“No,” Tegan answered sullenly.
“Exactly.” He tipped his head back and closed his eyes.
“How long do you need?” Tegan leaned over and asked into his ear over the music.
“Thirty minutes?”
“I’ll keep watch,” Tegan said.
Cord pulled her into him, his arm sliding around her again as he turned her so he his head nestled in the crook of her neck. “I can’t look like I’m actually sleeping,” he mumbled into her neck. His other arm caught her around the waist, he pulled her deeper into his hold. “Thirty minutes,” he mumbled and then with a sigh, he was asleep.
Tegan shifted slightly, trying to get comfortable. As she waited for Cord to regain his energy, she had no idea what they looked like to the observer. She caught a few women’s eyes as they passed – some looked envious, some looked appalled, but most looked amused. If anyone approached the table, she would hold Cord closer, turning her head into his, her hair shielding them, offering a curtain of privacy. Time passed slowly but also was too fast, his slow even breathing into her neck was causing her pulse to race. He reflexively would grip her waist and pull her against him. Tegan’s hand had curled into his hair a long time ago and as she kept watch, she idly ran her fingers through the silky strands. Her other hand she trailed up his arm now and again, stroking his skin, occasionally squeezing his muscles. If she was honest, she had never felt so relaxed and comfortable.
Tegan knew she should be appalled at what Cord was capable of. His power was astonishing to witness, he had unleashed the fire tonight and yes, it had depleted him, but his recovery time was quick. She knew that other Castors would be in bed for days and they wouldn’t have achieved half of his destruction. His ability to blend in with the humans and she suspected, pickpocket from them, was as abysmal as it was impressive. Her thoughts wandered back to the Akrhyn he had killed with his fire. Tegan tried to rationalise that they would have died at the hands of the Drakhyn, but it was still the case that it wasCordwho killed them. It was a terrible thing to admit, but she hoped no one ever found out. Her mind drifted to Tove and her accusation of earlier. This was her first opportunity to think about it. Had he been killing Lycans? Earlier she would have said no, but after this evenings events she wasn’t so sure.So why am I still holding him?Tegan’s thoughts raced, there had to be an explanation. Tegan thought of his words to Velvore, not prayers, but like he wasactuallyconversing with him.
Another couple passed them, and Tegan turned her head into Cord’s, her eyes narrowing to slits to watch them as she pretended to be locked into a passionate embrace. Tegan had her first kiss tonight, not the chaste peck he gave her when he woke up in the alley, but here in the booth.He had kissed herand she had liked it. Cord shifted in her arms, his hold tightening, his lips moved over her neck. Tegan held still but when his head moved higher his warm breath tickled her ear. Without thinking Tegan arched her neck, Cord’s lips were at her jawline, his hands gripped her tightly to him.
Tegan couldn’t breathe, she couldn’t think.Was he still asleep?
“Little tiger,” his words had her freezing, Cord didn’t notice as he traced his nose along her jawline before dipping down to her throat. His warm lips caressed her softly and it was Tegan’s hands tightening on him as she felt a soft kiss on her collarbone. “When were you going to wake me?” His voice was laced with amusement as he softly bit her ear. It was the harsh slap of reality that Tegan needed and she jerked away from him. Cord sat back, grinning at her discomfort.
“How long have you been awake?” Tegan asked as she avoided his eyes.
“Not long,” Cord moved away from her. “Long enough to know you aren’t as disgusted as you pretend to be.”
Tegan ignored him, “Are you better?”
“I can portal us out of here, yes.” Cord rose from the booth.
“Where are we going to go?” Tegan asked as she rose to follow him.
Again, he pulled her into him, so they could speak over the music. “Who’s at Silver Lake?”
“My house?” Tegan was confused.
“Yes, who is still in attendance?” Cord waited for her to think.
“Pyotr I think,” Tegan shrugged.
“Perfect.” Cord took her hand and led her down a dark corridor. It was a lot quieter here and Tegan realised he was taking her to the restrooms.
“Cord,” she pulled his hand but he ignored her, pulling her along. Tegan jerked her hand away from him. “Cord!” she shouted. Some human males were passing, she tried to avoid their attention.
Cord turned swiftly and pressed her against the wall. His head dipped into her neck again. “Play along.” His lips were on her neck, more persistent than before, moving rapidly over her neck and up to her jaw. His kisses peppered across her jawline, shy of her lips, before moving to the other side of her neck. Tegan didn’t need to play, as soon as his lips were on her neck, her back had arched off the wall, her fingers threading themselves into his hair.
“They’re gone,” Cord withdrew from hew quickly. “Are youtryingto draw unnecessary attention to us?” Cord scowled at her and then resumed walking again, pulling her behind him.
“Stop pulling at me like I am an animal,” Tegan wrenched her hand free. “Can wetalk,please?”
“At Silver Lake,” Cord snapped.
“Cord, this isn’t right, we are Sentinels, we don’t run,” Tegan hurried to catch up with him, keeping her voice low.
“I’m not running, we are regrouping,” Cord said as he pushed a door open leading to the toilets.
“Cord we need to go back to Headquarters, we need to see what the damage is – if there are leads,” Tegan stopped when she realised she was in the men’s room.
Cord pushed open a stall door, his face wrinkled with disgust, but he pulled her in anyway. “Don’t look.”