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“They’re really planning on staying, aren’t they?” Grayson muttered to Ryder.

Ryder snorted. “Pack like you already belong. It’s a strategy.”

“I guess.”

They’d made it to the wide, broad stairs that led up to the dorm. To call this place a dorm was like calling the Ritz Carlton a no-tell motel. No, this place matched and exceeded the luxurious buildings he had seen in London and New York. The brass doors were polished to a mirror-like shine. The glass was spotless. The white and black marble floor of the large foyer formed the school’s crest.

“Balthazar is really into branding,” Grayson muttered.

“What’s weird is that he didn’t do this. The city itself did. It just appeared here after this site was chosen for the students,” Ryder told him.

Grayson frowned. “Seriously? I mean… you said the city was alive, but--”

“I know. It still shocks me. The Ever Dark is a mystery to us. One of the many,” Ryder answered. “Ah, looks like they’re waiting for us.”

“Who?” Grayson asked as he looked in the direction that Ryder was staring and he came up short. “That’s Julian Harrow!”

“Prince Julian,” Ryder corrected softly. “Yes, he and Christian are playing greeters tonight.”

“They aren’t here because of me, right?” Grayson frowned.

“Not completely, but you’re one of the chosen ones they’re focused on. They are here to help out, but also because they are familiar figures to humanity,” Ryder explained. “Seeing them calms people, reminds them of why they chose to apply to the academy.”

“You really did read that 500-page manual, didn’t you?” Grayson snorted.

“That was just Balthazar’s addendum, but yes, I read everything.” Ryder nodded, looking a little unhappy.

Julian Harrow and Christian Thorne were the Vampires to know in human terms. They started out as paranormal adventurers with a huge Youtube following. Once they’d been turned into Vampires by none other than King Daemon and Lord Balthazar themselves, they’d used their show and fame to explain the existence of Vampires to the mortal world. Basically, they had made Vampires accessible as well as cool.

If you’re into that sort of thing...

Grayson had watched every one of their videos. He’d done so in order to know the enemy, so to speak. But he had to admit a slight sense of awe in seeing them in the flesh, especially, when he looked into Julian’s purple eyes. Unlike all other Vampires, even the Immortals excluding Daemon, Julian had purple eyes instead of silver or King Daemon’s red. He was also said to have all the gifts from every Bloodline as well as some super secret ones. Grayson felt suddenly absurd for having worried about having telekinesis when he compared himself to the Vampires around him.

“You shouldn’t feel that way,” Christian Thorne said, appearing at his side. “You were alone with this ability that you have no idea where it came from. We get ours after having to accept a whole lot of things. The gift part is really the easiest. Imagine being told that to survive you have to drink blood. It’s an interesting thought experiment.”

“Yeah, I--I guess I can see that,” Grayson said, not sure what he really saw. There were too many people in the foyer and he felt utterly exposed.

“Nightvallen is big. The Ever Dark is bigger. You’ll have space to breathe soon,” Christian told him. “I’m not fond of crowds myself.”

How does he know that? Oh, right...

“Uhm, you’re Christian--”

“Thorne, yes. I’m one of Balthazar’s fledglings. Eyros Vampire. That’s how I know. Also, Balthazar let me listen in on your conversations earlier so you don’t have to worry about filling me or Julian in.”

Christian had blond hair that fell in waves to his chin. He was fine-featured with an almost fox-like prettiness to him. He was dressed in a pair of slim, dark jeans, a black turtleneck and a black coat with a popped collar. His silver eyes flickered over Grayson’s face as if memorizing it or looking for something.

“You’ve had a hard night, but you seem no worse for wear. You’re very resilient, I imagine. You’ve had to be. Come, let me introduce you to Julian and then we’ll take you to your rooms for you to meet your quad-mates,” Christian said. “Ryder, I’m sure you’ll want to get back to your Bloodline in preparation for the parade. We’ll take things from here.”

“Wait, a parade? You’re going to be in a parade?” Grayson swung around to face Ryder, even as heart squeezed into his throat.

He’d been fine with Balthazar, but he’d known that Ryder was waiting for him nearby. Now Ryder would be going off to his people and Grayson would be alone…

But alone was how he liked it! Alone was how he’d always dealt with things. This ridiculous need to see a familiar face in the midst of all this change was dangerous and unworthy of him. He needed to--Ryder touched his arm. The racing thoughts quieted. Grayson drew in a deep breath.

“It’s more of an exhibition. To show the students our gifts in a more carnival barker like setting,” Ryder remarked dryly. “No offense to your Master, Christian.”

“I actually agree with you, but he does like his spectacles.” Christian shrugged, not offended seemingly in the least. “He understands people way more than you or I so maybe we should follow what he suggests?”