“Sloane doesn’t care,” Zahra snapped. “Everyoneknows that.”
“Principal Salem, are we to resume our normal training?” One of the males asked as he looked at his fellow teammates. The hope on all their faces was barely concealed.
“Yes, thank you for your service,” Salem inclined his head. “Tegan and Michael will take over your training from now until Summer Turning.”
The four Akrhyn turned to Tegan as one, they regarded her curiously. Tegan had been standing at the back of the room, staying out of Zahra’s immediate sight and trying to blend into the walls. These kinds of confrontations were unknown to her, she felt incredibly uncomfortable at witnessing the dispute between Salem and Zahra. When Salem had told the Akrhyn she was to train them, she had looked at Michael in surprise. Now the four of them were watching her, she didn’t miss the fact that Zahra had flung herself into a chair in disgust.
“Alright, you guys can go find Marcus, tell him you are here, and you need rooms,” Michael instructed them. “We’ll see you tomorrow morning, training room two at,” he looked at Tegan, “six-thirty?” Tegan nodded quickly just to avoid the four Akrhyn looking at her again. “Okay, dismissed.”
The four young Akrhyn bowed their heads in reverence to Salem and then left the room. Tegan watched them go, noting how synchronised their movements were. Looking up, she felt Zahra’s eyes on her again.
“Why are you even here?” Zahra spat venomously at her.
“I’m an Elite Sentinel, stationed here by the Great Council, member of the Elite Guard,” Tegan answered firmly.
“You could have been asked to be moved,” Zahra folded her arms across her chest as she glared at Tegan.
“I was content with the position that the Great Council assigned me to,” Tegan answered honestly.
“I’m not calling you sister,” Zahra snapped.
“I wouldn’t want you to,” Tegan replied. When Sloane coughed out a laugh, she realised how her words could have been interpreted, but she wasn’t about to correct her statement. Tegan was pretty sure Zahra didn’t deserve her courtesy.
“Wow, you’re charming,” Zahra grumbled as she turned to her father again. “Are you going to explainanythingto me?”
“You’re so charismatic, Zahra,” Cord spoke up from his corner of the room. “I always delight in our encounters; it reminds me why I hound my brother to commission for the bond to be dissolved.”
“Drop dead, Castor,” Zahra turned her back to him and stared at her father, clearly impatient for a response.
“Sloane, Tegan, we are no longer required,” Cord headed for the door. “By your leave Principal.” The scorn in his voice was unmistakeable.
“Castor,” Salem frowned briefly at Cord’s back, his attention focusing back on Tegan and Sloane. “Thank you for your help, I will catch up with you later?” His question was directed to Tegan. Sensing Zahra was about to react, Tegan nodded quickly again, before turning and hurrying after Cord.
Headquarters were quiet the next day, too many Sentinels preparing for tomorrow, which was the deadline the Drakhyn had stated at the fence. Tegan was in the training room, preparing for the four Akrhyn that had been in the school with Zahra. Michael hadn’t arrived yet and she was debating between kali sticks or basic exercises to assess their levels of training.
The training room door opened as Sloane came in, wearing soft cotton black training pants and a loose grey t-shirt. His physique filled out his clothes nicely and Tegan wondered why Zahra would pick the slender human over Sloane. It made no sense to her; he was loyal, charming and attractive.What more could you want?she wondered idly.
“May the Ancients bless you on this day,” Sloane grinned at her. “How are you this morning?”
“May the Ancients bless you, cousin,” Tegan beamed at him, pleased he was making the effort to observe the traditional greetings for her. He had even cut down on his swearing. Again, she found herself wondering what was wrong with Zahra that she didn’t want him. If anything, from what she had seen of the youngest Holt, if anyone should be found wanting in their qualities it was Zahra.
“Why are you watching me like I just crawled out of a Drakhyn nest?” Sloane asked warily.
Tegan laughed at him as she tossed him a kali stick. “I was just admiring my good fortune, that my handsome cousin was such an admirable Akrhyn.” She smiled up at him, “want to spar?”
“I don’t know whether you are complimenting me because you mean it or because you want to spar?” Sloane walked around her as he tossed the kali stick between his hands idly.
Tegan tilted her head to the side as she watched him, her eyes dancing with laughter. “Can’t it be both?”
“Now I’m worried,” Sloane laughed as he moved into a defensive stance. “Alright, little cousin, let’s see what you got.”
Still laughing Tegan sprang forward, her kali stick raised to strike. As Sloane moved to block it, she spun quickly, bringing the stick across the back of his legs.
“Delfar,” Sloane hissed through his teeth. Earning him another strike across his back for swearing. “Did you have coffee this morning?” Sloane asked suspiciously.
“Less talk, more action,” Tegan teased as she circled him.
“Okay, but if I hurt you, it’s your own fault.”