“I thought now that you were a Principal you wouldn’t need instruction on basic sustenance,” the warm knowing smile softened the harshness of the criticism.
“It’s been an unusual few weeks,” Salem admitted quietly.
“It has,” she conceded, “but you will adapt, just like she is. Whatever the threat is, we will face together.”
“You think they mean Tegan?” His throat felt like it was closing as fear clawed its way from his insides, desperate to get out.
“I think if they do, they’re in for one hell of a surprise,” Martha grinned wickedly as she turned back to the many ovens in the kitchen.
Bryce snorted out a laugh and even Salem smiled at the thought of the fight Tegan would give them. But at the end of the day, she was just one Akrhyn against how many? And that was what scared him the most.
“It said that the female will give them many, which means they envisage that she will survive the birth,” one of the Sentinels who had been chopping vegetables said quietly. “I don’t know how that is possible. The spawn rip through the womb, how can one female endure that,” he shook his head, “and endure that to bear another?”
“I don’t know,” Salem put his spoon down with a sigh. “It seems impossible. There is no record that I know of where any female host has survived the birth.”
“The other Houses are searching, Principal,” Bryce reminded him, also putting his spoon down.
“We need more information,” Salem said through gritted teeth as he stood from the table.
“Have you tried to catch a live one?” another Sentinel asked.
“Yes, but they have been so quiet since the fence, there has been hardly any sightings,” Bryce informed him. He looked at Salem hesitatingly, “Although we could go to Prince George. Tegan said she killed one in the daylight there. Is it possible that there is a nest?”
Salem scrubbed his jaw. “From where she described the area, it is used mostly by the homeless, there would be little to note their comings and goings.”
“It’s worth a shot?” Bryce asked.
“Come, we’ll talk to Marcus,” Salem said his goodbyes to those in the kitchen and led the Commander out. “She cannot go,” he said quietly to Bryce.
“No, I think it best in this instance that the hunting party be male Akrhyn only,” Bryce admitted. “They won’t like it, our female Elite are every bit as good, if not better, than our males… but the threat to them is too real,” he finished lamely.
“I’m so glad in this moment that I am not the Commander of the Elite,” Salem smiled as he walked away from Bryce, leaving the Commander cursing his bad luck as he hurried after his Principal.
They found Marcus in the library, muttering over ancient texts, so absorbed that he didn’t notice them until Salem cleared his throat. The Lycan looked up at them and stood back from where he had been hunched over the table.
“What?”
“We think a hunting party should go to Prince George, to the area where Tegan killed the Drakhyn and see if there are any more there,” Salem informed him quickly, instantly holding his hand up to stop the Lycan from interrupting. “We propose only male Akryhn’s, a small party, with you in the lead, to hunt them out. If anyone is going to find them, it will be you.”
“And if I find any?”
“Bring it back here for questioning,” Bryce said with conviction.
“And how by the Ancients do you propose that Itransportit, Salem?” Marcus demanded.
“We’ll work on it.” The Principal shrugged.
“We don’t question these creatures, we kill them,” Marcus snapped.
“Then maybe I can help?” They all turned to Cord who emerged from the shadows, his hood pulled low, his crimson robes standing out in the muted tones of the library.
“Why do you keep portalling into my Headquarters?” Salem asked him with a hard glare.
“To keep you on your toes,” Cord’s mocking tone irked Salem more. “Also, I need to see the little tiger.”
“Why?” Marcus couldn’t hide the suspicion in his voice.
“Who does he mean?” Bryce asked looking between all three of them.