Page 26 of Ever Dark Academy: Vol. 3
But she shook her head. “No! I would only be giving back to you what you gave me!”
He pressed his lips together. “I don’t want you to be my Master, Dani.” Her shoulders slumped, so he quickly pressed on, “You are my Childe! You shouldn’t have to be a parent! That’s not what I want for you or for us.”
“You haven’t mentioned Weryn, but, surely, that’s who you really want to turn you,” she pointed out.
He let go of her chin and turned away. “I’m not sure.”
“Why not? You love him. Do you fear… feel… Do you feel that things would change between you if he was your Master and your lover?” she asked.
His back was strangely stiff. He wasn’t sure where this tension rose up in him from. To be able to turn into an animal would be incredible. To share the pack with Weryn would be perfect. It would meld their two Bloodlines like he’d always wanted. Not to mention the thought of drinking from Weyrn! To do that! To have that connection! So why was he hesitating?
Can I be his General when I’m his Childe? Weryn is the alpha of all of his pack. I would be a part of that. But I am alpha too. How would we work that out? Could we co-lead? I think so… but I don’t know for sure.
And as Weryn’s General, he would be ordering the Soldier into battle. He would be sending his Master into harm’s way. Could he do it? Could he even do it now? Did their love compromise their usefulness to King Daemon? Was that why the king had seemed unhappy to see them together despite it all?
Maybe it hadn’t just been disappointment in him for taking his eyes off of Kaly while he was besotted with Weryn in that past that Daemon was reacting to, but future disappointments. Future failures. Daemon had, of course, not said anything like that. But Grayson wasn’t blind to what he must be feeling. Balthazar would know for sure. Maybe he should ask the Eyros Vampire.
But did he really want to know?
He crossed his right arm over his chest, curling his fingers over his shoulder to ease the heavy burden he felt on himself then. He had given up so many things to be the General, to do what was necessary for his king and their people. He’d given up things that had less impact on him than Weryn.
No, I can’t be asked to give him up. I won’t give him up. I’ll find a way to make this work.
Yet in that moment he remembered something about the past. Kaly. They had been very angry with him and Weryn for joining.
“You’re threatening the stability of things,” Kaly had hissed in his ear. “Don’t you see, Ashyr? You’re bringing the whole thing down.”
Friend Or Foe
“Amaris! Kayne!” Siban whispered the names, but it was clear she meant the Vampires in front of him. “You’re here. After… after so long.”
The female Vampire with the gold wire and feathers in her hair lifted her head at what must be her name. “Siban, you survived and…” Her silver-eyed gaze shot to him. “And have found your place. How glad I am for you.”
Ryder frowned a little at that. Amaris didn’t sound as if she had expected anything good for Siban.
Because Siban is a War Childe. Amaris is Second Generation, Weryn’s voice echoed in his head. Not our Childe, but our Childe’s fledgling.
And the male Vampire? Kayne? What about him? Ryder asked, surprised, but pleased at getting actual useful information from the normally taciturn Weryn..
Amaris’ Childe. A follower of the axe. A grizzly bear to her harpy eagle. Land and sky, Weryn answered.
So neither of them are our Children like Siban, but we knew them? Ryder pressed, trying to figure out if he could trust them at all.
We knew them well… Weryn’s voice drifted off and Ryder knew there would be no further answers at that moment.
Damnit. Not what I needed.
But he found that whenever he reached for more information about the past, more memories, the farther they receded from his grasp. He wanted to use his life as Weryn as a history book, but Weryn wasn’t going to allow that, evidently.
“Please rise,” Ryder said and gestured for the kneeling Vampires to get to their feet.
They had all fallen to their knees at some point and he hadn’t even noticed. He wasn’t embarrassed or uncomfortable by it. In fact, he realized he was used to it. Being worshipped. Being the leader. But not this life. Before.
Pack. Family. Blood, Weryn murmured.
Yes, but are they still?
No answer.
