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Jane crossed her legs the other way. “But you weren’t always successful. There were some Vampires that you had to cull , correct?”

Who told her about the War Children? Caemorn asked.

She doesn’t know who sent her the information, only that it has checked out, Balthazar answered with a sweep of her mind.

“We have been open about that. Not everyone can handle the gift of Vampirism, but we did not have myself, Caemorn or Seeyr--along with countless other Vampires--investigating every single potential fledgling,” Balthazar reminded her.

“Yet, even with all that extra security, I know that there are certain students who have quite the checkered pasts,” Jane said.

Balthazar frowned slightly as he slid through her mind. He saw the documents she downloaded from the shared file site. He saw the photographs of over a dozen students.

“You claim to not want to endanger humans or Vampires with your choices, but I happen to know that several of them are dangerous now as humans,” she said, eyes focused on him.

“One of them is even a murderer . So, tell me, how could giving such a person the gift of Vampirism be keeping humanity safe? Unless, what you’re really looking for are recruits for an army to keep Vampires safe from humanity. ”

Ryder lifted Grayson so that the young man’s bare back was pressed against the cool shower wall. Grayson gasped into their kiss and his legs tightened around Ryder’s waist at the change of temperature. Ryder grinned.

Hot water sluiced down their bodies, slicking Ryder’s hair against his scalp and over his eyes. He drew back from the kiss to shake it away. He didn’t want to miss a moment of this.

Ashyr , Weyrn whispered, but it was his whisper as well.

Grayson was Ashyr. Ashyr was back. Ashyr was his. The General and the Soldier. How could this not be meant?

Not everyone was so pleased, Weryn murmured. Most were not.

Ryder tried to shake away the voice. He didn’t want this knowledge now when they were entwined around one another. Grayson was like a vine wrapped around his body. Limber and lithe and loving.

We hid our love for so long, but after Daemon went to sleep, there was no comfort, but in each other’s arms, Weryn muttered. And that was noticed.

Who would care if we were together? Ryder found himself asking. Was someone else in love with Ashyr? In love with us?

Wild laughter at that. No, not love. Never love. Just power and the danger of it shifting away.

What do you mean? Daemon is our king. We, Immortals, all have an equal place beneath him, Ryder pushed back as his tongue stroked along Grayson’s.

But power doubled is not the same. A love match. A pack. That shifts everything, Weryn explained.

So Kaly killed Ashyr because we loved one another? And they feared we would rise above the others? Ryder guessed.

In that diseased mind, it was the only reason for such a commitment, Weryn answered.

But no one will feel the same now, will they? With Daemon returned? Ryder asked.

But Weryn only whispered, Ashyr, Ashyr, Ashyr.

Grayson cupped his face, forcing Ryder to focus upon him. “Hey, I lost you. Where did you go?”

Ryder opened his mouth to explain, but ended up only shaking his head.

“I’m fine , Ryder. Daemon did a number on me. I admit I’ll sleep deep, but I’m more than okay for this,” Grayson assured him.

Their clothes were shucked off and discarded like petals on a windy day. Steam swirled around the marble space, causing the candle flames to look as if they had halos around them of gold.

He had found Grayson in here staring at himself in the mirror as if seeking to look past the image reflected back at him. But while Ryder had done much the same earlier, Grayson wasn’t afraid of what might be behind the image, but seeking it.

He would toss out this life as inconsequential. But it’s not, Ryder thought.

The General has no time for weakness, Weryn’s voice fluttered across his brain. He blames himself for what happened, even though he was gone…

“If you’re sure then I am sure. I would never turn down a chance to kiss you, to taste you, to make love to you,” Ryder told him.

Grayson’s head shifted to the side as he looked at Ryder with such deep affection.

“I already felt connected with you when we first met. It was terrifying to me. To feel that for a stranger? For a predator? For the person who could reveal all my secrets to the world, but had no reason to save me from that revelation?”

Ryder leaned in and kissed a crown across Grayson’s forehead. “I’m so sorry that you felt that way.”

“It wasn’t your fault. You didn’t make me feel it. It was a coping mechanism.” Grayson’s eyes grew distant as if remembering. “I’m glad I told you about my stepfather and mother. The memories are getting fainter.”

Ryder felt that same thrill of alarm he did whenever Grayson talked about forgetting this life.

But why? It was not a good one. And he’s here now. There is plenty he must deal with. Do I want him stuck in that misery?

Grayson shook himself and his gaze focused once more on Ryder. He was smiling again. “I wonder if I’ll seem different to Mairead and the others. We didn’t have much time together. So maybe they won’t notice.”

“You’re really intent on being a student with them?” Ryder felt his fangs come out a little at the thought of Grayson, exposed somehow, as a student to whatever dangers there were.

Grayson nodded. “We must find the people the Sect sent here and how they got through our defenses. Traitors cannot be allowed.”

“No, they can’t.”

Grayson’s eyes had shone as he’d said that. Ashyr was ever Daemon’s loyal General. His greatest duty was to their king. Whatever others might criticize of him, Grayson would know his faults, but Daemon was king. And that, in the end, was all that mattered.

“We’ll find them. We’ll get things sorted,” Grayson said softly. Then that bright smile returned and he raked his fingers through Ryder’s wet hair. “I do love your face. I can’t remember the other one. But I can just see you behind those eyes. This is you. I am me. We’re together.”

“Always.”

The diffuse golden light scattered across Grayson’s bare chest, lighting up a coffee-colored nipple in the half-dark room.

His Vampiric senses didn’t need any light to see Grayson perfectly.

He could see him as if it were high noon, but he kept his eyes half lidded to keep the joy of erotic, half-light.

His lips dove down Grayson’s chest to latch onto one of those nubs.

Grayson hissed and his head jerked back, thudding against the tile, but--though still human and fragile --he didn’t seem to mind.

A low whine made its way out of Grayson’s parted lips.

Grayson’s eyelids were closed as he clearly concentrated on the sensation of Ryder sucking on his sensitive areolas.

Ryder allowed his tongue to follow the circle of softer skin on Grayson’s chest and linger over the tightening nub.

It was like licking an ice cream cone, but the only sweetness was the taste of Grayson’s skin.

His fangs lengthened and the desire to sink his fangs into Grayson’s chest and feed nearly overwhelmed him.

He sought to pull back, but Grayson’s hands were pushing on the back of his head, keeping Ryder’s mouth right where it was.

“Don’t stop,” Grayson got out with a shuddery breath. “We don’t when… we don’t how many times we can… I don’t want to miss out on this.”

In case he’s drinking from someone other than me in the future? And they are drinking from him? Master and Childe. Master and fledgling. Or more like Witness to Immortal.

Ryder shut his eyes tightly. He felt a quivering rage inside of him at the thought. But he wasn’t a fool. He had heard all of Grayson’s arguments, his own counters, but, more importantly, Daemon’s non-committal answers. Their king did not seem keen on their union.

Making Ashyr and Weryn pack would threaten some of the other Bloodlines, Ryder realized. But it’s already begun. Kaly and Eyros are intertwined. So why not us?

His mouth opened and his teeth sank into sweet, supple flesh.

The burst of blood flowed over his tongue and down his throat.

His fingers trailed along Grayson’s sides.

Grayson trembled, quivered, gasped. A low moan left him that continued on like a single note in the darkness. It was musical. It was primal.

Ryder drew another sweet mouthful of blood into him. He could sense Ashyr now in every pull. The sizzle of something other than human, but so slight yet getting stronger pooled in his belly like the finest of wines. Sparks danced behind his eyes.

Blindly, he reached around Grayson to his ass cheeks. He pulled them apart, searching for that secret place where bodies can join and be one. His fingers found it. A tight swirl of muscle that allowed his pointer finger reluctantly in then with more eagerness, swallowing that finger whole.

He knew there was lubricant, or at least, soap somewhere that could ease the way, but it was too far for him to get. He would have to stop what he was doing, set Grayson down then--something lightly pressed against the back of one hand. He grasped it.

“Lube. Bedside table. I managed to get it even though it wasn’t in my sightline,” Grayson sounded proud and a little breathless.

“You shouldn’t be using your powers, Grayson,” Ryder chided even as he eagerly opened the tube of lubricant and dumped some on his palm.

“I know, but it was better for me than you leaving me alone while you searched around for it,” Grayson told him.

He has to agree. One, two, three kisses before he said, “No more though. You need to rest.”

“I need you in me,” Grayson disagreed.

There was a greater urgency as he dropped the lubricant bottle and thrust two fingers inside of Grayson’s very willing--but tight --body.

He pushed them in up to the knuckle and drew them out slow and wide before thrusting back in again.

Grayson’s body jerked with every movement and he gasped.

Grayson’s cock--already hard and leaking--drew up further between them.

“Ready, ready,” Grayson begged. “Drink from me more.”

“ Grayson .”

“Ryder.” Grayson laughed.

“You would tempt me when our king wants you to think hard about who…” Ryder could not finish the rest.

“You can drink. The movies are clear that won’t turn me,” Grayson reminded him as he kissed Ryder's throat up to his chin and along his jaw. “It’s only if it's mutual and more, yes? I remember that.”

Ryder groaned. “I must be with you now. I must be.”

It could be taken as just his cock inside of Grayson’s willing body. Or it could be his blood inside of Grayson’s willing body. But he kept it to the first. He had to keep it that way.

He lined up his cock against Grayosn’s opening that was slick with lubricant. He pushed inside. Every inch was like a battle won. Grayson’s head lolled back on his neck. His cheeks flushed with desire and heat from the water. His half-open eyes blown wide.

He sank in all of the way. Their bodies connected. He could feel Grayson’s heart beat along the shaft of his penis. He kept them like this for long moments, breathing into the sensation of connection. Grayson’s head righted and his hands feathered through Ryder’s wet hair, pulling it, demanding.

“Love me,” Grayson insisted.

“Always.”

He began to rock. Forward and back. Grayson against the wall. The shower water sprayed down Ryder’s back and Grayson’s front, showering his erect and needy cock. He reached down between them and began to stroke it, using the other to keep Grayson up and where he wanted him.

Grayson’s hands tightened in his hair. His fingers dug into Ryder’s scalp.

The pull had him arching his head in pleasure.

His hips stuttered in their even movements.

He turned the straight thrusting movements into circular ones that had Grayson scrabbling at him, breathless and whining. He grinned into their kiss.

Grayson’s cock jumped in his hand and he felt the hotter precum than the water.

It is silkier than the water too and musk rises up between them.

He thrusts in straight again, hard and desperate and jolting Grayson with every powerful movement.

Grayson’s fingernails tried to find purchase in the skin of his shoulders, but they could not.

“Harder, please, harder,” Grayson gritted out.

Which was somehow an order as much as a plea.

And he complied. Because he would give Grayson anything.

Ashyr…

Their bodies practically moved as one as they both thrust up and down to meet one another. Then he was grinding his pelvis against Grayson’s ass. Grayson’s cock was then growing larger, plumping against his palm, and he felt his own swell with the coming orgasm.

Grayson’s mouth came over his and they breathed in each other’s breaths as they devoured each other in kisses.

Grayson cut his tongue and blood trickled into his mouth.

And Ryder sucked on that slender stream of crimson, his body coming alight with it, as his body also came apart with his orgasm.

They came nearly together. Ropy streamers of cum painted their chests as more spurted inside of Grayson’s body.

And his legs--normally so strong--gave out beneath him as he gracefully sank to the shower’s floor with Grayson firmly atop his lap.

Grayson sagged over him, a doll emptied of sand, as the water poured over them in hot streams. He kissed Grayson’s neck and shoulder, unable to stop those small kisses even as the rest of him was exhausted.

“What was your first form?” Grayson’s voice was soft.

“What?”

“Your first animal form? The first one you took?” Grayson asked, resting his forehead against Ryder’s shoulder.

“Which time?”

“I think it was a wolf,” Grayson breathed out.

“Oh?”

“I think you pretended that a lion was your first form for Lawson, but I’m betting it was a wolf,” Grayson told him.

“Why do you say that?”

“Because wolves mate for life. Like us. Forever. Always,” Grayson whispered.

He was half asleep as he said that. Ryder stroked one hand down his back.

“Like us. Forever,” Ryder agreed. “Always.”

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