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The Three smiled even as cries of protest and alarm rang out around him. Cord looked to Ada and tilted his head in question even as he tuned out his allies, his…friends?
Cord did not break her stare before he saw acceptance in them. “The Drakhyn have been every step ahead of us, they have known our moves.” He looked to the other two Sisters and saw the permission in Agatha’s eyes before he turned to address the others. “They have stayed close to this Headquarters or my stepfather’s—no, mybrother’s—House. I do not know if they are all corrupt, but two days, it gives us no time to put them on trial.”
“Cord, you cannot,” Lucas began.
“He is right,” Marcus spoke over him. “We do not know where Council Elder Klayner went, I assume dead. Council Elder Alexander was killed by”—Marcus looked quickly at Cord—“Cornelius Ivanov. Council Elder Anika was killed by Drakhyn after being taken from the Castors’ hall. Council Elder Farsin is newly appointed and…a Lycan.” Marcus’s hand settled on his short sword at his side. “But some of the free Lycan run with the Drakhyn.”
“The other Council Elders are not Lycan or Vampyre,” Salem continued. “Carnain is a Castor. Marguerite and Warren were Sentinels before they took their seats.”
“What do you propose?” Lucas asked them all. “We just walk in and arrest them?” His tone was sceptical.
“Yes.” Cord grinned at the Dark Prime Castor. “Simple but effective.” His grin widened when he saw Lucas’s face whiten. “We are the Akrhyn of the Prophecy and”—he winked at Ada—“we have the Three on our side.”
Tove stepped forward and looked around the room. “And we have one more thing in our favour,” she said, catching their attention. “We know who the master is.”
“We do?” Lucas asked as he looked around the room. He felt like he was playing catch up, but thankfully there were more blank stares looking at Tove.
“I have seen his face,” Tegan said uncertainly, “but I did not recognise him.”
“Elrick saw him, which is why they tried to blind him. But hiswolfknew him.” Tove spoke as if only to Marcus, her voice quiet but loud in the silence of the room.
“Then we need Elrick,” Michael said as he looked around the room.
“We don’t,” Cord said as he cast a quick spell to seal the room. “Tove, tell us the name.”
Tove looked to the Sisters, and they nodded, meaning they already knew. “Alpha Augustine. The bearer of the first Mark.”
“He died,” Michael said in confusion, “hundreds of years ago.” He looked at the others. “I mean, the history books say that his funeral lasted over a week as so many paid their respects to the bearer of the Mark.”
“Are you sure?” Lucas asked Tove.
“The first bearer of the Mark of Velvore, the sign of the greatest warrior, was borne first by a Lycan.EveryLycan knows what Alpha Augustine looks like.” Tove smiled sadly as she remembered Elrick’s words. “Even the packs of the free know that the honour of the Mark was given first to a Lycan.”
“Which is why they will fight for him,” Salem whispered in understanding. “They are fighting fortheirMark of Velvore, a Lycan.”
Marcus had been quiet the whole time, but now he spoke. “As Alpha toallLycans, Iwillcontrol the packs. Free or not.”
Tove caught and held his stare. “I’m sorry.”
“This is why you think you are the female,” Marcus said, his voice full of anguish. “Because you are Lycan.” Tove nodded as a tear slipped over, and Marcus crossed the room, folding her into his embrace.
“And why the Drakhyn could shift to Lycan,” Cord said as he began to pace the room. “Cornelius was right,” he said with a shake of his head.
“There is too much happening right now,” Salem said to him dryly, “but even my brain stopped atyousaying Cornelius was right.”
“He wrote a note for me,” Cord said as he pulled it from his pocket. “Hetoldme in the note and the book. He said the answer was in front of me, and he gave me the children’s book,A Lycan’s Adventure.” Cord shook his head. “Curse that male, he was too clever.”
“I need the packs here,” Marcus said as he looked to Cord. “All of them. This is where the fight will be. I need the Lycans here.”
Cord started nodding as he began to plan. He glanced at the Sisters before he turned to Salem. “As Principal Elder of this Territory, I need your Elders and their Houses.”
“I will start the summons,” Salem said crisply.
“The Made that will fight are already here,” Leonid told Cord. “They have replenished their loss of blood, and they are ready for retribution.”
“Your wife is here?” Tegan asked her father softly.
“She is, she has been with Martha.” Leonid smiled at his daughter. “She awaits trial by the Great Council for casting the spell to seal the Court.”
