Tegan turned to look at Tove. “You bring shame to your kind and your teachings.” Tegan’s voice was low but rang out in the quiet morning. “Leonid would be ashamed of you.Iam ashamed of you. Do not call me sister again.”
Tove looked at her with sorrow before she dipped her head in sadness and anger. “You do not know what he has done.”
“Neither do you,” Tegan countered. “So hell-bent on threatening him, you have never stopped to ask for an explanation.” Tegan looked around at the gathered Sentinels and Lycan. “And after today? You do not deserve one.” Tegan looked over at the Lycan and recognised Sentinel Hendry amongst them. “Sentinel Hendry, I have your coat.” She took it off and watched as the young Sentinel walked hesitantly forward. “Have you been stationed with the Lycan long?”
“Just since the attack, Elite Sentinel Tegan.”
Tegan looked at all the Lycan. “I suggest one of you and Sentinel Hendry talk to Principal Elder Salem and Commander Bryce.”
“Are you going to order me too, Tegan?” Tove scoffed as she watched the younger female command those around her.
“No,” Salem answered. “You will be held until the Great Council can judge you.”
“You would hold me against my will?” Tove asked mockingly. “You have no authority over me.”
“But he does, Lycan. You are in his territory, and you attacked his guard.” Sloane glared at the Lycan female.
“And your alpha commands you to stay,” Marcus’s voice said from behind them all. Cord offered him support as the alpha limped forward, holding on to the Castor’s arm. “You try not to, but you still live by the old ways, Tove, and Iamyour alpha. You will remain here until the Great Council arrive, and you will be judged for the harm you have caused here today.”
“I harmed no one,” Tove snarled, her hate-filled glare levelled at Cord.
“You ordered Lycan to rise against Sentinel,” Marcus snapped. “They have just fought an army,an army, Tove, of Drakhyn.” Marcus gestured to the ground littered with Drakhyn. “And youattackedthem?”
“Marcus,” Tove pleaded with a look to the Castor. “He iskillingus.”
“No,” Marcus said with a long look to Cord. “He is not.”
“What?” Tove looked confused. “He told you?”
“No. The pack did.”
“We should go inside.” Salem rubbed his forehead. “We have so much to fix, to discuss.” He gave a mirthless laugh. “Harrian knows, I need to sleep.”
“Yes.” Sloane’s shoulders slumped in exhaustion. “Let us burn these and gather the fallen.”
“I can burn them,” Lucas told the group. “The Akrhyn that I took from here are healed and eager to come back to start the clean-up.”
“Thank you, Prime Castor Chernov,” Salem said gratefully. “Your aid today has been invaluable.”
Lucas said nothing, but his glance to Cord had the young Crimson Castor smirk. Salem began to order his Sentinels into units and then ordered them to work. He passed Tegan once and squeezed her arm in passing as he went to Lucas to enquire about Michael.
Tegan stood beside Sloane, watching Tove. The she-wolf watched Marcus warily, and Tegan knew they were communicating through the Lycan link an alpha had with his pack. It was rare that an alpha could do it when they were in their Lycan form, but it seemed Marcus was more than a normal alpha.
“Salem, I would ask that Tove Dalgaard be placed in the rooms next to mine as we wait for the Great Council.” Marcus’s voice was steady. “She will wait. She will not break her word.”
“Very well.” Salem nodded tersely, his trust in his Second evident in his decision. “You are not to engage with my daughter. You will not even look at her, do you understand me?”
Tove’s head was lowered, but she nodded in acceptance. Marcus took her arm and led her back to the Headquarters, and the Lycan that had come with Tove fell in behind.
“Tegan, come. Sloane,” Salem instructed. “Cord, you too.”
“So popular,” Cord muttered.
“Do not push me, Castor, I am barely controlling myself from punching you as it is,” Salem bit out angrily as he strode away from them.
In the aftermath of such a violent and heavy morning, Sloane’s snort of laughter was welcome. Tegan also found herself grinning as she watched the Principal Elder march away, calling out commands as he restored order to his Headquarters.
“Brother,” Cord said as he looked at Sloane. “You are not injured?”