Into Darkness: The Akrhyn Series (Book 1)

by Eve L Mitchell

  “A few,” Tegan felt defensive and she didn’t know why. This was so frustrating. There was nothing wrong with her clothes – she was hardly naked! But the way they were looking at her, she felt exposed.

  “Limited,” Leonid admitted with a look of resignation to both males. “Tegan, you will wear your fatigues to train in from now on.” Leonid’s tone was firm, Tegan went to argue but one look at her father’s face and she remained quiet.

  “We have training clothes that we can give you, Tegan, they are comfortable and allow movement without being too heavy like your fatigues,” Michael offered. “Some days you just want to be comfortable.” Again, the easy smile and Tegan felt her discomfort lessen.

  “Thank you,” she murmured.

  “Have you eaten?” Leonid asked.

  “Not yet, father,” Tegan glanced at Sloane before she said, “Will you be feeding me this morning?” Sloane froze as he looked at her with wide eyes.

  “Excuse me?” Leonid was frozen for a different reason.

  “Last night, my cousin asked if you fed me your blood,” Tegan explained. She felt strangely satisfied as Leonid turned to her cousin with a look of contempt.

  “How disappointing,” Leonid replied coolly. “Come, we will see if the cook is awake and able to feed us both.” He walked from the room, and Tegan feeling remorse for making fun of her cousin, looked over her shoulder at the two males. Sloane was staring after her, still seemingly speechless, while Michael was grinning openly at his friend’s discomfort.

  “Tegan, wait,” Michael called as she turned away. He hurried up to her and handed her Sloane’s t-shirt. “Please?” he asked quietly.

  “Of course, I apologise if I brought you shame.”

  “No, Tegan, you didn’t. You are new to Headquarters and being around so many people. You’ll learn,” Michael nudged her again with his shoulder like he had the night before, “and we can help you.” They heard Sloane snort behind them, and Michael rolled his eyes at her.

  “Come, cousin,” Tegan called. “I’ll let you share my breakfast.”

  Sloane walked slowly across the room. “I’m eating half,” he huffed with a glare but then he winked as he passed her. Smiling, Tegan and Michael followed after him and her father. She heard her father ask Sloane if he was planning on putting some clothes on and envied Sloane’s easy laugh in reply.

  There were more people around now, walking through the halls, Tegan commented to Michael that when she had gone to the training room this morning there had been no Sentinels in the halls.

  Michael frowned but didn’t comment, he was conscious of the stares they were receiving. Headquarters were the main place of business for the northern territory, with San Diego covering the southern territory. There were always people visiting, Sentinels being trained before undertaking their Trials for Advancement. The turnover of people was constant, with only a few being permanent residents. Still, with the continuous turnover of guests there was only ever around thirty people at a time. However, as he walked to the kitchen with his new sister beside him, following behind a Vampyre, Michael felt the heavy curiosity of the Sentinels and staff as they passed.

  Tegan looked so much like his father and himself, he knew the speculation would only escalate until his father addressed it. Michael frowned again, they needed to speak to Zahra before the rumours reached her. His sister should not find out from someone else, especially about the affair and he knew she would struggle with this revelation. With his resolve hardening, despite wanting to know more about this new sister, Michael turned to Tegan. “Can you excuse me? I need to speak to dad about something urgently.”

  Tegan looked into eyes the identical colour as her own and nodded. “She needs to know soon. Go,” she said to him softly.

  Michael exhaled, not at all surprised that Tegan knew where his thoughts were. They seemed to be in sync already. Now that the initial shock over finding out who she was had passed, he felt comfortable around her. It was almost as if he had missed her absence, which considering that he hadn’t known about her until last night, shook him at how her being here with him just felt right. “She does, thank you.” He took Tegan’s hand, squeezing it in thanks before he left the group and headed to his father’s study.

  “Are you okay?” Leonid enquired softly. Tegan knew her father had heard their exchange and walked forward until she was alongside him. Sloane had looked over his shoulder and frowned when he noticed Michael’s absence but said nothing.

  “Yes, he needs to talk to his father,” Tegan answered softly.

  “He does,” Leonid agreed as he led them into the kitchen.

  “No one comes into my kitchen before breakfast unless they’re volunteering to serve!” Blythe bellowed from the stove, without turning to see who had entered. She looked to be making the biggest pot of scrambled eggs Tegan had ever seen.

  “I can serve,” Tegan offered. “If I can go into the parlour for a light snack?”

  “Out!” Blythe shouted, turning to them all, although she seemed slightly unsure of Leonid.

  “Quiet with your bellowing, woman. My daughter needs to eat,” Leonid strode forward into the pantry and disappeared. Tegan looked at Sloane and then the cook before shrugging in self-defence.

  Blythe squawked before abandoning her eggs, following Leonid hurriedly into her pantry. Tegan heard their voices and watched in silent wonder as Sloane wandered over to the stove, her eyes continually flicking to the pantry for Cook’s reappearance. Sloane grinned at her as he scooped a ladle of eggs onto two plates and grabbed two forks. Tegan hesitated for a moment and then reached out for a plate, before they both made a hasty exit from the kitchen.

  Leonid found them tucked under a stairwell, eating eggs with gusto, Sloane still completely at ease shirtless. Leonid handed them both bowls of fruit and then two bottles of water. “I wouldn’t recommend returning the plates personally,” he commented drily. “Although, it was Sloane’s name she was cursing.” Leonid winced as he recalled the cook’s shrill shrieking. “How long has she been here? She seems ill-suited to her role.”

  “Blythe’s been here ever since I have,” Sloane answered around a mouthful of eggs. “She hates cooking, but she’s damn good at it.” Tegan nodded in agreement as she ate hungrily.

  “Will you be ready for weapons training?” Leonid asked sceptically as he watched Tegan turn to her bowl to eat her fruit.

  “I thought I may take Tegan for a walk around the grounds.”

  Leonid turned to appraise Salem quietly. He had heard him approach but didn’t want to put his daughter off her food. He knew she was still uneasy around him, despite having slipped into an easy camaraderie with her cousin and even it seemed, her brother. “Tegan trains until eight with weapons,” Leonid reminded him. Salem had heard Tegan describe her usual day like everyone else last night.

  “And she is an Elite Sentinel, I am sure a walk around the grounds to familiarise herself with what she is actually defending may be more beneficial.” Salem’s voice held no room for argument. The tone he used talking to Leonid wasn’t the unaware father of last night, but the Principal Elder of Headquarters.

  “As you wish, Principal,” Leonid bowed mockingly before turning to Tegan. “At reflection tonight.” Leonid reached out, caressing the side of her face before turning and walking away from them.

  “Sloane, did you steal food from Blythe? Again?” Salem just seemed to notice the bowls in their hands and the plates at their feet.

  “She gave them to us,” Sloane answered as he bit into a slice of apple.

  Salem closed his eyes before regarding them both, he caught the eye of a passing Sentinel. “Take these plates back to the kitchen for me and extend my apologies to Cook, please. Let her know I am dealing with the culprits.” The Sentinel had paled when he had received his instructions but did not want to argue with his Principal Elder.

  “Principal,” he scooped up the plates and headed to the kitchen, although he didn’t seem to be in any hurry.<
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  “I was still eating,” Sloane mumbled as he stood.

  “Come, both of you, before I send you both back to her,” Salem didn’t wait for them to follow. “And, Sloane, you can tell me why you aren’t wearing a shirt.”

  “I have it.” Tegan defended Sloane who was strolling along, unabashed at the looks he was receiving.

  “And why are you wearing his clothes?” Salem immediately held a hand up. “Wait,” he sighed and closed his eyes briefly. “Sloane, do I want to know?”

  “Her training clothes are sculpted to her; she was giving Kai and Darus an eyeful and it just wasn’t right.”

  “But yet you are shirtless, and no one complains!” Tegan argued grumpily as Sloane only laughed at her.

  “I’m complaining,” Salem reminded them both. “Go get dressed like a Sentinel who is two weeks from his Trials and not some green novice,” Salem turned away from him and motioned for Tegan to follow. “We will proceed with the tour of my Headquarters. Marcus is waiting for us.” Salem glanced behind him. “Now, Sentinel!” he barked at Sloane who turned and headed for the staircase. “Sometimes I wonder if he is too old for a good old-fashioned spanking,” Salem muttered.

  Tegan let out a surprised laugh. “Like a child? Over your knee?”

  “Act like a child, be treated like a child,” Salem smiled at her easily. “How was your sleep?”

  “It was good, the pillows were so comfortable.” Despite her ease of a moment ago, Tegan felt guarded around the Principal Elder.

  “Michael has left to go visit Zahra,” he informed her quietly. “Sloane will actually be annoyed he is missing the visit. She may need him.” Salem looked straight ahead as he spoke, but Tegan noticed the tightening around his eyes and mouth.

  “You will not go?” Tegan enquired softly.

  “Trust me,” he flashed her a grim smile, “Zahra will be here long before I am prepared to see her.”

  “Why would Sloane be annoyed? Is she at another Headquarters? Or one of the Territories?”

  “No, I’m surprised Leonid never told you, this will amuse him greatly.” Salem scowled as he thought of the Vampyre. “Zahra attends a human school.”

  Tegan felt her eyes widen in surprise. “Oh. I did not realise that she guarded a human,” she tilted her head to the side as she considered it. “Is this human very important?” It was unusual for Sentinels to guard humans. Humans were widely left on their own, unless a Drakyhn hunted them or another supernatural.

  “Zahra does not guard a human,” Salem nodded in greeting to Marcus as he joined them and the three headed along the halls. “She studies at a human school. Zahra chooses to live as one of them.”

  Tegan knew her steps had slowed as she looked at the two older males. “I don’t understand? How does she train to study for Trials?”

  “Zahra does not live as a Sentinel in training, she does not wish for this life,” Salem looked pained as he explained.

  “At all?” Tegan could hear the shock in her voice as she stared in wonder at Salem.

  “At all,” Salem confirmed.

  “Although, she has consented to one tradition,” Marcus offered, and Salem cast a hard glare at his companion before he looked hurriedly away.

  “Which is?” Tegan asked curiously.

  “The betrothal ceremony. Zahra is to be bound,” Marcus supplied ignoring Salem’s grimace.

  “I did not expect that,” Tegan looked at Salem searchingly. “After your own… experience.” She hesitated when she saw the wince of pain from the Principal, “I did not think that the tradition was something you would advocate.”

  “We follow tradition, my own experience as you call it, is the reason why I felt it was a good idea,” Salem sighed. “And Zahra’s partner is of good family and is dear to me,” he added ruefully.

  “Sloane?” Tegan asked in disbelief as she realised who it could be. “You matched your daughter with Sloane?” Her disbelieving laugh echoed in the hall. “Cornelius was agreeable to this?”

  “He was, it was his suggestion,” Salem knew what Tegan was thinking. Cornelius hated Salem because of what happened to his sister, but the Great Council had agreed with Cornelius that the betrothal ceremony between Salem’s daughter and Cornelius’s son, would heal any lingering rift between their Headquarters and an answering Territory.

  “It is hard to imagine Sloane as agreeable to a betrothal ceremony, he does not seem the type,” Tegan looked over her shoulder as if the male would appear behind her.

  “It is an interesting pair,” Salem admitted. He often wondered at the two of them himself and worried he was repeating the mistakes of his own past.

  “I thought Sloane wanted to do his Trials?” Tegan was still perplexed. Having just met her cousin, she was quite sure a betrothal ceremony was not what he would want. He seemed carefree and focused on his training. How could he be a Sentinel if his partner wanted nothing to do with their way of life?

  “He does and he will, he will be an asset to the Elite Sentinels,” Salem sighed heavily, knowing exactly what Tegan was not saying. “Come, I have much to show you, but first, perhaps you should fetch your coat, it will snow again soon,” he indicated to himself and Marcus, “we will wait here for you.”

  Tegan realised she was still in Sloane’s t-shirt and her yoga pants. “I’ll be a few moments only.”

  Marcus and Salem watched her walk hurriedly away. “You could have kept that information to yourself for a while longer, no?” Salem asked Marcus softly.

  “When Cornelius realises who she is and her potential, he will not care about the fact she and Sloane are cousins, he will want to change the betrothal. Best tell her now, so she can tell Leonid. He may be going to the back end of Siberia to the Vampyre Council, but I doubt even his duty to his Council would make him go if he thought she was in peril of being put into Cornelius’s house.”

  Salem rubbed his chin as he thought about it. “You think I would allow him to break Zahra’s betrothal?”

  “Zahra would advocate for it,” Marcus replied softly. “She does not want this life although Sloane is the only Sentinel that I know who would allow her to continue to live apart. Any other Sentinel will expect her to conform.”

  “So… you’re protecting both my daughters?” Salem asked hesitantly.

  “I will always protect your house,” Marcus answered softly.

  “I know, old friend,” Salem answered quietly. His attention was taken by Tegan as she appeared at the top of the staircase. She had fatigues on, her travelling coat from last night and her boots. “I never knew,” he whispered as he watched her fasten her coat and pull her hood up as she descended the stairs. “She looks so much like Celeste…”

  “You didn’t and she does,” Marcus agreed. “But now you do know, because she looks so much like you. They’re going to come from everywhere for her. She must be protected, the Great Council obviously think so too, for them to post her here.”

  “She will be safe here,” Salem replied with firm resolve. “I will not repeat the mistakes I made with Celeste.” He turned to his daughter as Tegan walked up to them both. “You were fast, are you ready?” Salem enquired.

  “Yes, Principal,” Tegan patted her coat. “I am ready to learn my post and how I can serve here.”

  Salem nodded and led her and Marcus out onto the grounds of the Headquarters. “Good, first you can show us both how you got in last night.”

  Tegan blanched but squaring her shoulders she led them to the fence where she came over the night before. It was her duty as an Elite Sentinel to identify weakness – and more importantly, correct it – she reminded herself as the two Akrhyns followed her out into the snow.

  Tegan, Marcus and Salem had spent many hours outside of the Headquarters. After Tegan had shown them both how she and her father had penetrated the grounds the night before, Marcus had walked her through the patrol for the estate. He spoke freely and easily and encouraged Tegan to ask questions or point out weaknesses. Her first com
ment had been the lack of Sentinels in Headquarters that morning, especially with a breach the night before.

  Once she had voiced that, the two of them spoke easily. Marcus was not afraid of criticism of the security and Tegan had no reservations of telling him where improvements could be made. Salem walked alongside them both, listening and observing. Mid-morning, Sloane joined them, but he was quiet as he too, watched on. The two of them began to fall back as Marcus and Tegan walked on, debating the merits of tree felling. Tegan wanted the trees thinned out to prevent an entry like she had done the night before, Marcus was arguing that the trees offered protection from humans and all they needed was a stronger spell. Tegan had instantly dismissed the spells and Salem noted she had Leonid’s prejudices against Castors.

  “She’s passionate,” Sloane commented softly.

  “She is,” Salem agreed.

  “She reminds me so much of Michael it’s quite scary,” Sloane admitted. “By Delfar she even looks exactly like him.”

  “Do you think so?” Salem asked softly. “She looks exactly like her mother.”

  “I see no resemblance to me or my father,” Sloane carried on. “There was no mention when I was younger that my aunt had been pregnant, Salem.”

  “I know, they kept it hidden from all of us. They would think that with her death there was no need to besmirch her name. Her reputation was already tainted because of me.” Salem felt his anger rising at the secret.

  “Cornelius is going to be delighted when he finds out she lived,” Sloane frowned. “But he is going to be difficult.”

  Salem smirked as he looked at the young male beside him. “I’m aware of how difficult your father can be.”

  “We need to test her,” Sloane glanced ahead to make sure that Marcus and Tegan were still fully engaged with each other.

  “You think she isn’t my daughter?” Salem scoffed sceptically, ready to tell the younger Sentinel that there was no doubt in him at all.

  “No, that’s obvious, a blind Drakhyn could see that, but we need to test her to make sure at the upcoming Winter Event that she can represent your house.”