“I did not expect that,” Tegan looked at Salem searchingly. “After your own… experience.” She hesitated when she saw the wince of pain from the Principal, “I did not think that the tradition was something you would advocate.”
“We follow tradition, my ownexperienceas you call it, is the reason why I felt it was a good idea,” Salem sighed. “And Zahra’s partner is of good family and is dear to me,” he added ruefully.
“Sloane?” Tegan asked in disbelief as she realised who it could be. “You matched your daughter with Sloane?” Her disbelieving laugh echoed in the hall. “Cornelius was agreeable to this?”
“He was, it was his suggestion,” Salem knew what Tegan was thinking. Cornelius hated Salem because of what happened to his sister, but the Great Council had agreed with Cornelius that the betrothal ceremony between Salem’s daughter and Cornelius’s son, would heal any lingering rift between their Headquarters and an answering Territory.
“It is hard to imagine Sloane as agreeable to a betrothal ceremony, he does not seem the type,” Tegan looked over her shoulder as if the male would appear behind her.
“It is an interesting pair,” Salem admitted. He often wondered at the two of them himself and worried he was repeating the mistakes of his own past.
“I thought Sloane wanted to do his Trials?” Tegan was still perplexed. Having just met her cousin, she was quite sure a betrothal ceremony was not what he would want. He seemed carefree and focused on his training. How could he be a Sentinel if his partner wanted nothing to do with their way of life?
“He does and he will, he will be an asset to the Elite Sentinels,” Salem sighed heavily, knowing exactly what Tegan was not saying. “Come, I have much to show you, but first, perhaps you should fetch your coat, it will snow again soon,” he indicated to himself and Marcus, “we will wait here for you.”
Tegan realised she was still in Sloane’s t-shirt and her yoga pants. “I’ll be a few moments only.”
Marcus and Salem watched her walk hurriedly away. “You could have kept that information to yourself for a while longer, no?” Salem asked Marcus softly.
“When Cornelius realises who she is and her potential, he will not care about the fact she and Sloane are cousins, he will want to change the betrothal. Best tell her now, so she can tell Leonid. He may be going to the back end of Siberia to the Vampyre Council, but I doubt even his duty to his Council would make him go if he thought she was in peril of being put into Cornelius’s house.”
Salem rubbed his chin as he thought about it. “You think I would allow him to break Zahra’s betrothal?”
“Zahra would advocate for it,” Marcus replied softly. “She does not want this life although Sloane is the only Sentinel that I know who would allow her to continue to live apart. Any other Sentinel will expect her to conform.”
“So… you’re protecting both my daughters?” Salem asked hesitantly.
“I will always protect your house,” Marcus answered softly.
“I know, old friend,” Salem answered quietly. His attention was taken by Tegan as she appeared at the top of the staircase. She had fatigues on, her travelling coat from last night and her boots. “I never knew,” he whispered as he watched her fasten her coat and pull her hood up as she descended the stairs. “She looks so much like Celeste…”
“You didn’t and she does,” Marcus agreed. “But now you do know, because she looks so much likeyou. They’re going to come from everywhere for her. She must be protected, the Great Council obviously think so too, for them to post her here.”
“She will be safe here,” Salem replied with firm resolve. “I will not repeat the mistakes I made with Celeste.” He turned to his daughter as Tegan walked up to them both. “You were fast, are you ready?” Salem enquired.
“Yes, Principal,” Tegan patted her coat. “I am ready to learn my post and how I can serve here.”
Salem nodded and led her and Marcus out onto the grounds of the Headquarters. “Good, first you can show us both how you got in last night.”
Tegan blanched but squaring her shoulders she led them to the fence where she came over the night before. It was her duty as an Elite Sentinel to identify weakness – and more importantly, correct it – she reminded herself as the two Akrhyns followed her out into the snow.
Tegan, Marcus and Salem had spent many hours outside of the Headquarters. After Tegan had shown them both how she and her father had penetrated the grounds the night before, Marcus had walked her through the patrol for the estate. He spoke freely and easily and encouraged Tegan to ask questions or point out weaknesses. Her first comment had been the lack of Sentinels in Headquarters that morning, especially with a breach the night before.
Once she had voiced that, the two of them spoke easily. Marcus was not afraid of criticism of the security and Tegan had no reservations of telling him where improvements could be made. Salem walked alongside them both, listening and observing. Mid-morning, Sloane joined them, but he was quiet as he too, watched on. The two of them began to fall back as Marcus and Tegan walked on, debating the merits of tree felling. Tegan wanted the trees thinned out to prevent an entry like she had done the night before, Marcus was arguing that the trees offered protection from humans and all they needed was a stronger spell. Tegan had instantly dismissed the spells and Salem noted she had Leonid’s prejudices against Castors.
“She’s passionate,” Sloane commented softly.
“She is,” Salem agreed.
“She reminds me so much of Michael it’s quite scary,” Sloane admitted. “By Delfar she even looksexactlylike him.”
“Do you think so?” Salem asked softly. “She looks exactly like her mother.”
“I see no resemblance to me or my father,” Sloane carried on. “There was no mention when I was younger that my aunt had been pregnant, Salem.”
“I know, they kept it hidden from all of us. They would think that with her death there was no need to besmirch her name. Her reputation was already tainted because of me.” Salem felt his anger rising at the secret.
“Cornelius is going to be delighted when he finds out she lived,” Sloane frowned. “But he is going to be difficult.”