Sloane let out a burst of laughter. “I am sad, brother. She was to be my wife.”
“You say was.” Cord leaned forward. “You wish for the betrothal to be dissolved?”
“I don’t know,” Sloane said with a long sigh. “We never really fit, but I thought it would come with time.”
“You’re an idiot.” Cord stood.
“Thanks. And now I cannot ask for the betrothal to be broken, because of what she has been through. It would make me a monster.”
“So instead of telling the truth, that you have been regretting the betrothal for some time, you are now going to pursue something you do not want, in case the truth makes you look like a heartless Drakhyn?” Cord asked, his eyes narrowed as he considered his younger brother.
“It’s more complicated than that...but, yes?”
“You are more of an idiot than I thought.” Cord strode to the door. “Do not tell anyone your thoughts. I will fix this.”
“Cord!” Sloane called after him, but his brother was already gone.
Cord walked outside, he knew he could portal to her, but he wanted a chance to breathe first. His conscience gave a twinge at what he had said to Zahra. Yes, he had been harsh with her.Too harsh?He wasn’t sure. His little tiger would remove his head from his shoulders if he had spoken to her like that. He grinned at the thought of it, his smile fading as he thought she may do so anyway for saying it to her sister. However, Cord was sure of something: Zahra had been through a horrible experience, but she was still the manipulative little shrew she had always been.
He knew it when she glared at him as she took comfort from her father. She had waited eagerly for Michael to strike him, obviously not knowing what Cord had done. Cord didn’t want her to know. He had hunted the Drakhyn to avenge her and the other fallen, but as he had always known, Zahra wasn’t worth wasting words on, and she most definitely wasnotgoing to marry his brother. Sloane deserved so much more, and if she could not see that, then that made her even more unworthy.
Cord saw that Tegan’s patrol partner had spotted him. He was hard to miss as he strode across the snow in his crimson robes, even with his hood pulled low. The Elite Sentinel nudged Tegan, and she looked up as Cord came closer. Cord didn’t hear what the Elite said to Tegan, but he was suddenly walking back the way they had come, away from them, leaving her alone.
“Little tiger,” Cord greeted her, slowing as he got closer.
“Castor.” Tegan looked after the Elite Sentinel who had left her.
“Jasper?” Cord guessed.
“Yes, he still has ill feelings towards you.” Tegan ran her eyes over him before she resumed walking. “You are well?”
“I am,” Cord glanced at her. “Sorry for that.”
Tegan looked at him curiously. “Why? You were unwell. They told me you fought with honour.”
Cord gave a wry chuckle. “Would you be disappointed if I fought with dishonour but got the same results?”
Tegan glanced at him and then looked around them. “Defeating the Drakhyn is defeating the Drakhyn, no matter by what means.”
Cord looked at her in delight. “That was a surprise.”
“Do not tell,” Tegan whispered sheepishly as she resumed walking.
“Never,” Cord promised with a smile, glad that it was hidden by his hood.
“Have they seen it?” Tegan asked quietly.
“My Prime has.” Cord nodded as he knew what she meant. “They will keep it secret.”
“They?”
“Dark Cast Prime Lucas has too.” Cord straightened subconsciously, uncomfortable at admitting it.
“They are both good Akrhyn,” Tegan said solemnly. “My father respected them both.”
“Has there been word of Leonid?” Cord asked her carefully. Why hadn’t he asked anyone about this? He cursed himself internally for being a fool.
“Nothing.” Tegan reached for her sword on her back as if reassuring herself that it was there. “When Kateryna was here, she ordered all the Vampyre Elite to search for him.”