Page 12

Hold Me

G rayson skidded to a halt before Ryder, placing himself between the Vampire and the rest of the Weryn.

He did not have a plan.

He wasn’t even sure who he would be talking to.

Weryn or Ryder or someone inbetween. Balthazar and Caemorn were Immortals reborn, but they were themselves.

But Ryder was different. Balthazar was still reeling from whatever he had read from Ryder’s mind.

Unease flowed through Grayson. Weryn seemed so different from Ryder.

He moved differently. Spoke differently.

Laughed differently. He was so cold. Angry.

Where Ryder had been warm, Weryn was ice.

Ryder is still in there though. He’s got to be.

But it wasn’t just the who that he didn’t have a plan for. He didn’t know if anything he said or did would stop this. He and Ryder had only known one another for 24-hours. They’d gone through a lot in that time, but if Demos couldn’t reach Ryder, why did Grayson think he could?

But he kept seeing Ryder smiling at him that morning. He still felt the warmth of that note.

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

I will find you.

I will.

The crowd was watching them as well. Just as they had the fight between Lawson and Ryder.

They leaned forward in their seats to see him face down Weryn.

There was a kind of vulpine interest in all their silver eyes that disgusted Grayson.

He’d always been outside of the crowd, the odd man out, the weird one, so he’d never been swept up in a mass event like this.

He understood it. He could feel it. Taste it.

Sense it like heat in the air. But he found it gross and weak to allow the crowd’s judgment to replace one’s own.

So he understood Weryn’s desire to burn it all down.

Except that’s not what Ryder wants.

The amused look on Ryder-Weryn’s face as Grayson held up one hand before him seemed to bode well though.

At least, he didn’t look prepared to turn Grayson into a red smear on the ground like Lawson.

Still, Grayson did gather his power up inside of him just in case he had to stop Ryder for his own good.

Even though Daemon, Julian, Balthazar and Caemorn were all there--not to mention all of these other Vampires and Immortals--he had a weird feeling that he was on his own.

That what he did would determine things.

Always together, a voice whispered in his mind. It was from the dream. For the first time, he truly wanted to believe it was something more.

“R-Ryder!” Grayson heard a needy crack in his voice. He’d been holding in the desire to defend Ryder for so long. His emotions threaded through his words. “You’re okay!”

And that was a ridiculous thing to say. Despite allowing Lawson to punch him a few dozen times, Ryder showed no sign of anything being wrong with him.

In fact, he practically glowed with health and strength.

And he’d wiped the floor with Lawson when he chose to act.

Like Daemon had said, Ryder had never been in any danger.

Yet it had been Hell to watch him fight alone.

“I mean… of course you are,” Grayson amended. “I’m just glad.”

He let his fingers lightly brush the center of Ryder’s bare chest. Ryder looked down at Grayson’s hand.

It appeared so damned small against that massive torso.

Ryder smiled and lifted his eyes to Grayson’s face.

They smoldered with desire. But not in the same way that they had that morning.

There was none of the warmth or tenderness or safety that there had been.

Grayson was petting a wild animal and there was just as much a chance that Ryder would bite him as kiss him.

Shit.

“Grayson,” Demos said desperately, “you should go back to King Daemon.”

Sweat had appeared on Demos’ dark skin. His hands flexed at his sides. Grayson guessed Demos was considering tossing Grayson over his shoulder and simply running with him at full bore away from there. But that would be a really bad idea.

If we run, he’ll chase.

“Yeah, but if I step aside, every Weryn but you is going to die, Demos,” Grayson answered, not taking his eyes off of Ryder.

“And you think I won’t because you’re here?” Ryder sounded amused.

That voice was deeper and darker than it had been before. It was also shocking to hear. Did Grayson think Ryder was so wild that the power of speech had left him?

“Do you know who I am?” Grayson asked. It wasn’t a challenge. It wasn’t said in offence. It was said as a plea. Don’t you remember me? Don’t you remember you? “You remembered Demos, but… do you remember me?”

“You’re the boy I was with earlier today. It was pleasing,” Ryder answered. “You were pleasing, but you cannot think that I will change my plans simply because we enjoyed one another for a short time.”

Grayson winced. “Yeah, I really deserve that. I was the one that told you it was nothing. No big deal. Just sex. Not special.”

Always together.

I will find you.

“Oh? Was it something more for you? Are you going to confess your love for me now?” This had a broad smile crossing that handsome face that seemed to have a more devilish cast to it.

“That would hardly make a difference to you , now would it?” Grayson pointed out, even as his insides twisted a little. “People fall in love with Vampires all the time. Immortals probably more so, right?”

Ryder just smiled more broadly, confirming his beliefs. Vampires could only love other Vampires. Mortals simply didn’t live long enough to matter.

But so long as he’s listening to me, he’s not attacking anyone. This is a win. So what if I feel like I’m taking a peeler to my skin to say this stuff?

“But I’m pretty sure that our time together meant a lot more to both of us than what we were willing to say at the time,” Grayson admitted.

Always together.

I will find you.

Ryder’s expression went smooth, almost unreadable. So he was right. It had meant more. And that was all sorts of insane. Uncertainty then filled those silver eyes as if Ryder was trying to puzzle out what those emotions that morning had been.

Grayson imagined that the weight of all of Weryn’s memories and personality was simply crushing those few hundred years as Ryder, let alone a few hours this morning.

But Ryder was still there. Those silver eyes reminded Grayson of mercury as it moved and shifted.

It was mesmerizing. They were a little like Daemon’s eyes.

Not human. Not Vampire even. Immortal. Whatever that is.

Out of the corner of his own eye, Grayson saw one of the seemingly younger Weryn Vampires start to move. She was the one that hadn’t been able to hold herself still the entire fight. The smell of fear rolled off of her in waves. Even his human senses caught wind of that acrid, bitter scent.

“Irine,” Demos hissed, not moving himself. “No, don’t .”

Demos knew what Grayson did. If she ran, Weryn would chase. Weryn not Ryder.

“Irine, please, stay still,” Demos begged. A thick drop of sweat rolled down his face.

But Irine either couldn’t or wouldn’t help herself. Grayson could feel her about to take off. Sense the muscles in her legs bunching up. Hear the whoosh of her blood. Ryder’s eyes slipped past Grayson to her, to Irine. A smile curled his lips. His eyes danced with the desire to kill.

A predator wants to chase.

She sprung forward, but Grayson stopped her. She gave out a little gasp of shock. Her eyes went wider than they already were. But she was frozen in place. Grayson had her in his powers. He kept her where she was.

Demos breathed out, “Thank the Immortals.”

Demos gave Grayson a nod. He knew what Grayson had done.

Ryder frowned. He looked hard at Grayson.

Had he forgotten what Grayson could do? Yes, those Ryder memories were in the deep sea depths and he couldn’t access them fully.

But he was sensing that Grayson had something to do with her not running.

“You are full of surprises,” Ryder murmured. “Holding her in place for me is hardly going to save her though. It is actually helpful.”

“How much stronger are Immortals from Vampires?” Grayson asked.

Ryder pursed his lips, but did not answer.

“Twice as strong? Three times? No, more like ten, twenty, 100 times? What about 1000 times stronger?” Grayson asked.

“What is your point in this?” Ryder asked.

“She’s not a threat. She’s not even worthy prey,” Grayson said. The last part he was guessing about. “Is she?”

“You’re right. She’s inconsequential. But also hardly worthy of my Bloodline,” Ryder pointed out. “She is weak and pathetic. That’s why I wish to destroy her and all these other cur!”

Grayson saw the other Weryn cringe down. They weren’t alone. The vulpine looks from the other Vampires had turned to ones of alarm. Maybe they weren’t safe simply because they were the audience. Daemon wasn’t lifting a finger to save the Weryn. Maybe he wouldn’t to save them either.

“Demos, how strong are you compared to Irine?” Grayson asked.

Demos’ eyes flickered to Irine and then back to him.

It was clear he wondered where the Hell Grayson was going with this.

Grayson wondered that too. But, finally, Demos answered, “She looks small, but she’s fast. Fighting her is actually difficult.

He won’t stay still. Likes to come up from behind. ”

“So effective in her own way?” Grayson was having trouble holding her as she wiggled. “Strong in her own way?”

Demos nodded. “We’ve fought and she’s won half the time.”

“You were loyal to me when these fools were not ,” Ryder snapped. “Your strength is irrelevant! I will make you stronger!”

“I appreciate that. I have your back. I always will. But,” Demos grimaced, “she's just a kid, Ryder--Weryn. She’s the last fledgling we’ve made.”

“What a poor choice,” Ryder answered as he regarded her dispassionately.