her hair off her shoulder, he placed his hand on her bare shoulder. Tegan’s eyes snapped to his when she felt the tingle on her skin. His hand squeezed slightly and then with a nod, he portalled them to the ball.
“Where is this?” Tegan asked as she looked around the corridor, it was dimly lit and there was no other Akrhyn present.
“I didn’t want you to arrive in the middle of a crowd with everyone staring at you,” Cord murmured. “Waiting to judge you.”
Tegan looked at him in surprise. “You were thinking of my feelings?”
“Yes… let’s not make it more than it is,” Cord said gruffly, not meeting her eye.
“Yes, silly of me to think you would care,” Tegan smiled at him, to soften the words.
“I don’t care, Tegan.” Cord met her gaze head-on. “I was merely being considerate.”
His hurtful words reminded Tegan that any attraction they may have was merely the stupid mate bond. “Of course, thank you anyway.” She gave him a shaky smile. “I’m ready.”
Cord watched her quietly, his eyes ran over her leisurely, Tegan shifted under the weight of his appraisal. Slowly his eyes rose to meet hers and Tegan had to turn her head from the heat in his gaze. “You’re not ready… not yet.”
“What?” Her voice was as shaky as she felt. She turned back to him, in time to see his look of frustration. “What do you mean?”
“Cord, there you are,” Salem said as he walked along the corridor. “I thought you meant the other one from the west of the statue.” He looked between the two of them. “Everything alright here?”
“Of course,” Tegan smiled brightly. “Cord was just telling me that we were to wait for you.”
Salem took her arm as he nodded in appreciation at Cord. “Thank you for this. The foyer is unusually busy, there seems to be a back log of announcements.” Salem’s derisive tone was not lost on either of them.
Cord snorted contemptuously. “Parasites, I’ll move them along. Wait a few more minutes,” he instructed before he walked away without a backwards glance.
“You okay?” Salem asked quietly.
Tegan had been watching the Castor, she turned to Salem. “Of course, I think I may be slightly nervous,” she admitted softly.
