Christian suddenly stiffened. His silver eyes widened. They glowed like far stars.
“Christian?” Fiona went to his side and put a hand on his shoulder.
He let out a breath and shook his head as if to clear it. He lifted his right hand to his temple. “There was a trap.”
“What? Where?” Grayson asked.
“The Kaly Palace. It wasn’t… I’m not sure what it was, but I thought I heard…” Christian shook his head again, wincing as if he too had a headache.
“Heard what?” Grayson pressed.
He was sitting up further against the pillows. His body hurt from simply doing this. He knew he didn’t have the energy to get up and go to Christian. His alarm was giving him the sole energy he had.
“Wolves howling,” Christian said. “And not just wolves, but loads of animals. From all over. It was like every creature howled for a moment in solidarity.”
Grayson felt a cold wash flow over him and he wasn’t sure why.
“Everyone seems okay. Ryder is stunned, but…” Christian shook his head again. “It was a soul gem that opened right as they tried to get into the room.”
“Who was in the soul gem?” Grayson asked.
Ryder being stunned was not good. It took a lot to take down his beloved.
Christian frowned. “It doesn’t make sense. The soul gem was empty. It burst when they opened the door and… oh.”
“Christian?” Fiona shook the young Vampire just like Grayson wanted him to.
Christian’s eyes focused on Grayson. “Something’s happened.”
“What?” he asked.
“Ryder’s…” Christian struggled to find the right words.
“What’s happened to him?” Grayson demanded.
“He’sgone.”
Those words washed over him and, before he could think or truly absorb them, Grayson was struggling off of the bed. He didn’t even move a step before he collapsed on the ground.
Ryder’s gone?
Ryder can’t be gone!
I would know!
I don’t feel…
“Grayson!” Fiona cried. “Stop fighting us. Stop fighting! You need to rest.”
“How can I rest if Ryder’s gone? I have to find him–”
“It’s Weryn!” Christian burst out as he, too, helped Fiona get Grayson back into bed. “I’m sorry! I didn’t have a chance to explain!”
“Explain now!” Grayson commanded.
“He’s just Weryn. Ryder… his memories aren’t there,” Christian explained. “He’sjustWeryn! I don’t know! Balthazar and Caemorn are trying to figure it out”
Grayson’s head was pounding and he found himself lying down, trying to breathe around the pain in his head and in his body, even as some part of him tried to fathom this.
