“You stay close to me,” Tegan replied grimly as she struck down a Drakhyn. “Burn them as they fall,” she instructed.
“What do you think I’ve been doing?” Cord growled beside her as they met blow for blow from the Drakhyn. Tegan ignored him as she pursued their enemy. “Tegan!” Cord shouted after her, but she wove through the trees, scanning the trees above for shadows. “Tegan, stop,” Cord’s hand on her arm pulled her back. “They have fled.”
“Are you sure?” Tegan took a step forward, again surveying the shadows.
“I sense only us this deep in the trees,” Cord replied as he sheathed his sword.
“Search again,” Tegan demanded as she looked at him.
Cord looked at her with suspicion, “Why?”
“You use no powders or premade potions, I want to see if it is a trick,” she admitted, her eyes narrowing on the Castor.
“I rarely use powders and potions, my ability is higher than most to Cast,” he started to walk back to Headquarters.
“I have not heard of a Castor who can Cast without them,” Tegan admitted as she fell into step beside him.
“How many of us have you met?” Cord asked, a soft smile playing on his lips.
“One or two,” Tegan admitted. “They both needed the powders.”
“What Cast where they?”
“Pure,” Tegan kept quiet as Cord snorted his contempt. “Do you believe it?” she asked him hesitantly after a few minutes of silence, refusing to make eye contact.
“Believe what?” Cord asked as he still assessed the trees.
“That we are mated?”
“I don’tdisbelieveit, but I am not convinced we are,” he looked at her quickly. “You?”
“I don’t think so,” Tegan answered confidently, “I think we just don’t like each other.”
Cord barked out a laugh as they walked through the trees, he could make out Headquarters through the denseness now. “I think we like each other just fine,” his low voice had Tegan glancing at him, only to be caught by his stare. Her step faltered and Cord’s hand on her arm steadied her. He didn’t withdraw it but slid his hand up to her elbow and Tegan was grateful he couldn’t see the way her skin prickled at his touch. They proceeded the rest of the way, with his hand curled around her arm, holding her. It worried Tegan that she didn’t even feel uncomfortable. When they could see the fence clearly, Cord withdrew his hand and took a purposeful step away from her.
“We don’t want to add to the speculation,” he murmured.
“Of course,” Tegan replied just as quietly, her mind reeling at the disappointment she felt with the loss of his touch.
“Iwillfind a way to break this, little tiger,” Cord glanced at her again and Tegan nodded in acknowledgement but kept her thoughts to herself, she didn’t even rise to his taunt of calling herlittle tiger.
“Where by the grace of Brindlelay have you been?” Sloane demanded as he hurried over to them. “Cornelius arrived about twenty minutes ago. He is in Salem’s study, waiting.”
“Waiting…” a sly smile slipped out as Cord turned to look at Tegan. “Well, we wouldn’t want to keep himwaiting.”
“Don’t do it Cord,” Sloane groaned. It was too late, Cord pulled Tegan with him and they vanished. “Ihatewhen he does that,” Sloane muttered as he walked slowly back to the office.
* * *
Tegan lookedin surprise at her bedroom. Cord cast a quick glance around it, before he settled on a chair. “Why are we here?”
“I thought you may want to change your attire, you have Drakhyn on you.”
Tegan glanced down at herself, flushing as she took in the drying blood of the Drakhyn. “I only need a moment.” She grabbed a shirt from her closet and then disappeared into the bathroom. True to her word, she was out not a minute later.
“That it?” Cord asked, failing to hide the surprise in his voice.
“It was only the shirt, yes?” Tegan regarded herself again, twisting her body to get a better look.