Balthazar,Grayson got out.
Julian is fine.Christian is fine.Julian understands what’s going on here.He’s reacting to Weryn’s anger.He can’t quite block as well as Christian and I can,Balthazar explained.But he’s not a child, Grayson.
I know.I know,Grayson admitted as he curled his hand around Julian’s, trying to give him comfort without giving anything away.
The Syrin Vampire was looking at them.She met his eyes for one moment and he thought he heard a low hum at the back of his mind.He broke eye contact with her.
That gag’s not enough, Balthazar!Grayson warned.
It usually is!Damnit, I see what you mean!What a clever little thing,Balthazar said as he heard the humming too.I’m not quite sure how to stop her without knocking her out.And that would defeat the purpose–
It’s all right.I have her vocal chords,Grayson said.
Her eyes flared with confusion and fear.She looked back towards Dani, but Dani didn’t seem to be paying attention to her.Balthazar though gave her a poke and Dani swung around towards the Syrin Vampire.
“You’re not going to sing, little bird.Try again and I’ll just rip those vocal chords out of your throat,” Dani promised.
The Syrin Vampire stared up at the ceiling.Tears ran down the sides of her face from her eyes.
She’s crying,Julian remarked.
Remember that she only looks like a child, Julian.She was quite happy at the thought of having all those students watch me be killed,Grayson reminded the Vampire Prince.
Yes, I know, and that can’t be forgiven,Julian agreed.I just expected her to react as the Mirryr Vampire is.
The Mirryr Vampire was still hissing and spitting, swearing he wouldn’t say a word between howls of pain.Weryn was staring down at him without blinking.He stroked his bearded chin and Grayson didn’t like the look in his eyes.It was a killing look.He’d controlled himself in the party, but this was too much.
“I smell Legion on you,” Ryder said to the Mirryr Vampire.
The Mirryr Vampire went still.
“That’s what gave you away,” Ryder said, which wasn’t exactly true, but it would explain how he found them so quickly.
The Mirryr Vampire’s lips writhed back from his teeth whether in pain or rage, it was hard to tell.
“The question is: did you know that you stank of them?”Ryder asked, careful to use “them” and not “him” or “her”. “Did Legion send you here, stinking of them, to get my attention?If so, then Legion truly sent you to die.”
The Mirryr Vampire did not answer and their eyes showed nothing of what they were thinking.Grayson believed that there was unease there.But he wasn’t sure.Too much was happening to the Mirryr Vampire that was unpleasant to isolate what exactly was causing his distress.Grayson felt his strain against the invisible hold that he had on him.The Siryn Vampire strained to hum as well.
Splitting his attention between both Vampires was not ideal.He felt a single trail of sweat break from his hairline and trickle down his cheek.He turned his head to the side to hide it.He wasn’t sure if he was altogether successful.He cursed himself internally for using so much power earlier.Now he was running dangerously close to his limits again without more food and rest.But he firmed his resolve.Julian’s hand tightened on his.
I wish I could give you strength, Grayson,Julian said mind-to-mind.
Oh, Julian!You’re not communicating through Balthazar!You’re doing it yourself!Grayson said, startled, but he hadn’t lost control of either Sect member.
Julian gave him a shy smile.Yes, but I forget that I have the powers.I go for my physical abilities first.Christian says it’s because I’m a look before I leap sort of person.
Our physical gifts are the easiest to access,Grayson told him.That’s what my fledglings always told me.The Bloodline gifts were an afterthought.But you’ve done remarkably well considering how new you are to all of this.
I have to do well.Daemon needs me to be at my best.Though I’m far from that,Julian admitted with a faint frown.
Is that why…Grayson paused then pressed on,Is that why you’re here?
You’d do anything for Daemon.So would I.And Christian wouldn’t leave Balthazar and Caemorn to do this on their own either,Julian answered.
“I’d like to do an experiment,” Caemorn said in that dry, cool voice of his.“If you are intent on testing his healing and endurance.I wish to examine the bones to see if, even after he is fully healed, if there are any traces.”
“We could scrape the flesh off now so that you could see it in action,” Fiona suggested.
