Page 41 of Ever Dark Academy: Vol. 3
Caemorn’s gaze was fixed upon Balthazar. For a moment, several emotions flickered across that deadly, beautiful countenance. Tenderness and concern. But, of course, they were quickly hidden away and, like a river’s surface, showed nothing of what had come before. The fact that these two sworn enemies now cared for one another gave Grayson great hope.
“That’s not true either, and I think Caemorn knows that as well, Balthazar,” Grayson’s voice was soft. “But it gives me hope that we can move forward successfully despite all the distrust and dislike we may face. We have enough enemies outside of our ranks to deal with.”
“You did not invite Daemon to this meeting,” Fiona pointed out after the silence had laid over the room for long moments.
“No, not because I do not want him here or because his counsel would not be welcome, but because I’d like to come to him with a plan that we put together,” Grayson explained. “And I want to know what each of you is thinking and doing.”
“My goodness, you truly are back, Ashyr,” Seeyr said with a small smile. “Getting your troops all in a line!”
“But you are not yet turned,” Fiona pointed out. “Should that not concern you first above what we’re doing?”
Good point, Wyvern! Right to the heart of things.
Grayson tented his hands underneath his chin. He felt Ryder stiffen behind him. He knew that Ryder wanted to know his thoughts on this. But he wasn’t going to get into them now.
“Lots of reasons,” Grayson said vaguely. “But the one that concerns us right now involves the Sect of Dawn. I know that many of you already have heard the details of my first meeting with them and my subsequent interrogation of their operative who went by the name of Jill.”
He went through everything with Ryder, Balthazar and Caemorn adding bits that he had forgotten that they had witnessed. He also filled them in on everything he had learned from Nero and his drinking companions.
“Nero should be much more careful about who he feeds with,” Fiona said with a faint look of distaste.
“It’s actually good that he’s trying to reach out to the War Children,” Grayson contradicted. “We need to bring back as many as we can into the fold so that they can’t be used by our enemies.”
“And if they can’t be, Grayson? What would you have done then?” Balthazar asked.
He turned his head slightly, but he could only see Ryder’s beard. “We need to assess how much of a threat they are.”
“And then?” Balthazar made a rolling motion with his hands.
“Then we hunt down the ones that are our enemies,” Ryder answered for him. “But you already knew that, Balthazar. Why make him say it now before it needs to be said?”
There was a burr of anger in Ryder’s voice because of his protectiveness. Grayson stroked his left forearm. Ryder’s hands tightened around his waist.
“No, Balthazar’s right. We need to know where we’re going. And I want us to be crystal clear with one another,” Grayson soothed his lover.
“He knows you don’t want to kill them,” Ryder growled. “It hurts you to even think about it.”
“But I will follow through it,” Grayson said simply. “If it is necessary.”
“You shouldn’t have to clean up our mess,” Ryder muttered. “You had nothing to do with it.”
Grayson bit his lower lip. He glanced up at Caemorn, who tilted his head to the side under Grayson’s regard. Guilt tugged at him. He had known that Kaly was ill, or rather, that his illness had increased after Daemon had gone to sleep. Though he could not remember the exact conversations he’d had with Daemon before the Vampire King had chosen to sleep to await Julian, he knew the general outline of them.
“Actually, it is my fault,” Grayson confessed quietly. “After Daemon went to sleep, I was left in charge.”
Balthazar made a hooting sound. “That’s like being the head cat! There’s no such thing as a head cat! Other cats don’t follow each other unless it’s to do something bad.”
“Is everything in your mind now cat-related?” Caemorn asked him.
“Well, there are quite a few–”
“Gentlemen, please,” Grayson said with a lifted hand.
“Sorry, Grayson, please go on,” Balthazar said. “You were excoriating yourself.”
Grayson grimaced. “Yes, I was and I’m right to despite your mockery, Balthazar.”
“You were killed first, my love,” Ryder got out, his voice raw with pain as he said it. “You had nothing to do with what happened after.”
