Page 38 of Ever Dark Academy: Vol. 1

“You always look beautiful. Even if you were wearing a sack you would be beautiful,” Ryder said.

Grayson’s eyes widened and his lips parted. “Oh… that’s… uhm, thanks? I guess. I wouldn’t mind wearing some of what you’ve got going on.”

He pointed at Ryder’s coat. Ryder touched the buttery soft material. It was worn in just the right places. He imagined taking it off and sliding it onto Grayson. He imagined his scent mixed with Grayson’s. The young man being warmed by the remnants of his own heat.

Grayson said, “I really liked the one with the fur on the collar you had on before.”

“So did I.” Grayson sighed. “A victim of the shift. But I have others.”

“Yeah? Well, that’s cool. It looks good on you… even with a shirt,” Grayson remarked and quickly looked away.

Ryder’s eyes widened. “Well, I shall consider that next time I choose my outfit.”

Grayson ducked his head and looked up at him through dark lashes. The scent of arousal washed off of him. “Cool.”

The moment stretched. The twin moons played warm red and icy blue over the young man’s face. The urge to simply reach out and touch that gilded cheek. He could curve his hand along Grayson’s jaw and draw the young man to him. Those expressive lips would part--whether to object or to submit--would not matter as the pleasure of their first kiss would wash all of Grayson’s doubts away.

He was hungry. So very hungry. Grayson was here. So very here. They were alone. They were both wanting something. Why not satisfy his lust and thirst? Why resist this young man’s allure? He had done more for less.

Why does this feel familiar and yet so very dangerous? Ryder wondered.

But he knew why. His desire was not his own. It was the predator’s inside of him. Every Vampire knew that there was a thin line of control. And to cross that line was forbidden. Yet maybe he would just be skirting that line if he crushed Grayson to him and carried the young man back to his rooms. There he would lay the young man out on his bed in a room lit just by firelight and strip off these foolish clothes. Grayson would look well against the furs his bed was piled with. Those pewter eyes would go black with desire as Ryder drew his mouth all over that beautiful, exposed skin and then--

“I wish I was an Eyros,” Grayson said.

His words broke the spell that seemed to hang over Ryder. He blinked rapidly and looked away from the young man. “Oh, why?”

“Your expression went blank for a second there, but it was clear you were thinking something. Was it interesting?” Grayson asked.

“I was… just thinking about what I have to do tonight.” Ryder’s lips firmly shut over his very sharp and extended fangs.

“Huh.” It was clear that Grayson did not believe him.

“Come. We need to get you to the student living quarters.” Ryder turned and strode firmly away from the dangerous shop window.

They turned a corner into a larger, more palatial avenue than even the last one. At the end of the street were the student living quarters. It was a four-story rectangular building that stretched a whole city block. There was a wide set of stairs leading up to several brass and glass doors. Golden light spilled out from the atrium. Students and assistants were streaming into the building. There was excited talking and laughter. The smell of their blood came over Ryder in a wave, but, despite being hungry, he felt no desire for all those warm and willing humans.

“Whoa,” Grayson breathed.

Ryder turned around. Grayson had stopped again and that lush mouth was parted in surprise.

“My understanding is that you will have your own room, but it is a quad, meaning that you share the common living room, dining room and kitchen,” Ryder said.

“For a man who didn’t read the 500 page email attachment, you sure do know a lot about the dorm!” Grayson was smirking.

Ryder smiled. “I know as much of Nightvallen as it will allow me to know.”

“Allow you?”

“The Ever Dark is… not like Earth. It is alive somehow. I cannot explain it. The city changes,” Ryder said.

Grayson’s eyes widened. “That’s not been in the news.”

“No, many things have not,” Ryder replied dryly.

“They don’t know that, do they?” Grayson tilted his head towards the students.

“No, but they are here nonetheless. Some of them might even guess that we are hiding much from them, but they don’t turn away,” Ryder said with a grimace.

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