“Are you trained?” Michael blurted.
“I am Elite,” Tegan replied, holding her brother’s gaze.
“You can’t be, you’re only eighteen. You mean you arealmostan Elite.”
“No. I am Elite. I passed the Trial last week,” she smiled at him. “I can train you if you wish for your own upcoming Trial.” Her tone was slightly mocking as she looked at her brother.
“Tegan,” Leonid admonished. Tegan clenched her jaw at the reprimand. “But it is true, the Great Council have been present for all of Tegan’s Trials. She passed the last Trial last week.”
“Congratulations,” Marcus bowed his head to her. “Who are you to guard?” Understanding dawned on his face as he quickly looked to Salem. “The Great Council do enjoy their ironies.” He shook his head as he looked back at Leonid.
“They are also aware of my summons, we all thought it best if Tegan was with her… well, here.”
“Were you going to sayfamily?” Michael asked incredulously.
“She is your sister,” Leonid’s voice was firm, his glare hard.
“I have a sister and it’s…”
“Michael!” Salem cut his son off. “I would welcome the time to spend with Tegan.” He looked at her as he spoke. “If you would be agreeable.” Tegan glanced quickly at Leonid before nodding once.
“When do you leave?” Marcus asked Leonid.
“I need to be quick,” Leonid looked at his daughter. “But I will stay a day to ensure my daughter is settled.”
“Make up your mind,” Michael snapped. “You can’t claim her to bemyfamily and thenyourdaughter. She’s either one or the other.”
“I am your sister by blood.” Tegan looked down at her boots before she raised her head to meet her brothers scornful glare. “But blood does not make a family,” her gaze flicked to Sloane, “does it cousin?”
“No, it does not,cousin,” Sloane grinned at Tegan as he stretched his legs out in front of him.
“I’m sorry, I’m being a jerk,” Michael shook his head as he rubbed his jaw and sat back in his seat. “It’s a lot to take in.”
“It is and you are,” Leonid agreed watching him carefully.
Michael flinched at the Vampyres words as he looked at Tegan. Rising from his seat he walked over to her. “Hi. I’m Michael, I don’t know how to process all of this and I’m struggling,” he shrugged sheepishly.
Tegan glanced at Leonid before she nodded, accepting his apology. “I understand your hostility.” She was still hesitant but felt herself ease as her brother smiled at her for the first time.
“Tegan is an unusual name,” Michael stated as he stood back and looked between her and Leonid.
“I don’t understand,” Tegan frowned.
“Your name?” Michael asked as he walked back to his seat.
“One of the Sisters suggested the name,” Leonid admitted. “It means loved one.”
“How is it spelt?” Marcus asked. “One ‘a’ or two?”
“One,” Tegan replied, her eyes narrowing.
Marcus snorted unsurprised. “The Sisters love their tricks. Spelt like that, it also meansfavourite one,” Marcus murmured from his chair.
Tegan saw Michael stiffen slightly at Marcus’s words. Sloane noticed too and looked at Tegan appraisingly.
“I like it, however it is spelt, it kinda suits you,” Sloane added with a friendly smile.
Tegan smiled at him. He hadn’t said a lot, but he was obviously quite laid back and oddly, he made her comfortable. Michael had her on edge but she felt better after his attempt at civility a moment ago. Marcus, she was unsure of still, despite seeing the respect she had seen in his eyes when he learned she was Elite. And Salem? Salem, she had mostly avoided eye contact with, although she had felt his eyes on her many times.