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“You look well,” one of the Sisters told him, and Cord noticed that Leonid did not flinch from meeting the gaze of the Three with his contempt clear on his face.
“I am well, thanks to the Mark, but my brethren are still under the mountain,” Leonid replied briskly. “I am here, I am fed, I am whole, and for an unfathomable reason, I am in asuit.”
“We are at war,” another of the Sisters spoke.
“Then perhaps we should be focusing on that rather than an evening ofmerriment.” Leonid’s derision was heavy, and Cord watched Tegan fight her smile.
“None of us believe we should be having a ball,” Salem spoke quietly as he stood staring at Leonid across the large table. A divide much wider and deeper than an oak table existed between the two of them. “But the Great Council decreed it, and the only Akrhyn who can override that order…didn’t.” Salem glanced at the Sisters and was met with three carefully blank faces.
“The ball is needed,” Agatha said. “It was foreseen, and we cannot intervene in what was foretold.”
“You had a dream about a party?” Cord asked with incredulity.
“It is important,” Ada said. “We must heed the signs.”
“What signs?” Tegan asked impatiently. “Tell us what to look for, and we can make it happen.”
“That’s not how prophecy works,” Michael mumbled as he clasped his hands behind his back.
Tegan opened her mouth to speak, but Leonid’s hand rested on her arm, and she turned her head away. Cord’s eyes narrowed as he watched. He did not like his little tiger being muted.
“What’s happening in House Holt?” he asked boldly. “Tension is thick, I may need one of those knives you wear to cut through it,” he said to Tegan as she turned to look at him in disbelief.
“Now is not the time,” Michael snapped at Cord.
“It could be the perfect time,” Cord goaded him.
“What does he mean?” Leonid asked Tegan calmly.
“It is nothing, father. The Castor likes to play tricks.” Tegan gave him a murderous glare, and he grinned at her.
“Cord’s a dick,” Michael said in agreement before he glanced at Tegan. “I can’t believe you toldhim.”
“I didn’t,” Tegan bit back. “Not really,” she amended.
“What’s going on?” Salem asked Michael quietly.
“It seems brother and sister are merely having a small tiff,” Garrick spoke quickly as he rose. “Sisters, if there is nothing more you need from…us?” Garrick quickly looked around the room, knowing that he was perhaps overstepping; after all, he had no place here.
“There has been more,” Aryna said quietly. “Crimson Prime Castor Garrick, you may sit.”
Garrick swallowed nervously before he sat.
Three pairs of eyes swung to look at Salem. “You have not done your duty.”
Salem paled slightly and then nodded once. “I will do better.”
“I am here now,” Leonid spoke confidently. “I will train them.”
Cord did not miss Michael bristling at the statement or Tegan looking down at the floor.
“I need you for the Vampyre Court,” Cord blurted and then smiled at them all. “You do want them out from their confinement, no?”
Leonid turned to look at Cord with cool appraisal. “I have given the intricacies of the spell to Dark Prime Castor Chernov. He assures me he will have my wife and brethren freed before nightfall.”
Cord glanced out the window and saw the dark of night. “Night has already fallen, Vampyre.”
“I have Rorik and some older Castors working on it now,” Lucas said from his chair. “Sisters, you have concern on our success?”
