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“Oh.” Tegan frowned. “And I have been in his pocket, now that I remember.”
“Stealing from him already?” Sloane joked with a wink to Martha.
“He put my hand in his robes to keep it warm after the fight in the snow.”
Sloane’s smile faded, and he cast a dark look to Martha. “Yeah, well, he shouldn’t be doing that.”
“Keeping me warm?” Tegan asked as she unlaced her boots. “Is this the same as when Kai was in the room, and I was in the towel?” she asked, glancing over at Sloane curiously.
“There was a male in the room when you were undressed?” Martha straightened and looked at her with disapproval.
“Yes. But I know now that he was being…” Tegan glanced at Sloane, floundering for the word.
“Sneaky,” Sloane supplied. “And do not worry, Martha, Cord sent Kai back to his family to recover from the events of the ball. He won’t be in Tegan’s room again.”
“I told Leonid many times keeping you so sheltered was not right,” Martha muttered as she went into the bathroom.
“You have to stop telling that story,” Sloane hissed to Tegan as he checked that Martha was still out of earshot. “It doesn’t do you any favours.”
Tegan rolled her eyes as she took off her long-sleeved thermal shirt, leaving her in a tank top. “Martha does not count, and you said it was okay because Cord portalled him out of the room!”
Sloane was going to argue further, but when he realised Tegan was reaching for the button on her fatigues, he almost choked. “Are you seriously going to get undressed with me right in front of you?” Sloane asked incredulously.
“Why not? Lycans walk around naked after they change form, and you don’t complain then.”
“You are not Lycan!” Sloane shook his head in despair. “And that is natural for them. You cannot take your clothes off in front of males.”
“But you are not a male.” Tegan glared at him again, feeling the familiar frustration at not knowing how to fit in. “You are my cousin.”
“Iama male, and I donotwant to see you in your undergarments!” Sloane was so grateful Cord was not here for this.
“You did not have these issues when you slept with me the other night!” Tegan protested. They both turned when they heard a smash in the bathroom along with a shocked cry from Martha.
Sloane hurried over to the bathroom, and Tegan heard him assuring Martha that all was well as he helped her clean up. Tegan looked down at herself and frowned. Sometimes these Akrhyn confused her so much that she did not know what was up and what was down. She merely nodded when Sloane departed hastily for his own room, and she looked at Martha with a sigh.
“Father would know what to do,” Tegan told her miserably. “I miss him.”
“Sometimes I like watching their reaction to you,” Martha said with a chuckle. “But I would advise you to keep your clothes on when in the room with a male and perhaps curtail the sleepovers with your fully-grown cousin.”
Tegan merely sighed in acknowledgement of Martha’s advice, her mind already back to worrying about Leonid. Was her father okay? It was a question she had been asking almost daily. The Made were gone, and Tegan was eager to get near the two Made on the Great Council tonight to ask them what was happening. She had asked and been assured it was a full Council. If the Vampyres refused to tell her, she would ask Carnain. His wife was one of the Made. Surely hiswifewould know?
Tegan knew that Salem suspected her plans, and if he suspected, then Cord would be on to her plan before she could execute it. He seemed to be intent on keeping her away from Russia and the Vampyre Court. How it was his business where she went, no one had successfully explained to her. Telling her simply that he was her bonded by way of explanation was the same as saying “because it is”— it wasnoexplanation at all.
Martha assisted her in getting ready and then left her as Tegan laced her boots up. A soft knock from the adjoining room and the door opened, letting Cord into her room. “You,” Tegan huffed as she fixed her skirts.
“You look beautiful.” Cord grinned at her as he closed the door, enjoying her discomfort and her sullenness towards him.
“Thank you.” Tegan glanced at the door. “They said I am not allowed to have males in my room anymore,” she blurted.
Cord felt a rush of anger at the mere thought of a male in here and then realised she meant that fool Kai. “I do not count,” he assured her as he walked over to her, ignoring Tegan as her hands flung up in the air in exasperation. “Come, it is time to leave anyway.” They left the room, and as they walked down the stairs together, Cord knew he was envied by every male who saw them together. Michael and Sloane were already waiting, with Salem joining them soon after and then Marcus following with Tove.
“You can take us all?” Salem asked Cord quietly.
“Easily.” Cord nodded as he looked them over. “However, I advise I break it into two for appearances.”
“I did not mean all at once.” Salem gaped at him. “Youcouldtake us all?”
“No, of course not,” Cord said hurriedly. “Who is first?”
