His eyes flashed to hers and held. “I would ask that you don’t share that.”
“I owe you nothing; you held me captive for five days. I willingly came with you, and you treated me like a captive.” Tegan rubbed her arms against the cold. “Why would I protect your secrets?”
“Six days,” Cord corrected her. “It was six days.”
It was?Tegan bit her tongue from lashing out at the Castor. She knew by now that losing her temper with the male made no difference…to him. “Why?”
“I told you, I needed to protect you.”
“You haven’t told me why. You haven’t told me why I should not share your secret!” Tegan took a deep breath to control her emotions. “Tell me why I would protect you, Castor?”
“Because I protected you.” His voice was a whisper over the space between them. His eyes met hers. Stormy grey met indigo blue, and Tegan felt the tug of the bond. She fought herself from taking a step forward. “Youmustbe careful, little tiger.”
“I will be,” Tegan said as she watched him with a sense of trepidation. His eyes ran over her once, and then his lip curled in a smirk, and with a nod, he portalled out of the woods.
After he had gone, Tegan’s shoulders slumped for a moment before she straightened them and looked around and then down at herself.He couldn’t at least give me a coat?she thought to herself bitterly. As she considered her training fatigues and surmised they would have to do, Tegan took a moment before she tilted her head up to look at the sky. Heavy cloud cover hid the sun from her, and Tegan began to call the Castor some choice words in her head. She had no idea where she was. Looking around at the trees covered in snow, Tegan made her way over to the densely packed trees and looked closely where moss was heavy on one side of the tree base, and as she inspected more of the trees, she knew which way was north.
Cord was arrogant and taciturn, but he wouldn’t leave her too far from the Headquarters, especially without the proper outdoor clothing.Would he?Being careful of her surroundings, Tegan headed west. It was a long walk, and despite being active, Tegan was freezing by the time she saw the lights of the Headquarters beckoning her onwards.
“Stop.”
Tegan halted as she heard the command from behind her.
“Raise your hands,” came the barked command.
“Okay, but you should know me as a Sentinel,” Tegan told him as she raised her hands in the air. “I have no weapon, and I am cold. Can we do this inside?”
The snow crunched underfoot as the Sentinel walked around her. His uniform hood was pulled over his head, shielding his face. “Elite Sentinel Tegan?”
“Yes, Sentinel…?” Tegan dropped her arms.
The Sentinel pushed his hood back. “Sentinel Hendry.” He looked around wildly. “Are you alone?”
“Yes.” Tegan forced a smile. “Can I go in now?” She started to walk to the entrance again.
“No.”
“No?” Turning to the Sentinel, Tegan gave him a questioning look.
“The Principal is not there, Elite Sentinel Tegan.” Sentinel Hendry looked up at the Headquarters. “Everyone has evacuated.”
“Evacuated?” Tegan balked. “Why?”
“The attack.”
“Whatattack?” Tegan snapped, moving closer to the Sentinel. “Tell me everything.”
“Drakhyn attack. They came at us like…like…” he trailed off. “Like an army.” His voice dropped, and he looked around again.
“When?”
“Five days ago, Elite Sentinel—”
“Call me Tegan,” Tegan cut him off abruptly. “Who was hurt? How many were taken?” She started walking again to the Headquarters. Hendry grabbed her arm and stopped her.
“Tegan, there is no one there.” He looked at her desperately.
“No one?” Tegan stopped to look at him.