Tegan felt herself wince at the harshness of his words. “The Ancient cannot help you?”
Cord gave a disgruntled huff as he continued to look at her. “No.”
“Have you asked?” Tegan pressed.
“Yes.”
“So, you can talk to him?” Tegan took a step forward in excitement. “Actuallytalkto him?”
Cord nodded once and didn’t elaborate. He didn’t want to tell her. He didn’t want to tell her that it wasbecauseof Cord that she was mated to him.
“I need to take you back,” Cord reminded her.
“Why now?” Tegan asked him again.
“You were in danger.” Cord shrugged. “Now you’re not.”
“I’m an Elite Sentinel,” Tegan answered him. “I will always be in danger so long as there are Drakhyn out there.”
“This was a different level of danger.” Cord inspected his hands as he spoke to her.
“Different?” Tegan watched him. She wasn’t convinced. The Castor wouldn’t look her in the eye, and although she didn’t know Cord well, sheknewhis arrogance. He was bold. He had absolutely no problem meeting people’s eyes when he spoke to them. He always had a challenging stare for anyone he spoke to. The Castor wouldn’t meet her eyes, and because of that, she knew he wasn’t telling her the truth. “Why are you lying to me?”
His head snapped up as he looked at her, and that corner of his mouth hooked up again. “I knew I wouldn’t fool you,” he grumbled as he ran a hand through his hair. “That cursed bond.”
“It has nothing to do with the bond, it’syou.” Tegan’s frustration was coming through.
“It’s the bond,” Cord snorted derisively.
“Whatwas the danger? Tell me now, or I swear to the Ancients, I will punch you so hard.” Tegan felt her temper rising as she looked at him. She tore her gaze away from him in the hopes of trying to calm down, and realisation hit her. “You removed the breakables from the room so I couldn’t throw them at you. Are you serious? I don’t need tothrowthings at you to hurt you.”
“They needed changing, and you were hoarding the food trays. Others need them.”
“You lie. Again.” Tegan shook her head in derision. “Where am I? Why am I here? And why are you taking me back now?” Her arms folded over her chest, and she waited.
“You want to stay longer?” Cord demanded. “I have absolutely no issue with locking you in here and leaving you. In fact, I would prefer it.”
“You wouldn’t dare!” Tegan’s voice rose as she glared at him.
“I already did, little tiger,” Cord sneered at her. “I don’t answer to you, and I don’t need to tell you anything.” He strode over to her and grabbed her arm. “Now stop talking, I’m taking you back.”
Tegan wrenched her arm away from him, but it was too late. He had already portalled them to the woods.
“Go,” Cord said as he looked out over the trees. “Go now, before this damn bond makes me take you again.”
“You took me for the bond?” Tegan asked him curiously, but her feet were already moving away from him.
“You were in danger, I knew it. You’re so ridiculously fearless, and I knew I couldn’t be with you.” Cord ground his teeth together. “Even now, my instincts are telling me to take you back.” His hands clenched into fists. “By Brindlelay’s grace,go,Tegan.”
“Will you be okay?” her voice was a whisper in the silent woods.
Cord barked out a laugh as he raised his eyes to look at her. “I will be fine, little tiger.”
“I will be questioned.”
“You have nothing to tell.” Cord dismissed her.
“I know about the Mark.”