“Maybe you were once like this, but you are so different now,” Ryder said.
“I don’t know.Without you, I’m not sure… and the Sect is such a potentially powerful enemy that I fear I cannot besoft,” Grayson admitted.“In truth, the humans might be the greater enemy in the end.”
“Grayson.”Ryder caressed his face.“I know you want to put this life behind you.To become just Ashyr again.But maybe the value in this life is that softness, is that human equation.”
“But can we afford it?Should I just shelve it?Take it out when we’re alone and certain that we can be each other’s sole focus?”Grayson asked.
“You think that’s what Daemon wants of you?”
“I don’t know and I don’t think he will say.Maybe to preserve our happiness.Or maybe because king, he feels he should not have to. But ever since I came back to myself and realized what happened before…” Grayson grimaced.“How can I be careless?How can I not focus utterly on this problem?How can I worry about anything else?”
Ryder nodded.“I understand.I keep waiting for him to exile me or worse.The War… Kaly may have started it, but I took it to another level.The War Children are my fault.But then another part of me thinks that though this is all well and true, perhaps Daemon sees the potential in what I did, too.He has ruthlessness and coldness to spare, Grayson.It is only the bright side of him that he has let us see in a long time.And Julian makes him seem soft, too.But like you, there is another side.”
“Yes, there is.It’s strange, but his silence is more punishment than if he said anything.”Grayson shook his head.
“It is.It truly is.If he were to rage and scream at us then it would surely be better.But he doesn’t,” Ryder laughed.
They both stared into the fountain for long moments in companionable silence.Grayson’s mind offered him many pathways to pursue.Were there other Sect members in the Ever Dark?Just because he didn’t find structures in human minds did that mean they weren’t Sect members?Or were there other ways to get them through the Eyros process and leave no mark?Or a different mark?Why had Legion’s scent been upon them?He needed to know who that Mirryr Vampire was and where he had been.Caemorn would discover it all.And then they would go after the Siryn.None would find her in the Kaly catacombs.
But though all of these topics beckoned.Even though they were important.And Ryder could give him great insight into all of them.Despite all of this, he didn’t want to think of them.
All he wanted was to think of Ryder.
Past Is Present Is Past
“Ican’t believe I did it!The Kaly gift!And it was so–so easy!”Balthazar stared down at his hands as if they held the power he spoke of.
“Easy?”Fiona lifted an eyebrow as Julian poured her some blood-wine.“You nearly had our poor Grayson passing out from manhandling both Vampires for you for ever so long.”
“It wasn’t that long!”Balthazar scowled at her.“It was mere moments!Tell her, Grayson!Tell her I was wonderful!”
“You were wonderful,” Grayson said easily, though there were dark circles faintly staining the skin under his eyes.
“See!See, Fiona!There!I was wonderful!”Balthazar harrumphed at her.
She just chuckled and shook her head.
They were seated in an almost comfortable sitting-room.It had a touch of the Eyros palace about it with the gracious fireplace and the blood red velvet couches.Ryder made sure that Grayson was nearest the flames.It wasn’t just the dark circles under his eyes that showed his exhaustion.He had bobbled for just a moment coming up the stairs from the catacombs.
Ryder had to force himself not to simply bride-carry him the rest of the way to the surface, or better yet, to the Weryn Palace.But Grayson had wanted to stay and talk about what they’d discovered.
Which was sensible.
Weryn, however, wasnotsensible.
“I used too much power, I think.Not enough food earlier and a little too many jello shots,” Grayson had admitted on the stairs as he had leaned against Ryder heavily with every step.
“We will fix that, though I wonder if there is anything fit to eat here for you,” Ryder had confessed.
The thought of the undead and food had his stomach churning.But Caemorn had provided.More than provided.There were soft, warm rolls, a glazed ham, sharp, white cheddar, stout mustard and creamy mayonnaise for sandwiches.There was wine and sparkling water unmixed with blood.Ryder made Grayson a plate and urged him to eat every bite put before him.
“I’m not a turkey, Ryder,” Grayson said.
“Turkey?”Ryder lifted an eyebrow.
“You’re trying to stuff him, old man,” Balthazar laughed.“But it’s good you’re eating, Grayson.For, though I was wonderful, we needed you to exercise your gift a bit longer and a bit more than perhaps we should have.”
Grayson waved a hand to dismiss it.“It truly was fine and more than worth it.You discovered how to unravel the structures.”
