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“You’re being reasonable,” Tegan said critically as she studied him. “I don’t want to hear reasonable and rational. I want you to be angry that he left us,” she added, her tone petulant.
“I am. I am totally on your side,butI know he had no choice.”
“Fine.” She sat on her bed, looking at her backpack. “Everyone is leaving,” she added quietly.
“You’releaving,” Michael jested as he got up and came and sat beside her. “You and Marcus are going on a mission, and I have to stay here where dad will only have me train for the Sisters’ Prophecy. I honestly don’t know why you’re sulking,I’mthe one who should be angry.”
Tegan giggled at his comment and then started to laugh louder. “You will have no one to beat,” she teased.
“Just dad. Even then, I’m not likely to win.”
“Well, I have been told that Marcus will continue to work with me.” Tegan reached over and placed her hand over her brother’s. “I think I may have the short end of the stick.”
Michael smiled, and as they sat in silence for a moment, his smile dimmed. “Do you think we will be ready?” he asked her quietly.
“I hope so, I pray to the Ancients that we will be.”
“You never told me that you’re already an amazing fighter,” Michael kidded. “You learn humility?”
“I thought I was amazing, I thought I could handle anything,” Tegan told him as she removed her hand from his and rubbed her palms together. “I think Iwasarrogant when I came here.” She ignored his surprised look. “I thought I knew it all, but seeing these Drakhyn fight like they are, I don’t think we as Akrhyn will ever be as ready as we need to be for them. When that first Drakhyn spoke to me through the body of another, I have never felt fear like it.”
“I didn’t know it affected you so much,” Michael admitted quietly. “It scared me, but you handled it so well.”
“Never let them know your fear,” Tegan whispered with a rueful laugh. “Be as scared as you want on the inside, always inside.”
“Leonid teach you that?”
“Yes,” she replied as she laid her head on his shoulder. “Fear is a weapon more powerful than a sword or a dagger, he would say.”
“Cord will find him.”
“I hope so.”
Michael stood abruptly and pulled his sister up with him. He folded her in a hug and held on tight. “Your father will be found, you will not kill Cornelius, but he may wish you did after you are done with him, you will slap Sloane for abandoning us to this madness alone, we will continue to train, and wewillbe ready when the Drakhyn come for us.”
“Is that all?” Tegan smiled as she returned his hug.
“Well, there’s the whole issue of Cord, but I think that’s enough for now.”
Tegan pushed her brother away from her. “What issue? I am not responsible for that Castor.”
“Well, he has the Mark of Velvore, families are going to step up and notice that he’s single. They’ll be throwing their daughters at him for selection.” Michael lost some of his teasing edge. “He will be considered a great prize.”
“He isnota trophy.”
“Tellthemthat,” Michael goaded his sister as he watched her face turn from humour to thought.
“Maybe I will need to tell these Akrhyn that I am bonded to him?” she asked him thoughtfully.
“They will already know, and trust me, with Cord having the Mark, they won’t care.”
Tegan’s expression darkened. “They will learn to care. He is not for their daughters.”
“You sound possessive,” Michael prodded her as he watched her inner struggle.
“I am, he is mine,” Tegan said forcefully before her hand flew to her mouth in horror at what she had just said.
Michael roared with laughter at her admission and her expression. “Iknewyou liked him more than you let on!” He laughed at Tegan’s red cheeks and slightly mortified expression.
