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“Born ready,” they both answered at the same time and then shared a smile between them.
“I believe you were.” Salem considered them thoughtfully. “Let’s get this over with. I would like one night in my bed and some sleep.”
“Sleep would be good,” Tegan admitted as she headed for the door. “And some Reflection.”
They descended the stairs together and went back to the meeting room. Salem entered with his two children behind him and felt a surge of pride as the room stopped talking. “My Heirs,” he said formally as he retook his seat. He noticed that they stood close together, their identical hair shining under the harsh lights in the room. The blue undertones of their midnight hair were exactly the same shade as his own.
“Sisters?” Tegan asked the three ancient females reverently. “Is my father okay?”
The Three looked at her for a long time in the quiet of the room. “He is in the Darkness,” one of them answered her. “We are blind to him for the moment, but I feel him fighting. We cannotseehis fight, but heisfighting.”
Tegan nodded her thanks but leaned on her brother when he stood closer to her.
“The Darkness is real then?” Tove interrupted the quiet. She stood against the wall, waiting to be judged, but Tove was impatient and eager to call out Cord. The Castor stood in the room watching her, the small smirk on his face not lost on her. Now she strode forward. “How do we know you are not working with the Darkness?” she demanded of Cord.
“Your hate blinds you,” one of the Sisters said as she considered her. “You have fallen far, Tove Dalgaard. Your father would be filled with sorrow.” The Sister smiled sadly at her. “Who poisoned your mind, child? What filth did they speak that you chose so willingly to hear?”
“He was killing Lycan,” Tove said stubbornly. “For power.”
“Cord Ivanov was cleansing the packs of Drakhyn soldiers,” the third Sister spoke, and the room silenced completely with the power in her words. “The Drakhyn have embraced their Master completely. They have been rewarded. There is One with power. There is One that can resist the bite of Vampyre or Lycan, but yet this One was turned. This One has turned others. The Drakhyn now walk amongst your packs, impersonating Lycan.”
“No.” Tove’s legs gave out, and she slumped into an empty seat in horror.
“You should have listened closer, sister,” Marcus rebuked softly. “You should have listened with your head as well as your heart.”
“Lycans have always been emotional,” Cornelius told the room under his breath, but he lifted his head, his heavy stare aimed at Tove in contempt. “Hot-headed and running into disasters all their days. They need strong leaders, not emotional females accusing innocent Akrhyn of crimes when there has only been mercy shown.”
“And who would be a pack’s strong leader? You?” Tove snarled at him.
“I would at least know my facts before I accused an Akrhyn, agifted Akrhyn, in a hall of his peers,” Cornelius snapped angrily.
“You know not what you speak of,” Tove dismissed him and turned back to the Sisters. “Tell me how he knows how to find these imposters.”
“Tove Dalgaard, you need to remember who you are in a room with,” Council Elder Warren spoke firmly. “This is the Great Council,” he said, his hands sweeping the room. “This is not a light matter. We have come at the request of a valued alpha to hear your case. Do not insult his belief in you or insult this Council with your ill temper.”
Tove’s head dipped in reprimand, but Tegan saw her clench her jaw to keep from saying anything in retaliation.
“We shall deal with the Lycan matter next,” Council Elder Anika spoke. “First, I would like the details of where the young Ivanov took Tegan Novikov.”
All eyes turned to Cord, who was leaning nonchalantly against the wall, eating a slice of treacle cake. “I took her to the Master’s Tower in the Akrhyn forest of Tongass.”
“Why?” Salem asked incredulously. The Tower stood in the centre of an old wood. The trees were said to always be listening, sharing the news of the travellers who came close to it on the rustle of their leaves as they carried whispers over the forest on the swiftness of the wind. All Akrhyn Headquarters, Elder residences and homes in general were in plain view of the humans. The old adage, hiding in plain sight. The Tower was not in plain sight. Hidden deep in the heart of the forest, old magic shielded the Tower from prying eyes and wandering humans. Animals avoided it, the sighs of the wind ominous to all who heard.
“I needed her safe.” Cord shrugged as easily as if he had just told them all it was time for tea.
“You thought the Master’s Tower was safe for her?” Salem’s temper was rising.
“I knew that it was.”
“Who else was there?” Council Elder Marguerite asked.
“We were alone.” He ignored Tegan’s look and kept his stare steady on the Great Council members. “I should not have taken her, I know. But the bond is strong. I knew I needed to keep her safe. I knew that safe was not here, not then.”
“You acted on the actions of the bond?” Council Elder Carnain asked. “You?”
“Yes.” Cord stood taller. “The pull was unlike anything I have felt before.” His eyes flicked to Tove before he continued. “As the Flare allows me the power to identify the false Lycan, my power knew I needed to keep”—Cord took a deep inhale—“knew I needed to keep my mate safe.”
“So, you acknowledge the bond now?” Michael asked dryly, his tone and look suspicious.
