“You’re saying that I smell, father,” Tegan laughed softly as she sat up from the mat.
“Not any more than usual,” Leonid smiled at her mock outrage. “Day one and you are off schedule.” He frowned but knew it could not be helped, it was a big change for her.
“I know. I tried to go faster during the perimeter check, but Marcus just kept asking questions.”
Leonid chuckled as Tegan rose to her feet. “You will have to curb your impatience, there will be many questions you need to answer.”
“I know,” Tegan pulled her braid over her shoulder. “When do you leave?”
“An hour or two.”
“So soon,” she murmured as she stood in the centre of the room.
“Go shower, clean up, I’ll meet you in the kitchen.” Leonid sighed, “We can meet the cook again.”
“I do not think she will want me in her kitchen,” Tegan admitted as she went to the doors of the training room.
“She will accept it,” Leonid said grimly as he followed Tegan out. “And even if she can’t, Martha will be here before you know it.”
As they left the training room, Tegan saw that Sloane was waiting for them. “You were in there for hours,” he complained.
“Training,” Tegan laughed at him. “You need to train with me. I can help you with your upcoming Trials.”
“Maybe I will,” Sloane slung his arm over her shoulder, ignoring Tegan as she stiffened again at the familiarity. “But, first, I am to tell you that Salem and Marcus wish you to dine with us.”
“Me?” Tegan looked to her father in surprise, slipping out from under Sloane’s arm.
“Both of you. They know Leonid is leaving soon,” Sloane explained. “And Blythe is refusing to feed me.”
“And you are invited, why?” Leonid asked as they all climbed the staircase.
“Because I am family,” Sloane replied easily.
“Only since Tegan arrived.”
“Yeah well, some people don’t need to be related by blood to be called family,” Sloane shrugged.
“You father does not want you in Seattle?” Leonid enquired.
“My father would prefer I wasn’t on this continent, but it is what it is.”
Tegan noticed Sloane’s smile was more forced and she reached out to him. “Well, I am here now, and you are my family. We can get to know each other.”
“I’d like that,” Sloane smiled at her and placed his arm around her again. “And I can get one of the girls to take you shopping.”
Tegan shirked out of his arm again and looked at her father. “Why do I need to go shopping?”
“Because you are more than just a Sentinel, cousin,” Sloane declared. “Now, we need to be back downstairs in,” he glanced at his watch, “ten minutes. Don’t be late.” He winked at her and disappeared into his room leaving Tegan and Leonid in the hall.
“He’s going to test your patience many times,” Leonid looked at his daughter, “Maybe he is more like his father than I thought,” Leonid teased as he opened his door. “I’ll see you downstairs.”
Tegan went into her room and took a quick shower. She left her hair in its braid, and merely changed into a clean training top and fatigues. She was waiting for both her father and Sloane at the foot of the stairwell ten minutes later. They arrived at the same time and she took the opportunity to study both males. Father was in his travelling clothes which made her sad as she finally accepted that he was leaving her behind. Sloane was in jeans and a black t-shirt. Tegan frowned; she had never had jeans.Was he not on duty tonight?she wondered. With the two of them beside each other, Tegan compared them, it was hard not to. Both of them were tall, her cousin was slightly shorter than her father, but Sloane was broader, his muscles more prominent. Leonid had light brown hair that was tied back at the nape of his neck, a fashion that was popular when he was younger. Sloane was golden haired, his hair cut short to the sides, a little longer on top and styled in a messy way, that she could only surmise was popular. The other two males from this morning, Kai and Darus both had their hair styled the same way.
“You’re staring at me like you’re trying to figure out how to kill me,” Sloane grinned as they joined her.
“Maybe I am,” Tegan replied, causing her father to chuckle.
“I hope that’s a joke. Come on, we are to meet in the small dining room.” Sloane led them to the dining room, it wasn’t the main one for formal entertainment, but the one the Principal Elder used for his family. Sloane walked in confidently, Leonid made a sound of disapproval and stood back to let Tegan enter.