“Lawson wanted to be seen as the powerful leader of the Weryn.To have a Sire, especially one like Legion who was said to nearly rival Weryn’s power, would have undercut that,” Ryder explained.“At least, that’s why I thought Lawson didn’t talk about them.But now I wonder.A long time has passed since the War.A lot of the Vampires from that time have gone away.Gotten their Second Deaths or simply… left.By keeping who they are a secret, Legion has an extra layer of safety.”
“Especially if they are the leader of the Sect of Dawn,” Grayson agreed.
“Especially that.”Ryder nodded.“But I’m also not surprised about Legion being behind all of this, because…”
“Don’t say it.This is not your fault.”Grayson squeezed Ryder’s arm.
“It is.I was the first one to make War Children, Grayson.I made more of them than anyone else,” Ryder told him.
“You were in mourning for me,” Grayson reminded him.
“I was.And I was out of my mind.It was like a switch had been flipped.I had no reason to hold back without you there and with Daemon asleep.But the truth is that some part of me reveled in just letting go.”Ryder extended an arm to the side.“The killing.The battles.The soldiers.All of it.I loved some parts of it.”
“We are all predators, Ryder, but I think for you that predator is more primal and nearer the skin,” Grayson admitted.“Which is why you are Daemon’s Soldier.”
“And your ability to disengage from your emotions makes you the General.”
Grayson gritted his teeth.“I almost didn’t earlier tonight.”
“What do you mean?”Ryder glanced down at him.
“There’s a reporter here.She’s an old friend.I barely remember her.Or maybe I don’t want to.She’s at some small, local station where I used to live with my–my mother,” Grayson explained, surprised and aggravated by how his throat grew thick with emotion simply talking about his mother.“She’s only here because my mother has entrusted her with an exclusive.”
He felt Ryder’s surprise though he didn’t look up and have to see it.“In exchange for what?Why would your mother go with a nobody instead of a major network personality?The school isthenews story.”
Grayson nodded.“Right.If my mother only wanted money or notoriety that would be the way she should have gone.”
“But she didn’t.Which means she doesn’t want those things?”Ryder asked slowly.
“Rachel–that’s the reporter’s name–insists that my mother never stopped looking for me,” Grayson said and swallowed the lump that had annoyingly formed in his throat.He was keeping his emotions out of the forefront of his mind, but his body was reacting to them anyway.“That she loves me and just… wants to see me again.”
“Do you believe her?”Ryder asked, not qualifying if he meant Rachel or Grayson’s mother.
“I don’t have to believe her.I can know.I will have Balthazar read her mind,” Grayson said.
“That will tell you what Rachel believes, but not what your mother does,” Ryder pointed out gently.
“Well, what am I going to do?Bring my mother here?To the Ever Dark?To the school?Or go to Earth to find her?How can I justify either of these things considering what we are facing?”Grayson’s questions were curt, cold and cutting, but they were tinged with this frazzled emotional edge that he couldn’t hide.“I’m sorry.I didn’t mean to take that tone with you.You’re just asking the logical questions.”
“I didn’t take offense.”Ryder stroked Grayson’s arm.“Dealing with her can wait until this matter with the Sect is concluded.”
That was, again, the rational thing to say and do.It was the thing that Grayson should do considering all he had just said and the facts as they were.Yet Grayson let out a sharp laugh.
“That’s assuming the Sect doesn’t go after her before then,” Grayson said bitterly.“They’ve come after metwice, Ryder.First time was an accident.But this time it was not.”
“You’re right.”Ryder stopped walking.His gaze was distant.“Balthazar is already having her guarded.”
“Yes, I supposed he would.You just confirmed with him?”Grayson asked.
Ryder nodded and they proceeded to walk.“He didn’t tell you because–”
“Because everyone’s walking on eggshells around me about this?I know.”Grayson shook his head with disgust.Not at them.But himself.“I did tell him I wanted her dealt with.I was quite clear that I wanted her silenced in whatever form was necessary–”
“No matter what you said, no one believed you wanted her killed,” Ryder interjected.But he paused for a moment too long as if he was going to say something more.
“What?Who was the outlier who did believe I wanted her…” Grayson couldn’t even say the word.
“Caemorn,” Ryder said simply.“He’s worried about you.”
