“Don’t,” Tegan said again. “It is not here.”
“You know me well, tiger,” the Drakhyn beamed at her.
“I know you not at all,” Tegan replied. “What I know is that you are a trickster and a coward.”
“A trickster? Like your Mark of Velvore,” the Drakhyn sneered.
Tegan ignored the rumblings from the Sentinels. “Cord Lebedev does not need to fake an illusion, and he is no coward.”
“I will destroy him.”
“You will try,” Tegan replied smoothly. “And you will fail.”
The Drakhyn laughed, and Tegan heard a few of the whispered prayers from the Elite. “You are so angry, tiger, I am impatient to claim you.”
“You will not touch her,” Michael said, his voice strong and sure. “You will die first.”
“The incompetent Heir, or are you a Raven? I see just a flightless bird.” The Drakhyn’s black eyes considered Michael thoughtfully. “You are not ready for me, child.”
“Why are you here?” Tegan asked as her hand rested on her brother’s arm to calm him. “You present yourself as an illusion, so you are not here.” She looked around the hall. “But I think you are close. You are not the Crimson Castor Cord Lebedev.” She smiled mockingly at the Drakhyn. “You do not have the power to project your image too far.”
“I haveallthe power,” the Drakhyn screamed as it leaned forward on the wooden bannister, its shoulders bunched with tension and anger.
“You are a shadow,” Tegan baited it. “If you are so powerful, come now, come and try to take me,” she challenged. She watched the Drakhyn fight its rage as the image flickered slightly, and she squeezed her brother’s hand in caution, letting him know she wasn’t being reckless.
The Drakhyn stood back from the railing, flexing its neck as it did so, its smooth bald hairless head stretching from side to side as it visibly forced itself to calm down. Tegan felt her mouth dry when she saw the shadow grow longer beside it. Her eyes widened slightly as she saw the Darkness form, become corporeal. She daren’t look away as the haggard face came clearly into view. The black velvet robes hung loose on a frail body. Dirty long grey hair hung limp alongside hollow cheeks. But it was its eyes that caused Tegan to feel fear. Black soulless eyes met hers, and she forced herself to not step back.
“You see it,” the Drakhyn hissed in excitement as it looked to its right and to Tegan. “Tiger, tell me what you see.”
“I see your death,” Tegan said quietly into the deadly silence.
The figure beside the Drakhyn smiled widely, broken blackened teeth showing before suddenly both were gone.
“What in the name of shade was that?” Michael asked hoarsely. “What in Brindlelay’s name did yousee?”
Tegan turned to the front door. “Get ready, they come.”
* * *
Cord sat and listened to the questions that Council Elder Warren asked his stepfather. He fought the yawn. Contrary to popular belief, Cord was not interested in dramatics or theatrics. He liked to get things done, and he liked efficiency. At the moment as he sat in a slightly elevated chair, given his “Mark” status, he was witnessing neither efficiency or anything seemingly being “done.” He looked at Salem out of the corner of his eye and felt a twinge of guilt that the Principal Elder looked entirely focused. Adjusting slightly in his seat, he caught his brother’s eye and quickly stifled his grin. Sloane was completely glazed over and quite possibly sleeping with his eyes open.
“And how long did you keep House Akrhyn Ian in your employ?” Council Elder Warren asked.
“Years,” Cornelius replied with a shrug.
“And he was a Lycan, yes?”
“Yes,” Cornelius nodded as he spoke, his face serious.
Cord fought another yawn. House Akrhyn Ian was a Lycan that didn’t shift. He remained in his Akrhyn form at all times and renounced all packs. If this was their best shot at showing Cornelius liked Lycans, they were in for a short time of it. He desperately wanted to interrupt, he wanted to cut across all this Drakhyn droppings and demand where Council Elder Anika was and ask if his stepfather had lost his damned mind completely. However, before they had walked into the room that was to house the inquiry, Salem had told both he and Sloane they could not speak out, as their relationship with Cornelius would taint any testimony or objection they may have had.
Cord fought his frustration and turned his attention to the Three. They sat demurely and quietly. Neither one of them had moved since they took their seats, their heads hadn’t lifted, and he wondered for what seemed like the tenth time if they were awake.
Was anyone awake? He looked around the room. The only Akrhyn who looked alert was Salem.
“And House Akrhyn Be—”
“Oh for the love of all that is Ancient and holy, please will you stop?” Cord blurted out as he stood, startling many in their seats with his outburst. Council Elder Warren turned to look at Cord, his eyes wide at the interruption.