Page 34 of Ever Dark Academy: Vol. 3
Grayson felt Kaito, Nero and Dani all flank him, but they weren’t being outright hostile. Dani, especially, was keeping it cool, which was helping the others do so as well.
“So you thought you’d take credit for Ashyr’s work?” Dani lifted an eyebrow.
“I have plenty of good ideas myself, but I also have all of your ideas too, so why limit myself?” Balthazar answered.
“He’s efficient that way,” Caemorn answered.
Grayson had reached them both, but he shifted his stance so that he was facing Caemorn. Unlike Balthazar, the deadly angel was dressed in all black from the flared collar of the long coat at his throat to the black, knee-high boots. His white skin and hair practically glowed.
“I--I’m glad you came to get me,” Grayson said and moved to hug Caemorn.
But Caemorn stepped back and stared at him as if he had quite lost his mind. Grayson grimaced. Balthazar let out a hiss of breath rather like a cat.
“He was trying to hug you, Caemorn! To show you no hard feelings for killing him so his people don’t fang out at you!” Balthazar informed the other Immortal who turned his head towards the Ashyr Vampires who were much closer than Grayson had realized. Caemorn then turned back to Grayson who was shifting from foot to foot. “No, no, Caemorn. It’s too late now. You’ve made it weird.”
“Weird?” Caemorn’s fine brow furrowed.
“Yes, yes, you have. So no hug now! We’re working on his interpersonal skills, but he’s still not quite there, Grayson,” Balthazar answered.
“No, I should have asked to touch him before just assuming it was all right,” Grayson contradicted. “It was my mistake, Caemorn. I’m sorry.”
Slow blinks from the Kaly Vampire. “There is no need for apologies. I do not…”
“Hug. Or touch. Or let people get near you,” Grayson said, nodding with every word. “I knew that. I know that. I just…”
“He pictures you as a wounded cat that needs help and he’s holding out some treats so he can assist you, but you’re staring at him with large, distrustful eyes and--”
“Balthazar! That’s not helping!” Grayson glared at him.
Balthazar picked at the invisible lint on his clothes. “I don’t know. If you’re a cat lover, like myself, you’d be won over instantly by such a description.”
“I am not a cat lover.” Caemorn stared at Balthazar darkly.
“Oh, no! You are a dead bear person! Bone Bear was in my bed again! Christian found mold in an unmentionable place!” Balthazar wagged a finger at him.
This bizarre conversation left Grayson blinking. He decided he didn’t want to know.
“In any case, I still need to speak to everyone here,” Grayson said, gesturing back towards his Bloodline, who were looming over them.
It’s best you don’t, Balthazar’s voice was in his head. They won’t understand why you are considering being turned by me or Caemorn or anyone else other than Dani or one of them. Truly. It will just lead to bad things right now. Let them get settled while we have our talk.
But there’s so much I need to tell them about the Sect and--
You will have time, but we must coordinate first. You were right about that, Balthazar said. But you have to set boundaries right now, Grayson. Trust me on this. They see you as a kitten that needs rescuing right now.
A kitten--
A declawed kitten in need of milk and petting. Yes, yes, I’m afraid so, Balthazar told him. They lost you once. They cannot lose you again. And reason and logic don’t play well against fear like that.
Grayson nodded. He turned back to Dani, Kaito and Nero who were all practically pressed against his back.
Declawed kitten it is. But Dani knows better.
“I need you three to recall everything you know about the War Children. Every War Childe still out there and the rest as well. Anyone who would have the power to bring people together,” Grayson instructed them.
“That is a long list,” Kaito warned him.
“Good, that means we’ll have lots to work with. When you’re done brainstorming, you need to meet up with--”
