“His wolf is strong,” Marcus told Tove as he stood back. “It won’t be long.”
“Good,” Tove said as she wiped her eyes. “He was so close to moving on,” she whispered.
“That wolf would never leave his wife and pups,” Marcus said as he headed for the door.
“Marcus, wait,” Tove called as she pulled him back. “Can you just, can we just...have one minute before anything else. Just us?”
Marcus pulled her into his arms and kissed her softly as he wrapped his arms around her. When he lifted his head, he smiled softly down at his companion for so long. “We have time,” he told her. “But first, I need to go find out what’s happening.”
“You are not to blame,” Tove said fiercely behind him.
“Has anyone else said that I am?” Marcus said as he pulled open the door.
“No, but I know you, Alpha,” she said as she walked past him, and he got to admire the sway of her hips as she led him to the other room where the Heirs lay.
Salem was in a chair between two beds. Cord paced restlessly at the foot of the bed that Tegan was in.
“Hey,” Marcus said as he walked into the room. Salem looked at him with such relief Marcus felt guilty, and he was sure Tove’s low warning growl was heard by the males in the room.
“It is good you are on your feet,” Cord said as he continued to pace.
“Are you well?” Marcus asked him as he crossed the room to check on the Heirs.
“No, I amnotwell. I am waiting for her to wake so I can throttle her,” Cord snapped.
Marcus looked at Salem, who looked away, and he turned to Tove with a raised eyebrow.
“Tegan did not call for aid until she had almost been killed or taken. They were ambushed by what seems a hundred Drakhyn, maybe more. They lost eleven Elite.”
“You are angry she did not call you sooner?” Marcus realised. “You have been angry since she was found?”
“Yes. I am furious she did not call me earlier, and now she takes days to recover.”
“How selfish of her,” Marcus said, dryly ignoring Tove’s warning look. “Cord, that takes a lot of energy to maintain that level of anger for so long.” Cord ignored him, and he decided it best to carry on. “Tegan is an Elite. Michael will be an Elite when he passes his final Trial.”
“Your observations are noted,” Cord snorted as he stood glaring at his bonded’s sleeping form.
“Cord.” Marcus’s voice held more sharpness, and the Castor looked at him, his frustration evident. “Tegan is anElite. The company on patrol were Elite. They do not call for aid, because they do not have Castors at their beck and call.” Marcus sat heavily on a spare chair, his own injuries weighing him down. “Her instincts are to fight or die trying.”
Cord glared at her sleeping form once more. “Die tryingis what I find to be unacceptable.” He resumed pacing.
Marcus sighed and looked at Salem, who seemed to be biting his tongue, but he had the feeling it was from him his Principal was keeping his retort back.
“What else did I miss?” Marcus asked as he met Tove’s look and felt the pressure easing when she smiled at him.
“Cornelius was convicted of treason and executed,” Salem said as he ran his hand over Michael’s arm. Marcus glanced at Cord, but Salem shook his head. “Council Elder Carnain carried out the execution.”
Marcus nodded. Council Elder Farsin had told him this, and he was glad to have it clarified. Cord was a formidable Castor, but he was still so young. The execution of his stepfather should not have been his duty to carry out.
“It is good that it is done,” Marcus said into the quiet. “The Made?”
“Still under the mountain,” Cord snarled as he resumed pacing. “Council Elder Alexander is being held there, according to Cornelius. Leonid is with Rorik and Lucas, they haven’t broken the spell.”
“Still?” Marcus frowned. “What are we missing?” he asked thoughtfully.
“Me,” Cord answered as he stopped and looked at Marcus. “They wait for me, but...”
“But Tegan has not yet woken,” Tove filled in quietly.