Page 50 of Ever Dark Academy: Vol. 3
Even if we do not consummate it.
But just thinking about that was agonizing. He lifted his head to look at Ryder. The Weryn Vampire was watching him with smoldering silver eyes. Ryder looked happy about this as well. Seeing this, a slightly mischievous twinkle appeared in Balthazar’s eyes.
“Uh oh, what are you thinking, Balthazar?” Grayson asked.
“That you’ll have to follow some rules if we want to sell the courting explanation,” Balthazar added with a slight grimace. “Otherwise other Vampires might just think they can behave in any old way and get their fledglings too. We want to make sure there is no coercion or anything that the reporters can gossip about.”
“They will gossip no matter what,” Caemorn replied dryly.
“Yes, but only about what I wish them to,” Balthazar reminded him tartly. He regarded Ryder and Grayson again, tapping a finger against his chin. “We might use the two of you as a real love match. You know, overcoming adversity. Risking Daemon’s wrath for true love. Us bowing to the power of fate and all that.”
Grayson’s cheeks had heated with every statement. It wasn’t really false. They had overcome so much and he loved Ryder beyond imagining. But still he didn’t know if Ryder should be his Master for that same reason and many others. If Balthazar used them openly as this and Ryder didn’t end up being his Master… Well, it was not a good idea.
One warning look from Grayson’s eyes and, undoubtedly, a peek into his foremost thoughts, had Balthazar quickly amending, “Or not. But it will explain everything even if it is simply whispered about in the right circles.”
“What are these rules we’ll have to follow?” Grayson asked tightly.
He couldn’t quite look at Ryder. The Weryn Vampire hadn’t asked him about becoming his Master. They had studiously avoided the topic. Now they would be playing the parts. What would that lead to?
“You’ve already broken quite a few of them,” Seeyr chuckled. “I do believe that they are much too Puritan for any Vampire’s taste, Balthazar. People expect us to ooze sex appeal and act upon it.”
It was strange to have her say that. Seeyr was a beautiful woman, even with her eyes gone, but she gave off an almost ethereal allure rather than a base sex vibe.
Balthazar began to tick the rules off on his fingers. “Well, the rules are there to ensure no coercion so most courting is to be done in plain sight. No taking someone alone to one’s palace–”
“No,” Grayson found himself saying without thinking.
“What?” Balthazar asked.
“I am not giving up making love to Ryder,” Grayson answered simply.
His usual ability to master himself deserted him as he realized where Balthazar might be going. His throat was tight with it. His body almost hurt at the very thought of it. He couldn’t do it. He simply couldn’t!
“And I don’t believe you’ll be able to stop anyone from having sex here,” Grayson said. “Seeyr’s right. Vampires have a reputation.”
“Oversexed,” Caemorn said with a twist of lips and Grayson wondered if Caemorn ever indulged in such activities.
“Well, yes, but–” Balthazar began.
“We’ve already made love several times in earshot of his roommates,” Ryder pointed out as he crossed his massive arms over his chest. “We can’t put that rabbit back in the hat, even if either of us were inclined to.”
“Yes, well…” Balthazar’s lips pressed. “You must at least pretend to follow the rules. And, Ryder, you can’t be suction-cupped to his side–”
“But I would most certainly be if I was going to be his Master,” Ryder’s voice deepened. His eyes blazed. “Ready to rip any other Vampire to pieces who thought to speak to him.”
“We’re trying to avoid that with the rules,” Fiona reminded him with a laugh. She clearly thought the rules weren’t going to work either.
“The rules are going to be thrown out the window, likely starting tonight, if they haven’t already,” Ryder said with a toss of his head. “All those private nooks that Charlie was talking about? All that warm flesh and even warmer blood? Eager students just begging to be taught a practical lesson about Vampires rather than whatever you’re telling them in class? No rules will survive that.”
“My goodness, Ryder!” Seeyr fanned herself. “You are getting me all aflutter with that!”
“I do hope that you find someone among these students, Seeyr, to join you. I know that your Bloodline has suffered since the War.” Ryder made a stiff bow to her.
“Ah, yes, well, my gift is a hard one. To know something of what will happen, but to not be able to speak of it for fear you will make it certain–in the case of something one fears–or you will destroy the chance of it–in the case of something one wants–is difficult,” Seeyr admitted sadly.
An unbidden memory came to Grayson then that many Seeyr Vampires chose to end their Second Lives via suicide. His heart hurt for her. They’d broken up not long after that with Ryder walking him home.
“I know the courting is only our cover story,” Ryder had said as they’d approached the dorn, “but I am rather looking forward to it.”
