Page 23 of Ever Dark Academy: Vol. 3
Balthazar was silent for long moments on this. I am usually the one telling people to trust no one. But it’s you this time.
I understand why you don’t want to believe that anyone you’ve vetted could betray you, Grayson responded gently. But I am going to be taking a cold, hard look at my people too. We don’t really understand what the allure is of the Sect of Dawn. I should have stayed later yesterday and interrogated her further.
And then we would have had you collapse on the floor. No, Grayson, you did what you could do, Balthazar countered. You were already skirting the line of collapse, despite your pitiful attempts to hide it.
Grayson grimaced. They weren’t pitiful!
They were. Trust me. They were, Balthazar chuckled, but the humor was faint. He, too, was angry and frustrated by “Jill’s” loss.
Well, this means our meeting is all the more important.
Yes, and I think it indicates that we need to do that more quickly than we planned. So while Ryder meets and greets his people, could you go meet yours and then make your way over here poste haste? Balthazar asked.
Grayson nodded and then mentally said, Yes, of course. I just need to find a--
Bedroom. Weryn’s is on the third floor… Balthazar sent him a schematic of the Weryn Palace with a little dotted line leading to a red dot. It’s perfect. You’ll both love it.
Ah, thanks. Could you also let Ryder know--
That you’re leaving early? Yes, besides he has some Immortaling to do.
Immortaling? Grayson half smiled at the clearly made-up word. Besides, he had no love for “Jill”. But he worried what this meant.
Yes, it’s the mostly unpleasant task we must undertake when we’re--we’re being who we were--
Who we are, Grayson corrected gently.
You really love being Ashyr again, don’t you? Balthazar chuckled.
Yes, and I can’t wait to be fully myself again and leave this all behind, Grayson said.
Like a snake sheds its skin?
My life as Grayson was what? 25 years? What is 25 years to us? Grayson insisted.
I don’t know. For a day, an hour, a minute can mean everything, can’t it? So I imagine that 25 years of those can have an impact, Balthazar answered.
Grayson frowned. Well, not these particular 25 years for me.
Of course.
You’re patronizing me, Grayson responded dryly, reading far more into those two innocuous words
No, not in the least. I wouldn’t dare, Balthazar answered.
Grayson sighed. Okay, okay, you don’t mean harm by it. A jester never does.
No, he seeks to show the truth with humor, Balthazar added lightly. Now, all will be done as to Ryder. Get your butt over here pronto.
Grayson looked out at Ryder for a final time. Others in the crowd of Vampires were starting to get down onto their knees. Soon, they were all kneeling, and Ryder glowed with power and purpose. Grayson wished he could be a part of this, that he could stand by Ryder’s side and show that Weryn had Ashyr’s support.
But he couldn’t. For all their sakes, he couldn’t.
There were many things that he’d had to deny himself for the good of his king and their people. This was one of those. But the payoff would be worth it. And there would be plenty of times when he would be standing beside Ryder.
Grayson turned and started to jog down the hallway before Balthazar added, Oh, and Grayson?
What?
