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Unless Weryn returns and changes things.

His mind went back to his experience with Grayson the night before. The dream was so very strange… For it had to be a dream. Not a memory. Not… not whatever it had felt like.

“What happened? And if something did happen, why didn’t Ryder tell us?” This was a younger Weryn Vampire named Irine who protested.

She had the same quick birdlike movements as her animal form, a murmuration of starlings.

With her pixie cut of blonde hair around a heart-shaped, golden-skinned face, she only appeared fifteen-years-old, but was actually 157.

But despite the years tempering her some, she always led with suspicion and dismay.

Ryder knew why. She’d be sold into slavery by her own father and expected betrayal by everyone. So he wasn’t surprised that she assumed she had a right to know everything, and that if she wasn’t told, treachery was afoot.

“The Immortals have shown the human great favor,” the warm, but neutral voice of Siban murmured. “Perhaps there is a good reason that Ryder takes such an interest. We should wait to hear from him.”

Siban was the oldest of the Weryn Vampires that still survived.

They were a War Childe, too, but seemed not to have taken the psychic damage that others of her ilk had done.

It was rumored that Siban’s Master was Weryn himself, but they did not speak of it.

With their closely shaved head of black hair and almond-shaped eyes, Siban had the body of a dancer or a martial artist. Their animal form was that of an arctic fox with brilliant white fur.

Ryder had always respected Siban’s calm and measured response to most situations, but again, like with Harlan, Siban kept their distance from Ryder. But also like Harlan, Siban was not Lawson’s biggest fan either.

“He spent the night away with that human, too. He makes us look like fools,” Irine cried.

Ryder realized that these four Weryn Vampires were considered leaders in the Bloodline, even if they did not run their own Houses. They were ones that the other Weryn entrusted with their thoughts. So what they were saying likely was what the majority of the Weryn were thinking.

“Lawson didn’t call them to him. They came to him,” Demos murmured.

“Have they said anything about Grayson’s abilities?” Ryder asked.

He couldn’t be sure who had caught what the night before.

Balthazar had, indeed, taken care of many of the Vampires who had seen but he hadn’t done anything on the Weryn.

Ryder had felt a mixture of annoyance and relief that Weryn minds hadn’t been touched.

Relief, because did not all Vampires fear the Eyros for this very ability?

But annoyance, because it meant he would have to deal with it.

Yet relief again that Balthazar, evidently, thought he could deal with it. Well, Daemon thought so.

“Some. Siban and Harlan noticed. Irine is too busy looking for shadows to see what enters the light,” Demos answered.

Correction. Demos and I have to deal with it. And Demos has been dealing with it himself so far.

“How much grief have you gotten?” Ryder asked apologetically.

Demos shrugged his big shoulders. “No more than I can handle. How is Grayson?”

Ryder couldn’t help the smile that bloomed on his face. Demos shook his head and chuckled.

“He’s good. He’s… really good.” Ryder cleared his throat. “I don’t think discussing him now is a good idea.”

“No, they know you’re here and they’re listening.” Demos tipped his head towards the house.

Ryder clapped his shoulder. “Thank you for running interference and alerting me.”

“Anytime, Brother.” Demos nodded. “Time to do this thing?”

“Yes,” Ryder answered.

And the two of them walked into the house and right back out again into the courtyard where the others waited.

Lawson was ensconced on a large pile of pillows, his chin resting on one hand.

Natasha stood behind him, her arms tightly wound around her chest. Siban leaned against a tree, legs crossed at the ankle, seemingly relaxed, but ready.

Harlan was sitting on a boulder, sharpening a knife.

Irine moved restlessly around the group.

They knew he had heard them. They thought that he was there to explain himself. The way that Demos took a stance by his left side, hands grasped in front of him, flexing almost menacingly, told Ryder that Demos thought they were on the defensive too. But Ryder was going to disappoint them all.

He was here on the offense . He had come to clean up his Bloodline.

“Why are you still here, Lawson?” Ryder asked as he stood in front of the other man, legs shoulder-width apart.

The way all of the Vampires shifted in surprise and then stilled told Ryder he had scored a point.

Demos smiled and chuckled while shaking his head.

Siban’s eyes narrowed, but a small smile played over their mouth.

Harlan’s eyebrows lifted. Irine hands fluttered at her sides.

And Natasha frowned as her gaze shot down towards Lawson.

His Master pursed his lips and didn’t even look up at Ryder.

At that moment, Ryder thought of their last conversation in this place.

Did he think that Ryder had let Daemon’s assignment of control of the Weryn to him go to his head?

Or maybe Ryder was starting to take all those rumors about him being Weryn reborn seriously finally?

Or maybe the moment he made this about me versus him it was a self-defeating prophecy that we would come to blows.

Is that where I’m going with this?

Do I want that to be where this goes?

“Why I am not gone is the same reason you did not come home last night,” Lawson finally answered.

Ryder said nothing. He did not defend himself or explain what he was doing with Grayson.

Lawson’s hard silver eyes met his. “Did you think King Daemon was going to make this easy for us?”

Ryder made no response. He wasn’t sure where Lawson was going with this.

“That boy… Grayson’s unique. Special .” Lawson’s lips pursed as he said the words as if he tasted them.

Does your blood run pure, Grayson?

Ryder’s jaw suddenly ached as his fangs were down and he was clenching his teeth. His lips were firmly pressed together so he hoped that no one knew.

“I am betting,” Lawson said as he drew an invisible symbol on the pillows with one hand, “that among the students in this class will be ones that will appeal to the Weryn most of all. Students that are perfect for us.”

Irine gave a little gasp. “But if that’s true then--”

“Of course, it’s true,” Harlan laughed darkly. “Daemon is the hunter. We are the prey. The students are the bait!”

“Though he appears benevolent, King Daemon is king ,” Siban murmured. “He will not allow our intransigence to stand.”

“But it must stand,” Lawson said and slammed his hands against his thighs.

“Most of you are too young to have known Legion and the other of the War Children. You excepted, Siban. Ryder, you and Demos have hunted them, but you have no idea what it was to share a House with them. To be pack with them.”

Demos’ forehead darkened. “We know enough of them to take them down, Lawson. And they aren’t family to us. They aren’t pack. They’re out of control monsters.”

“They are at that. But you have to understand that we loved them. They are Blood and we loved them despite all the evil they did,” Lawson said and raked his hands through his hair.

“We do understand,” the words were out of Ryder’s mouth before he could catch them.

But Lawson thought he was saying Ryder and Demos, once again, understood by hunting them and not personal experience. “To have your Master--”

“Attack someone you care for?” Ryder cut in.

And everyone went still. Demos’ silver eyes were on Ryder, unblinking. Harlan stopped mid-sharpening of his knife.

“Ryder,” Lawson winced as he said his name, “that was a misunderstanding--”

“No.” To have his own pathetic words used here had anger burning inside of him.

“No, you didn’t misunderstand anything. You didn't make a mistake . You did exactly what you intended to do.” He crossed his arms at the wrists and began to walk towards Lawson.

“So let me get this straight. You believe that Daemon has ensured that there are students of the school perfect for us as fledglings. Namely, that Grayson is perfect for me, yes?”

“Am I wrong?” Lawson asked. “Daemon wants to make this painful. He wants to divide us by offering our heart’s desire, but if we take it, we lose!”

“You believe that I want Grayson for a fledgling. You believe it whether it’s true or not,” Ryder continued, his lips numb. “But you attacked him last night knowing this. A human. A young man. You attacked the person you believe is my heart’s desire.”

The betrayal laced through his words. He had thought that Lawson knew he was interested in Grayson, but this was so much more. He thought Grayson was Ryder’s. And he still attacked him.

“He’s a trap, Ryder,” Lawson said carefully as he got to his feet and put his hands out to Ryder. “He’s not what he seems.”

“I know exactly who and what Grayson is,” Ryder said coldly.

He was shaking. His hands were shaking. He felt like one of those ice bombs that when they went off they destroyed everything around them.

“Don’t you see that I’m trying to save you?

” Lawson actually pleaded. “Daemon is trying to put a wedge between all of us. As each finds a potential fledgling, we’ll lose sight of our traditions, our goals, the need to keep control of who we turn.

The War time could return and more fledglings like Legion--”

“Who cares about Legion when there’s you ?” Ryder found himself saying. “Even if everything you’ve said is true, you still hurt Grayson! You hurt him! My potential Childe. Your Grandchilde.”

“He’s sorry, Ryder,” Natasha cried. “You should have heard him crying all last night! He wanted to go to you and explain, but--”

“I wouldn’t let him,” Demos interrupted.

“You needed to cool off, Ryder,” Lawson admitted. “But it meant you were with Grayson longer . I can smell him on you. I can smell his blood on your breath. Your eyes are shining.”

Ryder felt absurdly exposed. He knew that these things were obvious to other Vampires, when they fed and from whom.

Lawson suddenly clasped Ryder’s hands in his. “You asked why I haven’t left, I will leave here, but only if you come with me.”

Ryder reared back and pulled his hands away. The thought of leaving was abhorrent to him. “King Daemon appointed me--”

“Is a king more important than your Master?” Lawson’s bloodshot eyes gazed into his. “What about your Bloodline? Ryder, I know you. If you stay here, you will turn Grayson. All we’ve fought for will be lost. Don’t you see?”

“What I see is a Vampire who has sought to harm me,” Ryder growled. “Who has accused me of treachery without any proof or understanding. Who seeks to undermine me. Who puts us at risk of being called traitors by our king.”

Lawson lifted his chin. “I am doing what I must. No matter the cost.”

“You must leave, Lawson,” Ryder said.

“I must stay ,” Lawson objected. “To save my fledgling. To save my Bloodline. There is nothing you can do about it.”

Ryder closed his eyes. He breathed slowly. Maybe it was always going to come to this. He opened them. “Yes, there is. I challenge you for the leadership of the Weryn, Lawson Hughes.”