Page 67 of Ever Dark Academy: Vol. 1

Why did I leave him alone?

“I had an opportunity to let him think he’d won.” Grayson’s expression darkened. “But I wasn’t sure it was wise. Someone like that doesn’t stop because he thinks you’re weak. That might just inspire him.”

Again, Ryder felt a sickness inside of him at how Grayson understood his Master far more than Ryder had. King Daemon had seen it all too. Maybe it hadn’t taken an Immortal to figure out that Lawson was bad news. Maybe it just took someone with eyes to see.

At that moment, two of the Weryn Acolytes appeared with clothing for him and Demos. One handed Ryder leather pants, boots and a white, ribbed long-sleeved t-shirt while the other gave similar styled clothing to Demos, though he wore no shirt, just a long fur-lined leather coat.

“Pants. Finally,” Grayson breathed.

“That’s why you won’t look at us?” Ryder could not hide his relief.

Grayson flushed hotly. “You--you both must get used to being naked all the time.”

“It’s a hazard of being a Weryn Vampire. It’s Hell on clothes, too,” Demos said as he stroked his favorite jacket. The thing was that this was the fifth version of his favorite jacket that had gotten shredded in shifts over the years.

After Ryder had pulled on the pants and was sliding the shirt over his head, Grayson asked, “Why did you think I wasn’t looking at you?”

“Can you not guess, little one? From the guilt on his face, he fears you see us all as Lawson,” Demos answered as he shrugged on the long leather coat.

“What?! No, he’s not like you. Nothing like you.” Grayson’s eyes lingered on Ryder’s long legs before he was yanking his gaze back to the parade.

“I’m glad you don’t think so,” Ryder answered softly.

“Not just me. Eiji and Mairead knew you weren't either. That’s why they went and got you,” Grayson said, and there was this flash of almost bashful pride as he glanced down the line of people at those two other humans.

Mairead waved back and then said, “Aww! Eiji-sama, they put their pants on.”

“Young people.” Eiji just shook his head with amusement.

The old man had gone up to Ryder without any fear. More than that, he had spoken with the voice of command to let him know Grayson was in trouble and needed his assistance immediately. Ryder wondered what Eiji had done before deciding to become a Vampire. Whatever it was, he had Ryder’s respect. It had stopped any delay in them reaching Grayson.

“A woman saw me with Lawson. An Ashyr Vampire. I think she knew what I was doing to him,” Grayson said, frowning slightly.

“Which one?” Ryder asked, his gaze swinging out towards the crowd again.

They were all keeping their voices low. Eiji and Mairead were standing next to him, but the crowd was loud as they were excited for the next Bloodline and he doubted that human ears could hear them. He wasn’t sure how much they had seen themselves. They either had seen nothing or were just pretending they hadn’t.

“It’s the one keeping Balthazar suspended up there.” Grayson tipped his head towards the floating Eyros Vampire.

Ryder caught sight of the Ashyr Vampire near the other side of the fountain. She had long black, curling hair that fell to her mid-back. Huge, kohl-rimmed silver eyes were set in a golden-skinned face. He thought she might be Arabic. Those eyes were fixed on Grayson and only flickered to his for a moment. He felt a cold ball of dread form in his stomach.

“She knows,” Ryder stated. “She knows you did something at least.”

Did she think that Grayson was Ashyr reborn? The fact that Grayson had been greeted by several Immortals as if he were an old friend was already causing talk. The fact that he had single-handedly taken care of Lawson would as well. Those who hadn’t seen what Grayson had done would outwardly wonder. This Ashyr Vampire would know. She might think her Immortal had returned.

What if she’s right? What if Grayson is Ashyr reborn?

Ryder had given one reason to Demos why he didn’t want Grayson to be Ashyr, but the other reason was that he would lose Grayson’s company. The Ashyr would protect their Immortal. And considering that Lawson had already attacked Grayson… Well, he doubted he’d be allowed anywhere near the young man.

“At least, she’s too tied up with Balthazar to come over here and demand to know how a human can do what only her Bloodline can,” Demos muttered. His Blood Brother didn’t look all that happy at the idea of the Ashyr Vampires knowing about Grayson either.

“I don’t regret it,” Grayson said, tipping his chin up. “If the Ashyr have a problem with me being telekinetic without being part of their Bloodline so be it.”

Ryder met Demos’ eyes again. The young man had no idea that his ability might mark him as the founder of that Bloodline.

“Grayson, we might need to talk about that,” Ryder began.

But then there were screams from the far end of the road. People’s heads craned that way to see what was coming, but though there were more cries, most couldn’t see what the problem was until there were roars and snarls and howls!

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