“Cord?” Leonid laughed out loud. “Cord Ivanov? Never.”
“It seems there was an attack at the House of Ivanov, and several Akrhyn were killed during the attack.”
“Is Tegan hurt?” Leonid demanded.
“She was with the Castor.” Kateryna sighed. “Honestly, I was bored with the details. He is accused, and he was in hiding. When I arrived, there was some argument about his loyalties.” She stood and straightened her skirt. “The Castor appeared, and he asked your daughter to go with him.”
“Tell me she has not killed the Ivanov Heir,” Leonid asked with closed eyes.
“She went with him.”
Leonid’s eyes flew open in surprise. “What?”
“She took his hand, and they left.”
“No one stopped her?” Leonid shouted.
“Her father asked her not to go.” Kateryna couldn’t deny the pleasure she got from referring to Salem as Tegan’s father and seeing her husband flinch from it.
“Where is she? Who is looking for her?” Leonid was searching his travelling coat for his powders.
“It is my understanding that not long after I left—since you were not there—the Drakhyn attacked them.”
Leonid faced his wife. “Attacked who? In the name of shade’s wife, tell me the full story!”
“I left their Headquarters, as I did not know where you were. The Headquarters in Moscow had no record of you appearing in Russia. Ill things are afoot, my love, I called the Made home.”
Leonid sat down in stunned wonder. “You cleared Headquarters of their Vampyres?”
“I did. I am their queen; they answer to me.”
“You left the Akrhyn vulnerable?” Leonid’s voice was barely a whisper.
“They have trained soldiers.” Kateryna stood proudly in front of him.
“The Darkness is coming, my love.” Leonid shook his head. “Can you notfeelit? Is that not why you called me back?” Leonid dropped his head into his hands. “Is she hurt?”
“I do not know. After I called the entire Court home, the Drakhyn attacked within hours.” The tremble in her hands was slight, but her husband noticed it.
“Kateryna.” Leonid looked at her with dread in his heart. “Your actions…you have made us look responsible.”
“That’s not all…I spelled them.”
“What!”
“I cast the spell for them to forget.”
“All of them?” Leonid was more horrified than he thought possible.
“Yes.” Kateryna swallowed. “The whole northern territory.”
“By the Ancients, they will have your head.” Leonid stared unseeingly at the wall.
“I may have acted too carelessly,” Kateryna admitted quietly.
“Carelessly?” Leonid snorted. “I leave my charge of eighteen years, and within weeks of me leaving, the Ivanov House is targeted. The House of her mother. Then you turn up at Northern Headquarters, and within hours of you being there, you withdrawallVampyres and then the Headquarters is attacked?” Leonid began to pace the room. “Do you think they will think you arecareless, my love? Or that you are an agent of Darkness?”
“I am not, Leonid!” Kateryna protested hotly.