“She is more than capable,” Leonid defended his daughter and his own actions.
“No Sentinel patrols alone,” Salem replied grimly. “And how many Drakyhn could you have in Silver Lake?”
“She patrols a wide area. I do not restrict her to our home in Manitoba.”
Salem ran his hand over his face. “She just turned eighteen, Leonid.” Taking a deep drink of his bourbon, he continued. “You put her at risk.”
“You need to see her fight,” Leonid swirled his drink in his glass before finishing it. “Trust me, she is something to behold.”
“I don’t care if she is Velvore himself,allSentinels should patrol in pairs,” Salem snapped.
“No need to take the Ancients name in vain, Salem. I thought you were more pious than that.”
Salem scoffed as he finished his bourbon. “How long do you think you will be gone?”
“All this small talk,” Leonid smiled at his former student. “When this was the question you wanted to ask from the beginning.” Salem shrugged nonchalantly, but he didn’t meet Leonid’s gaze. “I do not know how long I will be gone. It will take a week to get to the Vampyre Council and then, knowing my wife, there will be countless dinners, events, balls,” Leonid’s scorn was evident in his voice, “before she even gets to the reason for my summoning.”
“I only met her once, but yes, she did seem to favour tradition.”
“Diplomacy?” Leonid bowed his head in acknowledgment. “You have matured well, Salem.”
Salem laughed, a genuine laugh. “It’s been a long time, Leonid, I have two children and a Headquarters to run.”
“You proved to your naysayers you were fit to be Heir.”
“I did. Although, Tegan will stir them from their dusty corners.” Salem sighed. “Yes, they will crawl out of the woodwork for Celeste’s daughter.” He poured another drink. “Want one?”
“Please.” Leonid watched Salem carefully. “Will you protect her?”
“Of course.”
“She is not versed in the combat of court.”
“Michael will teach her and Sloane,” Salem answered confidently. “What else does she need to be taught?”
“Dresses.”
“What?” Salem put his drink down on the desk in surprise.
“I have never been able to get her to wear one. Even as a child.” Leonid shook his head in remembrance.
“You sure she is Celeste’s?” Salem joked, then instantly sobered. “Sorry, that was… inappropriate.”
“It was harmless,” Leonid murmured, “Celeste was obsessed with dressing up,” he smiled softly as he thought of her. “She would have never accepted Tegan’s abhorrence for clothes.”
“An intervention would have been called before the Great Council,” Salem smiled fondly, Leonid snorted in agreement.
“Completely preposterous and so very Celeste,” Leonid sighed. “So yes, Court and dresses. Tactics, fighting, patrols, you need not worry – she is exemplary.”
“And her schooling?”
“I have taught her all she needs to know about the Ancients, Supernaturals and of course, the Drakyhn.”
“And humans?”
“She has no interest in humans.”
“Still, Leonid? After all this time?” Salem looked at his former master sadly.