Page 37 of Ever Dark Academy: Vol. 3
You have a lot on your plate, Julian sent kindly. And I don’t expect anyone to simply drop what they’re doing for me, especially for a lark.
You’re our prince. We would do anything for you, but allow you to go into danger. At least not alone. And I share your desire to know this place beyond the cities myself, Ryder admitted. I yearn to shift and hunt.
He felt Julian’s growing excitement. Really?! If you go, will you let me go with you? I… I haven’t been able to shift yet and I really want to learn how. Daemon can turn into an army of wolves, ravens, lions, tigers, bears and I can’t even become a house cat!
Ryder found himself grinning and a warmth formed inside of him. Julian wasn’t just his prince or the fledgling of the man he’d agreed to give all he had for. Julian was able to shift. So Julian was pack.
Of course, I’ll help you! Ryder enthused.
You will? YES! Julian did a mental fist pump, but from what Ryder could tell of his continued answering of questions, he appeared quite calm and unruffled in front of the reporters.
All right then, before we meet up and do this, I want you to try and sit quietly with your eyes closed–
That sounds suspiciously like meditating, Julian said.
And for an active young Vampire that probably sounds like hell! Ryder laughed. But don’t think of it like that. Imagine that you are in the presence of a wild animal and you are trying to lure it to you.
And am I? Julian’s mental laughter was almost contagious.
In a way, Ryder said, thinking of the line of his own animals and wondering if he shouldn’t be sitting quietly to greet new and old alike. What you’re doing is trying to find yours and coax it to you.
Julian’s mind lit up as if Ryder had said something that clicked for him. I know what you mean! There’s been a moment or two just before I’ve fallen asleep when I thought I saw some glowing eyes in the dark on the edge of my vision, but then when I’ve focused on them–
They’ve disappeared? Yes, your spirit is trying to come to you, but they need the stillness and quiet for that first approach. We’ll work on this together, Ryder assured him.
There’s so many things I want to ask you about shifting! Julian admitted. Daemon tells me I can become any animal I want like he does. But I’m not him. So I’m not really sure about that.
You are of his blood. But you are unique so we don’t know what the extent of your powers will be. And you are very young. The first spirit though is special. If you have more they’ll seek you out more easily than this first, Ryder explained.
Right. Okay, I have a plan. I’ll let you get to that meeting now. And thank you! Julian called before winnowing down their connection.
Ryder shouldn’t have been shocked that Julian was so down to earth and yet he was. The prince was warm, generous and kind. Brave, too. Exactly what he would hope for in a fledgling himself. He was so glad that Daemon had been given such a brilliant one. He looked forward to helping Julian find his spirit animal or animals.
He is everything to me, Daemon’s mind voice flooded him with love and affection.
You should have the best, Ryder sent.
I thank you for your kindness and welcome to him. We will hunt together, my friend, Daemon’s voice drifted away.
Daemon’s acceptance warmed him and kept him happily walking to the Eyros Palace at an accelerated rate, but here he was now, hesitating outside as if waiting for yet another invitation.
Ryder had been inside twice this life. Who knew how many before. Not that it had likely looked like this back then. Now it was lovely with lots of dark wood and books. Comfortable and luxurious sofas and chairs. Loads of velvet and silk in lush reds and deep blues.
All of the palaces he’d seen so far–including his own–had walls covered in books and scrolls. The internet hadn’t quite come to the Ever Dark yet. But electricity apparently now had. And with scientists–and Daemon’s approval–they were working on some form of electronic communication here, though it wouldn’t require satellites or ugly cell towers, he guessed. The Ever Dark adjusted to what they wanted and needed and imagined. He was certain so long as Daemon allowed it, they would have it. But each Immortal had a little part of it. A little territory that they controlled and kept all but Daemon out of if they so chose.
“You feel it, too?” Fiona asked.
Ryder didn’t jerk. She had teleported in beside him, but his keen senses had picked up her perfume a moment before she had, which was strange. He would remember that.
For what? He wondered. We’re on the same side. But if any of her Bloodline works for the Sect it will be useful.
“I didn’t feel it before,” Ryder admitted.
What they were talking about was a barrier around the Eyros Palace. It was actually permeable and they were allowed to cross it. It had likely always been there. But until he had realized–or perhaps accepted–he was an Immortal, he had not been truly aware of it.
“Balthazar is welcoming us in, but you still stay out here,” Fiona remarked.
He turned towards her. “I am not quite myself. Or maybe I am too much myself. But I’m glad I’m here when you arrived so that we might speak privately for a moment. I wanted to thank you.”
