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“I am curious what my youngest fledgling has to say,” Lawson said, staying Natasha’s hand from gesturing for the younger Vampires to serve them.

“No one is saying anything,” Ryder stated firmly and gave Demos a look that said, “Enough.”

“Everyone knows about Lord Ravenscroft, or should I say Eyros,” Demos ignored him, “and Lord Losus, or should I say Kaly.”

“Lord Balthazar Ravenscroft. Exile. Master-killer. And now… recognized as the Immortal Eyros and tasked with running the academy with Lord Caemorn Losus. Former Precept of the Order. Master-killer. And now… recognized as the Immortal Kaly,” Lawson listed off the two Immortals that were running the school. “Are you saying that Ryder bears some resemblance to them?”

Master-killer… What's going on here?

“Walk with me, Master,” Ryder said suddenly as he rose to his feet in an abrupt movement.

Lawson focused on him. “Are you asking me or telling--”

“Walk with me, Master. Please,” Ryder stated.

Demos was glaring daggers at their Master still. Lawson appeared belligerent, but he got to his feet slowly. Ryder towered over him by six inches and was broader by several as well. Ryder started walking down one of the white stone paths that meandered through the courtyard. He did not stop until they reached a water feature. It was a nymph-like creature blowing a horn from which water emerged. The nymph appeared to have fangs.

“Why did you task me to represent the Weryn Bloodline at the academy?” Ryder asked.

His Master was silent. There was shock on his features, but then he hardened them into that belligerent again. “You are my Second--”

“Because you do not seem pleased with me these days,” Ryder continued as if his Master had not spoken. “Why did you choose me then if you have no faith in me? If you would suggest…”

Master-killer…

He couldn’t even say the words. It was insane!

Lawson was quiet again. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lawson wince. His Master felt badly about the tension between them. That had Ryder letting out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.

“It is not you that is displeasing me,” Lawson finally admitted as he reached down and whipped a stray stone into the fountain. “Demos is being disrespectful–”

“He’s only doing that because he feels you’re being unfair to me,” Ryder interrupted. “You know that he is a born protector. He would stand up to anyone.”

“Am I being unfair?”

“You used to be proud of what I can do. Now… now you view it as if it is a failing,” Ryder pointed out. “You and I have always been honest with one another. Now everything you say is veiled. What is going on? What is the source of this--this tension between us?”

Again, he saw the jaw muscle flex in Lawson’s face. Then all of the tension just bled out of him. “Some are saying about you what they said about Balthazar and Caemorn.”

Ryder let out a sharp laugh. “That I’m Weryn reborn?”

His Master nodded. And, for a moment, Ryder felt like he did when he was about to step off a cliff and become a creature of the sky. There was always a moment when he wondered if he would shift or if he would plummet to earth. His stomach quivered with anticipation and nausea. He thrust the feeling away and did not examine it further.

“Well, they are wrong!” Ryder shook his head.

Lawson was quiet for long moments. “I did not select you to represent the Weryn at the academy.”

Ryder’s forehead furrowed and a frown graced his lips. “What are you talking about? You announced it to everyone after–”

“King Daemon told me you would be the representative,” Lawson interrupted this time.

Ryder stared at him silently. He couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing. And his mind refused to draw any conclusions from it. He had a single glance at King Daemon since he’d arrived here. It was at a party to celebrate the Blood Pact with humanity and the upcoming opening of the school.

“Why would he ask for me? We don’t know one another. I am your Second and--”

“Perhaps because he wishes me replaced,” Lawson answered. “You know our ways, Ryder, as, evidently, does he. If you are--are Weryn then you will wish to take your place as our leader.”

And if Ryder did that, he would have to make Lawson bow to him and no Master ever bowed to a Childe in the Weryn. So that left open only a bloody battle where one of them would be given their Second Death.