“Okay, admirer,” Jasper was nonplussed.
“Kai is not an admirer,” Tegan defended him, feeling guilty but she was confused as to why.
“Please, Tegan, he is absolutely besotted with you.” Jasper laughed.
“You’re being cruel, he isn’t here to speak up in his defence.”
“He wouldn’t dispute it, he is head over heels,” Jasper nudged her conspiratorially.
“Talk about something else if youmusttalk,” Tegan rumbled as they walked, her eyes on the treeline.
“Little tiger.”
She spun to see that this time Cordwasbehind her, glancing quickly at Jasper, she was relieved to see he was as surprised to see the Castor as she was. He was without his robes, in black Sentinel gear like them, only his top was hooded where theirs was not and Cord had leather wraps around his upper arms, in which he secured throwing knives. He looked so striking in the dark clothes in the black night, she couldn’t find words to ask why he was here.
“Why are you here?” Jasper demanded, pulling himself up to his full height, his earlier easy humour gone.
“I came to speak to Tegan, you may go,” Cord dismissed him.
“You’re not my superior,” Jasper snarled.
“Am I not?” Cord’s smile was cold and cruel. “I think we both know I am.”
“You son of a Drakhyn,” Jasper took an angry step forward, his fists clenched.
“Jasper, don’t rise to him,” Tegan murmured. Cord’s humourless laugh at her terminology made her grind her teeth.
Cord handed a slim envelope to Jasper, who snatched it from him and read it quickly.
“What is it?” Tegan enquired.
“Nothing, but I need to go,” Jasper grudgingly admitted, turning away from her. He strode past Cord with a glower for the Castor.
“What was in the letter? And why couldn’t you have given it to him first, without antagonising him?” Tegan said as she shook her head and resumed walking.
“It was his summons to get ready for the raid,” Cord said easily.
“We get to go on the raid?” Tegan looked eagerly after Jasper.
“Hedoes,youdo not.”
“Why?”
“They haven’t told you?” Cord shook his head in disgust. “No female Akrhyn are to go.”
“Are you serious?” Tegan demanded. “That’s complete Drakhyn droppings, I am a better fighter than most of these males!”
“That’syour version of swearing?” Cord laughed lightly, seeing Tegan’s scowl he shrugged carelessly. “They’re protecting their females.”
“I can protect myself,” Tegan scowled.
“Of course you can,” he patted her shoulder.
“Donotpatronise me, Castor, I will gut you with your own lies.”
“Vicious,” Cord winked at her, “and tell me, little tiger, what have I lied about?”
“You can’t Cast without powders or aides, no one can.”