“How many?” Michael asked as he took in the awkwardness of his new sister with his father. They both looked uncomfortable and uneasy.
“Four,” Tegan responded quickly. “If you are okay with it, Principal, I will continue my patrol.” She didn’t wait for him to reply before turning on her heel and was heading to the door.
“Bonding well?” Michael asked dryly.
“It will take time,” Salem sighed. “She took on three of them, by herself, with no awareness of where I was or how far behind I was,” he continued quietly.
“She’s reckless?” Michael was surprised as this was one of the assessments during Trials. Being aware of who you were with, their capabilities, your responsibilities to them and yourself.
“Not in that way. She killed them with no hesitation, she was more than capable,” Salem walked into his study, his son following him. “But she is used to a Vampyre behind her. I’ll need to ensure she is partnered with a Sentinel who is as capable.”
“Or not,” Michael shrugged while his father waited for him to continue. “Ask Bryce to make sure she is with the weaker Elite.”
“There are noweakElite,” Salem sat down heavily behind his desk.
“Come on, dad, you know what I mean.” Michael slouched low in his seat, “Not all the Elite are perfect – make sure Bryce pairs her with them,trainher to adapt to the fact not everyone is a machine like she is.”
“That idea may have merit,” Salem looked at his son thoughtfully. “And you? How are you dealing with this new addition to the family?”
Michael barked out a laugh as he ran a hand through his hair. “You make her sound like a new pet, not a fully-grown woman who could be the next Heir to our House.” His father chuckled across from him as he ran a hand over his jaw. “It’s fine, dad. It will take some time to get used to, but honestly?” Michael paused as he thought about it. “Honestly, itfeelsright that she is here.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I was shocked at first, but just talking to her, being beside her, feels… comfortable.” Michael laughed. “Which is reallyreallystrange, but I can’t explain it.”
“Sloane also bonded well with her.” Salem grimaced, “Only Zahra seems to have an issue.”
“It’s understandable, it was a shock for us all. She’ll come around, but I think you may need to grovel for a time yet.” Michael rose from his seat, “We can’t all be expected to be okay with this, it’s an adjustment that will take time.”
“Hopefully, time is what we’ll have.”
“I’m going to go and get ready for patrol. Cord is with Marcus playing chess,” Michael rolled his eyes. “Sloane already left them to it.”
“Make sure she goes to her room when she is relieved. I have a feeling she may not be willing to stop her patrol this evening, having killed three already.” Salem instructed as Michael walked to the door.
“I’ll speak to Bryce?” Michael asked his father; Salem nodded his confirmation. “Night dad, try and rest.”
Salem watched his son leave before heading to his liquor cabinet and pouring himself a large bourbon. As he poured, he thought of Tegan in the woods, the ease and fearlessness in which she dispatched her enemy. She would be an excellent addition to his team, he just hoped she would be an excellent addition to his family.
* * *
Cord walkedthrough the halls silently, his games with Marcus had ended, an Elite Sentinel had come for Marcus in regards to a disturbance to the perimeter. Knowing of the earlier skirmish in the woods, Marcus had left to investigate. Cord hadn’t offered his services and Marcus hadn’t asked. Cord stayed close to the shadows despite the halls being quiet at this time. He wasn’t altogether surprised to see Tegan come down the stairs looking for others before she headed to the training rooms. He followed her on a whim – she intrigued him. Even he had heard nothing of a mysterious Holt daughter, which surprised him because Sentinels were not known for discretion. The fact the Great Council and their Elite Guard had kept this to themselves was enough to pique his curiosity more. Tegan went into one of the training rooms and he waited a moment outside the room before entering after her.
She was at the wall with the kali sticks and spun with two in her hand, crouched down ready to attack whoever had come in the room.
“Friend not foe,” Cord said as he approached her.
“That’s what a foe would say,” Tegan replied as she straightened and flicked her braid off her shoulder. Her eyes ran over his red robes as she fought to keep the distrust off her face when Cord kept his hood pulled low over his face.
“That probably is what a foe would say, but surely my Cast assures you I am harmless?”
Tegan watched as his hand gestured to his robes, but she did not relax her stance. “Crimson Cast is neutral, not harmless,” she began. “Neutrality breeds complacency.”
Cord smiled under his hood, her open cynicism of his Cast was refreshing in as much as it was foolhardy. “You know not who I am to display such disregard for my Calling.”
“Cord Ivanov, First of his House, Heir to House Ivanov, adopted son of Cornelius, born of Delilah Ivanov aged twenty-one years, excelled at his Cast Trials, first ever Castor to select his Cast as a result of an undefined ruling.” Tegan looked at him as she finished.
“Are you done?” Cord drawled mockingly.