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But he shook himself. This was temporary. This was just a port in the storm. He shouldn’t get used to this. It wasn’t his. Yet he stood there, watching the flames paint Ryder’s face, and found himself understanding--if, for just a moment--what eternity could be.

“You heard… I should probably get dressed, but you can stay as long as you like. My rooms are your rooms,” Grayson said formally. “I just want to make sure the magic doesn’t, ah, kick you out just because I leave.”

“I don’t want you to go,” Ryder said, his voice throaty and deep.

“I don’t want to either.” Grayson came to the edge of the couch and rested a bare knee on the armrest as the silk robe fell back.

Ryder reached over and slid his large hand over Grayson’s thigh. A shiver of heat ran through Grayson and he spread his legs wider.

Grayson, tick tock, Balthazar’s voice was in his head.

“Oh, c’mon!” Grayson growled.

Ryder dropped his head back onto the couch. Grayson had a feeling that Balthazar had sent him a different message as Ryder’s fangs were extended.

“Come with us,” Grayson offered almost desperately.

“I cannot.” Ryder flashed fangs again as he glared up at the ceiling. “I am not invited.”

“What? But you and Demos were nearly killed by that woman and--”

“Yes, but he has reminded me that I have a duty to the Weryn and King Daemon,” Ryder said. “One that only I can perform.”

“Kicking Lawson out? Anyone can do--”

“No, they cannot.” Ryder grimaced. “Only I can… make him go.”

Grayson frowned. “Is this some kind of punishment because the Weryn--”

“Yes and no,” Ryder said. “We’ve chosen this.”

I wish you would choose something else, Grayson thought unkindly.

But he pushed the thought away.

“Will I see you later?” Grayson’s voice cracked a bit. This was ridiculous. They’d had sex. It had been great. He wanted to do it again. This wasn’t--

“Of course. I’ll meet up with you as soon as possible.” Ryder smiled up at him.

“Oh. Cool. I’m sure I’ll have lots to tell you and you me,” Grayson said.

“Indeed.”

Ryder reached for him and brought Grayson down for a long kiss. He could feel the faint press of Ryder’s fangs and his cock stirred. Being fed from was the most incredible experience. He wanted that again for sure. Maybe tonight? Or later that day? Or… as soon as possible?

Grayson, we have no time for that. You already got your fun time, now come, Balthazar insisted.

Grayson pulled back and rolled his eyes as he explained, “Balthazar is calling.”

“Yes.” Another brief kiss and Ryder stared into his eyes for long moments as if memorizing him.

“I’ll see you soon.”

Grayson forced himself to step away. He forced himself to turn.

He forced himself to walk to the closet and grab clothes before he slipped into the bathroom.

He brushed his teeth and dressed. He had grabbed randomly, but the clothes ended up being much more his style or the style he would choose if he had ridiculous amounts of money.

He pulled on a pair of jeans so dark they were almost black.

He topped it with a cashmere sweater that was black and had a v-neck.

The sweater, though thin, was incredibly warm.

It hugged his body and looked incredible.

Thick socks and his boots from last night were almost the finishing touch.

But the last thing he put on was his favorite.

It was black leather jacket with a popped collar of tan suede.

It completely rocked. He smiled at his reflection.

He had to show Ryder this outfit. He eagerly exited the bathroom and jogged into the bedroom.

“Ryder! Check this… out,” Grayson’s voice fell.

Ryder was not there. The bed was made. But his clothes were gone and the Vampire inside of them was too. Grayson tried to tell himself that his heart was not falling into his feet. That he wasn’t completely crushed by Ryder’s absence. That…

There was a note on the bed. It was folded over.

Grayson picked it up. He unfolded it. The script was beautiful.

It was the handwriting of another time when people had truly practiced the art of script.

Grayson’s handwriting was chicken scratch in comparison.

It was a simple message yet it filled Grayson with warmth.

I was afraid that if I didn’t leave now that I wouldn’t. I will find you.

R.

Grayson found himself smiling stupidly down at the note. He’d show Ryder his outfit later when Ryder found him. Yeah, that was what the plan was. He slipped the folded note into an interior pocket of his jacket and headed out of his bedroom.

He expected to hear voices in the common area as Amara attempted to make uncomfortable conversation with Balthazar and Caemorn, but there was no noise.

He was right about the uncomfortable part.

Amara was sitting at the kitchen island with a mug of coffee between her hands.

Eiji was brewing tea. Caemorn stood-- stiffly --by the fireplace with his hands crossed at the wrists at his lower back.

Balthazar and Mairead were at the pool table.

Balthazar had a pool cue in one hand and was gracefully circling the table, which was covered with balls.

Mairead had her pool cue over her shoulders with her wrists hanging over with it.

She was smirking though she quickly hid that expression behind a bland facade.

She was also wearing a pair of footie pajamas.

“I take it that you’ve met everyone?” Grayson asked.

“You took too long,” Caemorn said dryly. “Now we have this problem .”

Caemorn tipped his head towards the other Vampire. Grayson looked back at Balthazar who was studying the pool table like it held the secrets to the universe on it. Grayson blinked.

“Huh, I didn’t realize he could be so easily distracted,” Grayson said, not quite hiding his annoyance that he had lost time with Ryder, because there was such a rush to get to the interrogation.

Not so much of a rush that Balthazar can’t engage in a round of pool.

“He is like a magpie and everything is a shiny object,” Caemorn replied tartly.

“This won’t take but a moment,” Balthazar said with an airy wave.

“Balthazar, the woman brought her own pool table. She’s got to be pretty good at the game,” Caemorn said with a tight press of lips.

“Yes, but I have Vampire reflexes and other skills,” Balthazar said as he continued to circle the table.

“It’s solids and stripes, Balthazar. You’re solids, remember?” Mairead said in an almost sweet sing-song voice. She tapped her footie pajamaed feet against the floor.

“I may be old, dear girl, but my memory is perfect,” Balthazar sniffed. “So I do recall what we decided two minutes ago.”

“I’m just saying. You’ve been circling the table for some time,” Mairead teased. “I thought maybe you forgot.”

“I’m looking at all my options,” Balthazar said.

“We could make this really interesting and put a wager on it,” Mairead suggested.

“Oh, no,” Caemorn muttered.

“Why not?” Balthazar chuckled.

“Okay. If I win, I want…” Mairead tapped her chin. “... a private night in the Eyros Palace!”

“Oh, my, now that’s a request.” Balthazar flashed her a smile.

Caemorn rolled his eyes. “Balthazar, really --”

“Come now, Caemorn! The young woman is skilled and she asks for what she wants. I respect that,” Balthazar said.

“And what do you want if you win, Balthazar?” Mairead asked.

“That is a good question. I may wait to tell you what I want for when I need it,” Balthazar said.

“If you win,” Mairead snorted then sobered, “which I’m sure you will.”

“I can read minds, young lady. You are certain I will lose.” Balthazar though did not look displeased.

Eiji stepped up beside Grayson and offered a delicate, handleless cup of steaming jasmine tea.

Grayson took it with a smile. Tea wasn’t his thing.

And Balthazar had told him they needed to leave , but clearly there was more than enough time to drink this down and not be rude. The smell and warmth were rather nice

“Stop pouting, Grayson,” Balthazar said, “if I had let you and Ryder have sex again we would have been here for far longer.”

“You had sex with Ryder?!” Mairead was like a dog and he was a bone. She was staring at him all agog.

“Didn’t you see him leave?” Grayson asked casually even as his cheeks burned.

“He moved swiftly and did not stop for conversation,” Eiji said as he sipped his tea.

“And I was in the bathroom so I guess I missed him.” Mairead shrugged. “But did you really have sex with him? And did he drink your blood? What was that like? Did you experience--”

“I believe his sex life is private, Mairead,” Amara said with a sigh.

“Yes, but Ryder’s a Weryn!” Mairead cried as if that made all the difference in the world. “And Weryn are--”

“Very dumb,” Caemorn growled.

“They’re not dumb!” Grayson heard the high-pitched defense in his voice.

“Of course they are not. They are very smart, especially Ryder, which is why I believe he will come around to see reason,” Balthazar said, even as he never looked up from the table.

Caemorn merely shook his head.

“So it’s true then that the Weryn are not participating in the school? That they aren’t taking on any fledglings?” Amara frowned.

“Yes, for now, they are not,” Balthazar answered.

Grayson felt the urge to defend Ryder. “They’re worried about what happened during the War. They have a method for making fledglings that ensures they’re the right fit and that they aren’t crazy or whatever.”

“The War? What War is this?” Amara asked. She reminded him of Mairead for a moment as she sat up very straight on the stool.

“It’s a long story,” Caemorn said coldly. “And you will learn about it in due time.”

“Are they wrong? That it’s dangerous to turn people unless you’re really sure?” Grayson pressed.

“Things must change,” Balthazar answered.

“Because Daemon wants things to change?” Grayson asked.

“Yes, because King Daemon knows what is best. He is beyond your understanding,” Caemorn answered, his voice arctic. “Do not think to question him.”

“That’s a red flag to a bull, Caemorn. Grayson-- wisely , I might add--questions everything,” Balthazar said.

Grayson grimaced. “I’m not meaning to suggest anything negative about him. It’s just the Weryn don’t feel like they’ve been heard.”

“They were heard and understood,” Balthazar answered softly as he leaned forward over the pool table.

He expertly moved the cue in his hands as he aimed at the cue ball.

With a solid clack the cue ball hit the nearest solid ball, which hit another solid ball, which hit two more and…

they all went into the pockets except for the black eight ball.

Everyone blinked except for Caemorn and Balthazar.

Balthazar took aim at the black eight ball and sank it easily.

He let out a sigh of satisfaction. He had won with two shots.

Mairead’s mouth was hanging open in comic dismay.

“The Weryn fear the wrong things, Grayson,” Balthazar said as he handed Mairead his stick. “And I hope you’ll help me convince Ryder of that. Now we’ve got things to do.”