Salem smirked as he looked at the young male beside him. “I’m aware of howdifficultyour father can be.”
“We need to test her,” Sloane glanced ahead to make sure that Marcus and Tegan were still fully engaged with each other.
“You think she isn’t my daughter?” Salem scoffed sceptically, ready to tell the younger Sentinel that there was no doubt in him at all.
“No, that’s obvious, a blind Drakhyn could see that, but we need to test her to make sure at the upcoming Winter Event that she can representyourhouse.”
“She’s an Elite Sentinel, it is unlikely that she will want to compete in the games,” Salem replied.
“Cornelius’s house has been kicking our behinds for the last three years, if we can convince Tegan to join with Michael and I, we will finally wipe that smug smile off his face.”
“He is still your father, Sloane,” Salem reprimanded him softly.
“Technicalities,” Sloane dismissed the fact as he turned more fully to Salem. “She isyourhouse. Michael and I need to test her to ensure she can keep up on the course, but I bet she can.”
“And this has nothing to do with finally beating your brother?” Salem teased the younger Akrhyn gently, laughing when Sloane shrugged.
“I suggest you don’t tell her you are making sure she can keep up withyou,” Leonid commented drily from behind them.
“You’re as creepy as a Drakhyn,” Sloane growled. “I thought you were going to leave her be until Reflection?”
“I’m worse – I kill the Drakhyn,” Leonid flashed his fangs at the younger male, ignoring his other comment.
“You heard?” Salem asked in resignation.
“I will not interfere. If she wishes to join her brother and her cousin in the games, then she will.” Leonid watched his daughter talking animatedly to the Lycan. “She has already told him her list of things to improve?” he asked Salem.
“In the first ten minutes of stepping outside,” Salem informed him and was surprised when he saw the Vampyre smile.
“She has been eager to rectify them since she learned of her posting.” Leonid shot an amused look to Salem, “You have let the defences slip.”
“No, we haven’t,” Sloane interrupted. “You two are the exception – and is it any wonder with the way you drill her daily? When is she allowedhertime?”
Leonid assessed the young Sentinel quietly. “You defend her when you know her not.” He surprised them both when he smiled at them again. “I wish I could stay to observe because you will be surprised.” He walked past them to his daughter.
Salem grit his teeth when he saw the way Tegan’s face lit up as the Vampyre approached. It was irrational but the surge of jealousy had him clenching his fist.
“I’m still going to make sure she can do it,” Sloane said stubbornly.
“Tread carefully, she may look like her mother, but I fear she may be the Vampyre’s daughter more than anyone else’s, no matter how much we wish it weren’t so,” Salem replied grimly as they quickened their pace to reach the group ahead. Tegan was talking animatedly to both Marcus and Leonid. It seemed she was explaining her reasoning to Marcus – she kept looking at Leonid, but he was content to let her talk, Salem noticed as they approached.
“So you see, if you were to implement eight Sentinels and shifts every four hours instead of four Sentinels for eight hour watches, you keep the perimeter better defended because you have sharper, more alert Sentinels ,” Tegan flashed a quick smile to Sloane before continuing, “and then if you replace the perimeter watch like this, the eight you have spare at any one time, can go out andthroughthe woods and further the hunt. We came across Drakhyn in thedaylightin Prince George. He was fully grown and fast, but in the daylight, it’s becoming more and more common – I don’t know how many I have killed this month,” Tegan paused for breath as she felt her father’s hand on her elbow.
“You know exactly how many you have killed, don’t you?” Marcus watched her closely.
“Forty-three,” Tegan shrugged after a quick glance to Leonid.
“Forty-three?” Sloane exclaimed. “Are you hunting nests? There’s no way you managed that number, it’s only the nineteenth!”
“They have started hunting in twos, it’s strange but I can feel the change and I know something is coming,” Tegan looked out over the trees. “Drakhyn in the daylight, pairing up on hunts, something is happening. There’s a change in the air and we need to be ready.”
“Did you tell the Great Council about your feeling?” Salem asked as he watched her.
“I did.”
“That’s one of the reasons they posted her here, isn’t it?” Marcus asked Leonid. “We’re one of the first Headquarters that would notice the change –ifthere was a change.”
“Tegan excelled in security and Council Elder Warren was most impressed with her skills,” Leonid’s pride shone through and again Salem felt the surge of jealousy.