Page 9 of Ever Dark Academy: Vol. 3
Grayson’s expression softened and the inappropriate laughter dried up. He went to her and stopped a foot away.
“Dani,” he said her name and cupped her face. “I’m so sorry I left you.”
She surged into his arms. He held her as she shook. Silent tears of joy and grief left her as he stroked her back. He rocked her. And he closed his eyes. The memories were there. Of seeing her. Of watching her eyes widen when she saw him for the first time. The way she’d gasped when she’d realized what he was. And then the smiles when she’d told him she wanted to be like him, too. To spend eternity together. For their friendship to last the ages. For them to grow together. He held her tighter.
How could Lawson have ever touched any of his fledglings like he did? How could he not treasure them? How? HOW?
But hadn’t Weryn done worse?
He must have been out of his mind to do so.
Grayson and Dani pulled back from the embrace. He wiped her tears away. She was smiling so wide that he was sure her face hurt.
“You’re back and you know! I was trying to figure out how to tell you and have you believe me,” Dani explained. She stroked his arms. “I just hoped that you’d feel it. That you’d feel how much you are loved and were missed.”
Grayson’s throat tightened. This life had been one where to be alone was safest. He’d let only a few people in. Sam had been one. But not even the homeless man had any idea of his true self. To think he had not remembered his Bloodline, his fledglings, Weryn, and the other Immortals…
“I don’t understand how I ever forgot,” Grayson told her. He kissed her right temple tenderly. “Now, I know you have questions and concerns and--”
“We want you with us,” Dani told him. “Not here. Back with us.”
Grayson nodded. “I know. But I believe I can best serve King Daemon remaining as a human student right now.”
Dani’s silver eyes flared with alarm. “Ashyr, I know how strong you are, even in this mortal coil, but humans are frail.”
Grayson nodded again. He felt Ryder shift behind him. Demos and Siban had tensed, too, because they felt that Ryder was unhappy with this talk. Not just about him remaining human, but the turning and who would do it.
“Right now the Sect of Dawn is prepared to defend itself from Vampires. But not from me,” Grayson told her.
“But--”
“What do you fear? Losing me again? You cannot. Kaly is on our side. He can form me a new body if need be, just like he did for the Harrows,” Grayson told her.
“You would trust Kaly after all they did? You know what they did?” Dani looked dubious.
“I do. Kaly was sick. For a long time. And I should have… done something, but I was distracted.” Grayson’s eyes slid to Ryder. “And there were terrible consequences for that.”
Ryder met his gaze evenly. They had been in love. In that first, eternal flush of it. And Grayson hadn’t wanted to think about--or care about--anything else. Especially Kaly's growing sickness. But the irony was that their love had only fueled Kaly’s illness and had, perhaps, pushed them over the edge into what was to come.
I have to understand the War. Everything that happened then. And the aftermath. Yet another thing to talk about.
“So the plan is for you to remain human and pretend to be a student while hunting these Sect of Dawn members?” Dani clarified.
“Yes, that’s the plan,” Grayson said. “In the meantime, I think the story I just floated about knowing you all before this will help tamp down the interest I’ve engendered.”
“Do you think that will work?” Demos looked uncertain.
“Even if it doesn’t and there is interest in me, that might be good, too. They’ll come after me instead of the other students who can’t defend themselves,” Grayson pointed out.
Demos shot a look at Ryder, undoubtedly, to see if he was okay with Grayson putting himself in danger.
“I don’t know why you are looking at Ryder, Demos,” Dani said sharply. “Ashyr is an Immortal. Weryn is an Immortal. They are equal and separate.”
Demos held up his hands. “I meant no offense, Dani. This is just a dangerous plan. And you have mentioned that.”
This is one of those complications. If Ryder and I decide to have him turn me then Dani and the other Ashyr Vampires will feel subjugated.
“I welcome Ryder’s thoughts on this, as I do any of yours,” Grayson said evenly. “But no one ever has--and no one ever will--have undue influence over me.”
