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Ryder grimaced. You’re making him seem like something he’s not!

Am I? Because every time you think of Lawson like this, you think of your father--

He means nothing to me!

You wish he did, Daemon sounded sad. There is a phrase I have grown to enjoy. History does not repeat, but it does rhyme.

Ryder struggled to fight against the tide of memories of times when Lawson had stepped across a line. And when Ryder had been glad that he didn’t have his own fledgling to protect. He had the House to take care of. That was overwhelming enough. And he remembered the smack of his father’s hand against his mother’s skin overlying all of that.

If you are so sure of him, I want you to imagine him drunk and alone with Grayson, Daemon suggested.

The image immediately popped into Ryder’s head. He felt like his throat was closing up.

No! Ryder cried before he could help himself.

Would your feelings for Grayson not be enough to keep Lawson under control? Could he not do this for you? Daemon murmured. Surely, he wouldn’t harm who you care for no matter how new that caring, would he?

But the images kept coming. Grayson retreating from Lawson’s swaggering form. Grayson telling Lawson to stop. To leave him alone! Threatening to use his powers if he didn’t. But Lawson would keep coming. Lawson would laugh, his silver eyes shining with malicious mirth, not believing that a human like Grayson was anything other than prey.

Does your blood run pure, Grayson? Lawson asked as his gaze focused on Grayson’ throat.

NO! Ryder screamed and he would have tackled Lawson. He would have bashed his head in and… Lawson was not there.

Ryder’s breathing was erratic. He felt more than saw Demos’ head crank to the side to check on him. His Blood Brother knew he was in distress. But there was nothing to be done. And he didn’t want Demos to catch King Daemon’s attention too.

You would have me hate him, Ryder whispered.

Would I? Daemon’s voice was just as soft. Or does part of you hate him already?

I… But Ryder did not finish that sentence.

Daemon was no longer standing in front of him, holding his hand. Instead, the Vampire King was over by Balthazar and Caemorn, speaking softly to both of them. Ryder blinked. When had Daemon moved? When had Daemon left him? He glanced over at Demos who was also blinking as if surfacing from deep water. Both of them shakily got up to their feet.

“... you must only look at today’s memories, Eyros,” Daemon said in an almost cajoling tone.

“But a human with telekinesis! There’s so much there to explore! We need to understand where this comes from!” Balthazar responded to his Immortal name as if he had no other.

“Grayson would be among the only humans we have found with gifts similar to ours,” Caemorn pointed out, somehow surprisingly on Balthazar’s side.

“I realize, Kaly,” Daemon said, calling Caemorn by his Immortal name, too. “But merely because Eyros does not divine the information from Grayson’s mind does not mean we will not learn it.”

Balthazar lifted a sculpted, disbelieving eyebrow. “Yes, but do we really have time to play such games--”

“Games are all we have time for.” Daemon chuckled and patted Balthazar’s shoulder, which had him looking almost mollified. “Besides, sometimes how we gain such information is even more important than the information itself.”

“I can’t see how,” Balthazar sulked.

“I know. But you will,” Daemon answered with a smile. His gaze slid to Ryder. “Grayson will be staying in the Ever Dark as a student of the academy.”

Ryder blinked. He held himself still and tall so he didn’t shrink from that red-eyed stare. Daemon saw so much more than the surface. And the power he exuded made Ryder want to submit. But talking about Grayson made him hold his ground.

“Then I will meet him when it is time to bring him to the school,” Ryder said.

Balthazar lifted an eyebrow. “You’re telling us that you--”

But Daemon lifted a hand and Balthazar was silenced. “Yes, you should finish what you started and get Grayson to where he is supposed to be. But I would see about your wounds and your clothing before that.”

Daemon dipped his head towards Ryder’s still burned chest. He nodded.