Page 54 of Ever Dark Academy: Vol. 3
Amara let out an unexpected laugh. “Mairead is a study in contradictions. Just when I think I want to strangle her, she does something endlessly sweet and kind. She could just look after herself, but she really wants to make sure Eiji is taken care of. Few others would do that, especially with competition being so fierce.”
Grayson nodded. “She’s loyal and, I think, she is kind. She just wants to know everything about everyone.”
Amara laughed again. “Indeed. So I guess we don’t have to guess which Bloodline she’s going for.”
“Eyros,” they said as one and both burst out laughing.
“I don’t know though. Maybe she’s a little too like Balthazar,” Grayson chuckled.
I heard that! Balthazar said in his head. You do remember, Grayson, that you’re not a guest at this party, don’t you? You need to suffer like the rest of us and not have a good time.
So the party is as cool and fun as it looks? Grayson asked.
Yes, Balthazar answered grumpily. And the Sect would ruin it with a murder! It’s damned inconsiderate of them!
It is indeed, Grayson agreed, and he did wish that he could enjoy himself here. He would have loved to dance with Ryder in the bubble room. He sighed, Let me just get Amara settled and I’ll start testing people.
Don’t worry. I’ve got that covered. Charlie is coming your way, Balthazar said.
The man–no, woman, no person–Charlie came over in one of those electric orange outfits. Charlie bowed low to Amara and said to her, “You look like the type who wouldn’t mind a nice glass of wine in a quiet nook.”
Amara brightened, but she gestured to the wild lights and pulsing music and asked, “Is there such a place like that inside?”
“Oh, my dear, we adjust for every type of person! Come, let me show you the quieter delights of the Mirryr,” Charlie said, offering her their arm.
She took it, but then looked back at Grayson with concern. “But what about my friend? Grayson, would you like to come, too? I wouldn’t mind the company.”
It seems that Mairead isn’t the only person who cares about others, Grayson thought.
But he lifted a hand and waved her off. “No, no, you go on. I want to check out the place. I’ll meet up with you later.”
She smiled and nodded. “All right.”
Charlie though was frowning out of many different and changing mouths from a cupid’s bow to a thin, enfeebled line of lips. “Do I know you?”
“Ah, no, I don’t think so,” Grayson said.
Charlie sniffed. “You smell quite familiar.”
Balthazar, I thought you said Charlie wouldn’t notice my scent in your palace! Grayson sent.
Oh, Charlie’s been obsessed recently with trying to copy perfumes as well. Hold on, let me handle it! Balthazar told him.
Charlie blinked their blue then brown then green eyes after clearly being told to leave Grayson alone.
Are you telling him who I am? Grayson asked.
I’m telling him the cover story. Charlie’s a gossip. It will spread like wildfire, Balthazar assured him. I won’t even have to ask Elgar to Whisper it.
“Seems you have one of those kinds of faces,” Charlie beamed at him, clearly agog that Grayson was Weryn’s chosen fledgling.
Charlie’s a romantic, too, Balthazar said. So your story is right up his alley!
Great, that’s something anyways, Grayson remarked as he waved goodbye to Charlie and Amara before heading to the front door of the Mirryr house himself. Okay, I’m going in. I’m going to be testing hopefully whole rooms of people at a time.
Don’t strain yourself, Grayson, Balthazar cautioned. I really wish you could teach this to Dani or one of the other Ashyr, too.
I’m not sure how to teach it, Balthazar, and we need to be right the first time, Grayson said. Where is Dani?
