Page 28 of Ever Dark Academy: Vol. 3
“The other Immortals are the same, it seems,” Amaris said softly, more to herself than to him. “Lost to this life. Some choosing it.”
Ryder’s gaze skimmed over them. He’d not seen so many old Vampires such as these before. “And Demos is right, as he often is, that you appeared when there was something in it for you. Not when there was only suffering.”
“We are your pack, Weryn,” Amaris said with a flash of light in her eyes of conviction. “True, we closed our ranks. We turned in to each other. We were… mistaken to do so. But surely you know what it is like to make a mistake?”
Internally, he flinched. He knew all about making mistakes, and she probably knew his far better than he did. And while he was judging her for leaving Lawson and the others on the outside, he had judged those same people even more harshly. Demos and Siban were the only two that he found he trusted. Could he blame her for making the same determination? Could he blame her for not doing what he had not done until recently?
But, for all I know, they are Sect of Dawn. Each and every one of them could be traitors and I wouldn’t know. Not yet anyways.
Ryder blinked slowly. “I have people in this city who I’ve known for over four centuries that I exiled from my Bloodline. These two,” Ryder kept his hand on Siban’s shoulder, but put another on Demos’ to show they were in this together, “were the only ones I found worthy.”
Amaris nodded. “Wise choices. And I understand the urge to draw inwards. To… eliminate what appears wrong. Like I said, that was what we did… and we missed you.”
“Probably best,” Ryder said with a tight smile. “Every Immortal so far has killed the one that turned them this time. All for very good reasons, I might add.”
But that won’t be true of Grayson, I hope. It can’t be true of Grayson, because whoever he chooses he will love and they will love him.
But thinking of that caused him to feel like he wasn’t quite tethered to the earth. He felt like he might fly off into pieces at the thought of Grayson being so close with another, putting his mouth on their skin, drawing their blood into his body. Not a human, but another of their kind. He shook the images away.
“Lawson could not be saved. He was tainted by Legion. And the others, too, were not… pack.” Amaris compressed her lips. “And you found them lacking yourself. You knew their character. Give yourself a chance to know us. To remember.”
Ryder looked over at Demos. His Blood Brother lifted an eyebrow. Demos wasn’t sure if they were friend or foe. And since he wasn’t saying kick them out, it meant that he should give them a chance to prove themselves. They were old and powerful and maybe useful in this upcoming war. But they weren’t coming into the palace to live. Not yet.
“You can find accommodations in the city. I will make arrangements for you with Eyros,” Ryder said, using Balthazar’s Immortal name. “And then I will meet with you individually and see if you are pack.”
He saw longing glances past him to the palace. He was certain that they had been hoping to retake their places as if nothing had changed. But hadn’t everything changed?
He supposed he should be glad that they wanted to come back and make believe. He had, in some ways, not expected anyone to truly seek him out. Not the strong. Not the pack. But here they were. Yet he was not worried about insulting them and losing them. If they could be so insulted, they were not worthy and it was better he began fresh. So they chips would fall as they might.
“As you say, Weryn. We are all eager to show you our mettle,” Amaris answered with another bow that others followed suit with.
Ryder turned his back on them and put a finger to his temple. That was not necessary to reach Balthazar, but he found himself doing it anyway. He needn’t have bothered as Balthazar was already there.
Been a bit of a crisis already. Jill is dead and we need to hurry things along, Balthazar began before filling him in on all that had happened and all that needed to happen.
I require accommodation for one-hundred Weryn Vampires or so. There may be more coming, Ryder said after listening to Balthazar’s explanation of the current crisis.
Old ones, yes! You can almost smell the dust of ages on them, can’t you? Elgar’s the oldest that I’ve seen of mine so far, but more are out there, more will come, Balthazar sighed, showing signs of eagerness and discontent at the same time.
More survived the War than I thought, Ryder said.
Indeed. But it makes one wonder what they want. Family? Or revenge?
Ryder’s eyes lifted to the window where Grayson had been watching them. He saw the young man there for a moment longer before Grayson turned and hurried away. His heart clenched in his chest. Grayson was going to leave the Weryn Palace.
Ashyr, Weryn whispered forlornly.
But they would see him soon. Grayson wasn’t going away forever. He felt Dani’s presence, skimming along the edge of the Weryn Palace’s grounds. Through his connection to Balthazar, he bade her welcome and gave her entrance onto the grounds. He saw her practically flying down one of the tree lined lanes to get Grayson. Now that made him feel better. If Grayson were to leave his lands then the young man should be with a strong and loyal Vampire at all times. Her presence did not go unnoticed by his Bloodline.
“An Ashyr Vampire on your land… Dani!” Amaris’ voice held surprise. “I had not heard that Ashyr had returned. Or are you aligning with them even without their Immortal’s presence?”
This was, of course, a very intelligent question. They were hiding Grayson’s identity so the truth would have to be obscured.
Ryder turned to face her. “I ally myself with the worthy. Dani is most certainly that.”
Amaris nodded. There was a genuine smile on her lips. “It has been ages since I spoke with her! I look forward to renewing our acquaintance!”
“As we should start to renew ours.” Ryder gestured to all the other Vampires except for Amaris and Kayne. Wyvern Vampires had appeared all around them, which had some of his people turning and showing teeth, but no one attacked the still, silent figures. “The Wyvern will take you to your accommodations. Amaris, Kayne, I bid you welcome to my palace. I would speak with you first.”
