Page 15 of Ever Dark Academy: Vol. 3
Ryder quickly looked away. Grayson could see his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed hard. Grayson reached up and touched his cheek, turning Ryder’s face towards him.
“I need you to forget what I said yesterday about this all being casual. I said those things, because--”
“Because we didn’t know one another and you didn’t feel--”
“No, I did feel something. I felt something from the moment I saw you. But I was so scarred and scared that I pushed you away first so you couldn’t push me,” Grayson explained.
It was so painfully obvious what he had been doing then. But to Ryder it must have seemed as if Grayson wouldn’t have chosen him again but for the memories.
“So it wasn’t a one-time thing?” Ryder asked. “You liking me?”
There was a grin on his handsome face.
“No, evidently not.” Grayson grinned.
“Just yesterday you didn’t know who you were. But today…” Ryder shook his head. “Not only do you know, but you welcome it. No angst. No apprehension. You’re just so certain that being Ashyr is good.”
“My life this time around was very small, Ryder,” Grayson told him. “I got to know what it was like to be…” He flattened his lips as he thought of what it had been like to see his father die, to see his mother suffer, to watch his stepfather ruin everything, and all the terrible things that had happened on the streets. He swallowed and his saliva tasted of bitter bile. “Weak. One of the villagers instead of a soldier passing through, let alone a general.”
The Weryn Palace was now in sight. The graceful trees that bordered the avenue that led up to it were not dark. There were lamps softly glowing on either side of the white, stone walkway.
“Looks like we’re expected,” Demos called.
“It looks like it,” Ryder agreed, but though there was excitement in his voice, Grayson also heard uncertainty.
Grayson squeezed his hand and started faster towards the avenue. “The palaces change, you know? Each time, they’re a little different. They reflect what we need them to be. Eyros Palace is nothing like it once was.”
“Really? I knew that the rooms in the dorms changed based upon the occupier’s personality, but I didn’t realize how much change there could be,” Ryder answered.
“I wondered why the room was so welcoming and comfortable when it was supposed to be Gregory’s. Well, I suppose it was never supposed to be Gregory’s. Seeyr must have known I would come and it was for me all along,” Grayson said, realizing that meeting with her that first night had been more than just chance and a cat in a tree. He shook his head. He couldn’t wait to see her again.
“Do you think the Ashyr Palace will look like your room then?” Demos asked.
“I don’t know. I sort of…” His eyes darted to Ryder, who was staring at the Weryn Palace. “I don’t know.”
What he had been going to say was that he thought the room might look like what the Weryn Palace resembled: a rustic, but luxurious cabin with plenty of fireplaces, fur blankets and piles of pillows to lounge upon. But he didn’t want to influence Ryder. He wanted the Weryn Palace to be whatever Ryder wanted it to be this time. Not a place simply to please him.
“I heard others say that when the palace opens that there is a colored flame that appears in the large dish on the roof,” Siban said.
“I’ve heard that too. I wonder what color ours will be.” Demos beamed. “People will see it. They’ll see those flames and know that Weryn is in the house.”
“Yes, they will know,” Ryder whispered.
“Let’s get closer,” Grayson said.
He tugged Ryder after him until they were standing at the top of the avenue. The trees were large and graceful. Their boughs arched over the walkway. Even if there was a downpour of rain, Grayson thought that the trees would keep off most of the rain from anyone beneath their protective branches.
“You’ve been inside, right, Siban?” Demos asked.
But they shook their head. “No, Nightvallen was shut, remember? After King Daemon went to sleep. I was born far after that.”
“Of course.” Demos grimaced. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Until Julian’s parents located Nightvallen just over a decade ago, Nightvallen was lost to us,” Ryder said.
“I guess that’s good. No bad memories here then.” Demos patted Ryder’s shoulder.
“Shouldn’t be,” Ryder agreed, but he wasn’t setting foot on the walkway.
