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“Not fully,” Cord said, trying to keep his voice even.
“You need this sketched,” Sloane said as he stood back. “The blue’s new, it’s the same colour of eyes as Salem, Michael and Tegan.”
Cord snapped his head up and stared hard at Sloane. “Of course, it’s notjusther, it’s them.”
“What?” Sloane asked as his brother pulled his shirt back on. “You thought it was just Tegan? Maybe it is.”
“No, you’re right, it made no sense to me to be her when we have the bond, but you’re right, as we share the same parental features, so do they. Salem is their father.”
“That’s not a newsflash,” Sloane told him as he watched him warily. Cord looked excited, and that level of animation on his brother was usually a bad thing.
“Did you see any animals?” Cord asked tentatively as he hesitated at the door.
“Yeah, there were birds and a wolf, I think.”
“The Prophecy is literally on my skin,” Cord said with a disgruntled growl as he pulled the door open. “I need Garrick.”
“That’s why I came here,” Sloane said as he hurried after his brother. “Also to check on you for this morning, but to say there are reports that Drakhyn have been attacking Akrhyn in their homes.”
Cord stopped and turned back to his brother. “What?”
“I get told this stuff now because I am…you know.” He shrugged as he looked around their home. “Northern Headquarters is sending out patrols to investigate.” Sloane held his hand up to stop Cord talking. “And no, she has been told to remain at Headquarters.”
Cord laughed. He laughed so hard he had to hold his sides. When he had regained his composure, he started to look for Salem, his brother trailing worriedly behind him, concerned the strain of the Mark and it all was finally too much for him.
“Salem,” Cord said as he walked in on the Principal Elder in mid-conversation with Council Elder Carnain. “You need to order your patrols back.”
Salem looked between Cord and Sloane, who stood behind his brother looking apologetic and bewildered at the same time.
“Council Elder Warren issued the decree to Northern Headquarters on behalf of the Great Council,” Council Elder Carnain said as he considered the younger Castor. “And you should be in your robes today,” he admonished him as he took in both brothers in their Sentinel fatigues.
Cord acknowledged the Council Elder as only Cord would: he ignored him. “Salem, as Principal, you can order them back. It’s a trap, and I can guarantee you it’s a trap to catch her.”
“Tegan is at HQ,” Salem said with a smug smile.
Cord sighed as his head tilted back and he stared at the ceiling. “Sloane, answer me this, where is my little tiger?”
“Headquarters,” Sloane said adamantly. His brother rolled his head to look at him. With his head still looking upwards, it cleared his eyes of his hair. An eyebrow arched. Sloane groaned. “She’s on patrol. Most likely in whatever company Elite Sentinel Jasper is leading,” Sloane said gruffly.
Cord nodded. “And where is her brother?” he said as he levelled his stare at Salem.
“Beside her,” Salem growled as he glared back at them both. “We don’t have time for this today,” Salem bit out angrily.
“Then trust that your children are careful and know what they are doing,” Carnain said easily.
“They were told to stay and practice,” Salem told him as he considered who would be in the Headquarters for him to get a message to.
“What better practice is there than active duty?” Carnain said, completely unaffected by the tension coming off of the Principal Elder. “We have Treason to deal with today. This is far more important than trained Sentinels clearing areas of Drakhyn.”
“You do know who they are?” Sloane asked curiously. “I mean, in the grand scheme of things, they’re kind of pivotal.”
“I know who they are, Heir Ivanov, and because I know who they are and what their role is, I am not overly concerned about their well-being. Tegan Holt is a highly trained Elite, her brother is just as accomplished, although he has still to face his final Trial. He was mere weeks from it when this war happened.” Carnain looked at all three of the males in the room. “Do you truly believe the Ancients will let anything happen to either of them?”
“Your faith in the Ancients is admirable,” Cord said coldly. “But my belief is in the Drakhyn scum who told her he was coming for her, and this, rampaging through Akrhyn Houses to draw us out when we are already thinly spread, this feels like a ploy. A ploy to get my bonded mate.”
“Can you feel her?” Salem asked as worry etched his face.
“Yes, faintly,” Cord admitted with a self-conscious shrug.
