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“Hush,” she reprimanded him. “Do not tell anyone, I need to think about this.” Tegan resumed packing her backpack.
“What is there to think about?”
“If he needs to know, if I need to know how he feels, if any of it is real or is it the bond? Is it the Mark?”
“You think the Mark is what bonds you?” Michael stopped chuckling at her expense, his mood becoming more sombre. “I never thought of that.”
“He had the beginning of the Mark when we met, so how do I know the bond is for Cord and me? How do we know it isn’t the Mark and the Prophecy that links us together?”
Michael thought about it as he paced the room. “I don’t know, aren’t they the same thing?” he admitted.
“I don’t know, I do think I am more than just a player in a prophecy.”
“Son of a Drakhyn, I thought your bond with Cord was the least of our worries.”
Tegan huffed out a laugh as she buckled her backpack. “You and me both, brother. You and me both.” Together, they descended the stairs to go to Salem’s study.
Once inside, Tegan looked over the Lycan who stood in front of Salem. With longish dark hair, he looked scruffy, but his stature straight. He had nodded at her in greeting when she came into the room, but hadn’t spoken. Marcus was standing closely to the Lycan, who seemed to be giving his full attention to Marcus.
Tegan turned when the door to the study opened, and quickly looked away again when Tove entered. She was slightly taken aback when Tove hugged the male and said she was glad to see him.
Tegan and Michael exchanged a look, but both waited patiently to be formerly introduced.
“Tegan, are you ready?” Salem asked as he turned from the Lycans.
“Yes,” she answered with a firm nod.
Salem hesitated slightly, looking once at the Lycans and then to Commander Bryce, who stood off to the side, quietly observing. Seeming to make his decision, Salem gestured to the tall newcomer. “This is Taras.” The Lycan turned his attention to them but still said nothing. “He is from a northern pack, they helped with the hunt for Zahra.”
Michael stepped forward, placing his hand on his heart. “We are indebted to you.” He gave a quick bow of his head.
“I merely followed the alpha’s orders, then hunted with your Castor later.” The Lycan’s voice was deep and pleasant, Tegan noted. He was very handsome.
“You still allowed your pack to join the hunt,” Michael said quietly. “I note your band—you are not affiliated with a House, meaning the Great Council do not rule you.”
Tegan looked at the Lycan again, noting the lack of colours on his clothing. She was surprised she had missed it, but the Lycan wore subtle clothing, nothing to make him stand out, apart from his height. She pushed away the reminder of who else stood out because of his height.
“They do not, we live outside the rule of the Great Council, preferring to be free, but we have friends outside of our packs, who remind us we are free but not alone.” Taras met Michael’s stare with pride. “When a she is hurt, we will fight against anyone who would harm her, especially if that anyone is Drakhyn.” Venom filled his voice so much that Tegan was surprised as he seemed to appear more docile.
“Drakhyn killed most of Taras’s pack. They killed the mother of the pups that their joint pack leaders, Elrick and Misty, raise now as their own,” Marcus explained. “The Drakhyn have taken much from the pack of the Seven Woods.”
“They take much from everyone,” Tegan muttered bitterly.
“They do.” Taras smiled at her sadly. “It was a pack leader from our neighbouring pack that helped find the female. He is now missing.” Taras looked back at Marcus. “I need you, Alpha.”
Marcus glanced at Salem and then Tegan before he returned his attention to Taras. “And you have searched everywhere?”
Tegan noticed the other Lycan’s hands tighten at his sides before he nodded curtly. “I would not come here, leaving both of the packs vulnerable, if I thought Elrick would comewanderinghome.” He took a deep calming breath. “Misty is due to birth any day, Alpha. Nyla too, I would not leave her at this time, and I sure as shade know that Elrick would not leave Misty.”
“He would not,” Tove spoke up in agreement. “Marcus?”
“I have tasked my Second with another mission,” Salem said firmly. He leaned back in his chair as he looked at the occupants of the room. “But,” he sighed, “he has told me of your pack when he met you all those years ago, and he has told me of how both you and Elrick fought the Drakhyn who took my daughter.” Salem and Marcus exchanged a look. “The Drakhyn have mobilised an army at the foot of the mountain of the Vampyre Court. They seek to destroy those within. We cannot get aid to the Vampyres.”
Taras paled as he quickly looked to Marcus, who nodded.
“The Drakhyn have been infiltrating packs as Lycan and killing for some time, longer than we knew, far longer than we should have suspected. They have been ahead of us at every step, and we are too slow to catch up,” Salem muttered bitterly. “My House owes a debt to your pack and to your fellow pack leaders.” Salem nodded to himself. “Marcus, you need to go and aid the packs.”
“No.”
