AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Away,” Cord answered sharply.
“Why did you need her?”
“I do not know.” Cord looked up again and closed the book. “I cannot answer your questions to your satisfaction, Principal.”
“Maybe they wanted time alone,” Cornelius said snidely as he stood. “They are young.Youremember going against orders when you were young, don’t you, Salem?” His pointed look made Salem bite his tongue. “It seems we cannot answer anything without the insight of the Great Council. I will retire.” He swept out of the room, and everyone watched his dramatic exit.
“Did he miss the fact that a Drakhyn army attacked his ball?” Prime Castor Garrick grumbled. “That they attacked the Headquarters of his territory? Is he in denial?”
“He is always blameless,” Cord muttered as he reopened the book.
“Klayner, you have not said a word?” Marcus looked at the other Elder in the room. The Vampyre looked at the Lycan and shrugged, a small smile playing around his mouth.
“Nothing has been said that I need to contribute to.” He looked over at Cord. “I am very interested to know where Prime Castor Ivanov has been. I detected his lie when he said he heard not his brother’s call for him.”
“Cord?”
“I can speak for the Crimson Castor,” Lucas spoke up. “He cannot divulge the information as yet, but I can assure you—you have my word—he was not involved.”
“Doyouattest for him?” Salem looked at Garrick. “He isyourCast.”
“He was not involved.” Garrick’s voice never wavered.
“What are you hiding?” Salem looked at the Castors in the room. “Rorik?”
“I am not privy to the information, Principal, but I trust the word of my fellow Prime Castors.”
Salem leaned forward, his hands resting on the desk. “You will start giving me answers,” he demanded.
“They should wait for the Great Council,” Marcus murmured to his Principal.
“Fine!” Salem stood angrily. “Wait with your secrets. I will hear them soon anyway.”
“Has Michael returned yet?” Garrick asked conversationally, trying desperately to steer the conversation away from the sudden tension.
“No. Castor Jameis warned against portalling, so he will be back in a few hours.”
“Castor Jameis is a good healer.” Rorik smiled at Salem with assurance.
“Terrible at combat,” Cord said from his corner. He stood quickly. “I found it, Lucas.”
Salem watched as Lucas hurried over to the Castor’s side. Both their heads were bent over the book. Garrick also joined them, and as their hushed whispers became more heated, Salem knew his temper was going to erupt. It was more frustrating as he knew the Lycan and the Vampyre in the room could hear the whispers.
“Enough!” Salem roared into the silence. “As Principal Elder of this territory, I demand you tell me now.” The startled looks the assembled Akrhyn gave him dampened his anger.
The door to his office opened, and he half expected Cornelius to have returned. However, the whole room stood as the Great Council members walked in. “There seems to be a lack of space,” Council Elder Warren commented wryly.
“We can move to the adjacent meeting room.” Marcus strode forward to lead the way.
“Cord,” Salem called to the Castor. “Get Tegan.”
“You would have her in there?” Cord asked in surprise.
“This concerns her. She should be there.” He looked over at the rebellious Castor. “Can I trust you to escort Tove too?”
“No.” Cord grinned wickedly. “But I will.” He was gone before Salem could stop him.
“I asked for that, I suppose,” he grumbled as he started around his desk. He stopped when the Three came into his office. “Sisters.” Salem bowed his head. “We are convening in the next room.” Three identical females looked at him and as one, smiled. The Three had always unnerved him, and it unsettled him more that they knew this.
