Page 58 of Into Darkness (Akrhyn 1)

“Well, I never would have guessed it,” Sloane appraised her sceptically.

“What?”

“That the fierce warrior was a hopeless romantic.”

“I’m not, I just think you are beingtoocynical.”

“Yeah yeah, come on lovergirl, let’s go see about my brother’s magical magic?”

“I don’t think you should call me lovergirl,” Tegan blushed.

“It does give the wrong impression, okay… cupid.” Sloane grinned with delight.

“What’s a cupid?” Tegan enquired as they got to Salem’s study.

“Are yousureLeonid taught you anything?” Sloane demanded as he pushed the door open without knocking.

“Do you know what knocking means?” Salem snapped as they walked in. Marcus was in his usual seat in front of him.

“What’s the fun in that?” Sloane answered as he took the other chair.

“It’s notfun, it’s called respect,” Salem grumbled at the young male.

“Sure,” Sloane nodded, ignoring both older male’s frowns. “We need to talk,” he said, his grin fading.

“About what?” Marcus asked.

“My brother.”

* * *

Tegan walkedaround the perimeter with Jasper for the third time, his smile had been widening each time she sighed and now he was just grinning fully.

“Stop grinning at me,” Tegan muttered.

“You’re being so dramatic… I can’t help it.”

“I’m not dramatic,” she retorted with a glare.

“Okay, you’re pining loudly.”

“I don’t seewhywe can’t go on the hunt tomorrow,” she glared into the darkness.

“Because you just got here, it would be considered favouritism if you got to go on a mission so soon,” Jasper watched her out of the corner of his eye, hoping she bought the practiced lie.

“Ridiculous,” Tegan muttered for what felt like the thousandth time. “Why don’t we go into the woods, make sure they aren’t out there watching?”

“Because our orders are to patrolinsidethe perimeter,” Jasper replied stoically. His response had been the same every time she asked.

“It makesnosense to be in here,” Tegan bit out.

“Relax, Sentinel, your superiors know what they are doing.” They walked in silence a few minutes, before Jasper broke the silence. “Your beau returned,” Jasper teased. Tegan immediately thought of Cord and half turned expecting to see his red robes. Jasper hooted with laughter. “You think Kai is going to come out here when you are on patrol?”

“Kai?” Tegan’s brain stumbled to keep up.

“You have more than one suitor?” Jasper asked with a gleam in his eye.

Tegan liked Jasper well enough for a male Akrhyn, he was a good Sentinel, but he had a tendency to know everyone’s business, agossip, Sloane called him. Which coming from Sloane was almost a hypocrisy, Tegan thought. “I didn’t know who you meant;beauis not a familiar term to me.”

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