“I do seem to be blunter when I am around you,” Tegan agreed. She saw his smile in the moonlight, and they walked in silence again until they were at the greenhouses. “Are we allowed in here?” she asked as Cord once again held the door open.
“I am the Mark, haven’t you heard?” Cord replied as he followed her. He grinned as Tegan rolled her eyes. “But yes, I am a Castor of the Crimson Cast, I am allowed in here.”
“Okay,” Tegan said as she took a deep breath and looked around. “It’s so beautiful.”
“It is.”
She glanced at him and saw he was staring openly at her. “Is this how you woo your consorts?” she asked curiously.
Cord’s laugh was loud in the quiet serenity. “I’ve never wooed in my life, and consort? Really?” He shook his head as he moved past her, chuckling. “No, I have not led any females in here and had my wicked way with them.”
“Hmm.”
“I genuinely do need the flowers, and I thought a walk in the evening would suit you better than glaring like a gargoyle at the guests in the hall.”
“They are oblivious.”
“They are not, they just don’t want to admit their fear.” Cord plucked a few of the flowers carefully.
“Fear will kill them,” Tegan said as she watched his long, delicate fingers deftly twist the stems.
“Drakhyn will kill them before their fear ever renders them helpless,” he said distractedly. He looked over at her as he placed the flowers in a soft pouch. “You cannot be angry at everyone,” he chided.
“What if I am only angry at you?”
Cord grinned. “Well, that’s your normal reaction to me,” he said as he placed his pouch onto his belt loop. “I miss my robes,” he mused. “Pockets are so much handier.”
“Funny,” Tegan said with a roll of her eyes at his little pun.
“I wish Sloane hadn’t taught you that.” He saw her quizzical look as he spoke. “To roll your eyes.”
“Oh.” She bit her lip. “Um, I do not realise.”
“I know.”
They stood silently looking at each other before Cord realised the silence was completely unbearable. “I would court you.”
Tegan stared at him wide-eyed. “Why?”
“You are my…mate.” Cord said the word with distaste. “We are bonded, but you have a very low opinion of me, and I actually know nothing about you.” He paused as he watched her. “But I would like to.”
“It is possibly inevitable we will be with one another,” Tegan said as she lightly touched the petals of a flower. “Why do the cartwheels?”
Cord frowned at her terminology. “Jump through hoops,” he said in sudden understanding.
“Excuse me?”
“It’s not an order, little tiger. You meant why jump through hoops if we are only going to end up with each other anyway, not cartwheels.”
“Oh.” Tegan nodded, but Cord knew she didn’t care what terminology was used, the sentiment was the same thing to Tegan.
“Would you prefer I didn’t and just throw you on the floor and take your virtue?” Cord goaded and was pleased when she smiled and didn’t run for the door.
“I would actually,” she answered and then realised what she had said before she saw Cord’s look of surprise. “No. I don’t meanthat. I mean I would prefer to be doingsomething. Other thanwaiting.”
“You are thinking of me and you together in the same way you think of battle.” Cord knew he couldn’t keep his surprise from his voice.
Tegan spread her hands out in front of her as she shrugged. “It’s just a dance after all.”