Page 24 of Ever Dark Academy, Vol. 3

Sacred

G rayson looked at himself in the full-length mirror in his bedroom.

He was dressed in tight black pants with boots with the laces were only half-done up.

A silvery-white shirt skimmed his sides and rose at the neck into a high collar that framed his face.

The shirt had no sleeves so it showcased the muscles in his arms. But he could always hide all that skin with the long, black velvet jacket that hugged his torso before flaring out down to his knees.

Silver makeup dusted his cheeks, making his skin sparkle in the low light.

The final piece of his outfit was a domino mask also in silver that covered his eyes.

This outfit had been waiting for him when he returned from the planning meeting at Balthazar’s. It had been sent in an elaborate silver and black box with a huge black bow and delicate tissue paper.

From the Mirryr , a card in thick stock stationary read in a neat envelope with his name drawn in looping cursive on the front.

I wonder what Ryder will think of me in this outfit?

Grayson turned this way and that, satisfied that he looked well.

I look more than well. The Mirryr really do know what fashion suits people.

But he’d have to wait to know if Ryder agreed.

The Weryn Vampire had only been allowed to accompany him to the doors of the dorm.

It had been decided that since the Weryn were entering the game in terms of choosing fledglings from among the students that the easiest cover story to explain everything odd surrounding Grayson so far was to tell people that Ryder was courting him to become his Childe and had been since before the school opened or had even been announced.

“It explains why we have been so close since I arrived,” Grayson had said to Ryder and the rest of the Immortals. “Ryder has been courting me on the sly for nearly a year. No one else knew about it other than Demos, because you didn’t want Lawson to find out about me.”

Ryder stroked his bearded chin and slowly nodded. “That sounds logical and something I would have done. People will likely believe it.”

“It also would explain your rejection of the school at first, too, Ryder,” Seeyr offered.

“You had already chosen Grayson to be your fledgling, but the timing of Daemon revealing our existence to humans and requiring that all fledglings be picked from students put your choice of Grayson at risk. You feared he wouldn’t be allowed to come here as a student and you didn’t want any other Vampire to court him if and when he did come. ”

“It will also explain why Grayson spends so much time with you and other Weryn,” Fiona said, nodding as well. “He’s not really here to compete for a Master. He already has one.”

She gestured to Ryder with one elegant hand.

If only it was so easy, Grayson thought with a heavy heart. If only I could just choose Ryder and be done with it. But I must do what is best for the king and our kind.

“You may want to reveal your secret affair to your roommates,” Balthazar suggested, beaming and clearly getting into the spirit of the thing. It was clear that he loved gossip and secret love stories. “That explanation will satisfy even the unquenchable Mairead!”

“And since no one expected the Weryn to participate, it won’t put people off me either,” Grayson realized, thinking on how Mairead had explained the number of students versus the number of Bloodlines and how the Vampires would react to one Bloodline having more fledglings than another and vice versa.

“The competition is fierce after all as no one else can be chosen but for those in this class.”

“I can see the wheels of your mind turning in your eyes, Grayson, even without reading your thoughts!” Balthazar grinned. “We have thought of all of that. You must trust us a little.”

“Of course, I do,” Grayson said, and it wasn’t exactly a lie or the truth.

“I do believe he wants to, but isn’t quite sure,” Fiona laughed.

“I’m used to being the one in charge of all the plans,” Grayson reminded them all. “So this is good for me to step back and let others take a whack at it. Dealing with the Sect of Dawn will be more than enough.”

“So we’re all in agreement that this is the back story?” Fiona asked, glancing around the room.

Everyone assented and Grayson found himself relieved and excited. Ryder was going to court him openly. He had never been courted himself. He’d done the courting, but to reverse the script and for it to be his beloved Ryder?

Even if we do not consummate it.

But just thinking about that was agonizing. He lifted his head to look at Ryder. The Weryn Vampire was watching him with smoldering silver eyes. Ryder looked happy about this as well. Seeing this, a slightly mischievous twinkle appeared in Balthazar’s eyes.

“Uh oh, what are you thinking, Balthazar?” Grayson asked.

“That you’ll have to follow some rules if we want to sell the courting explanation,” Balthazar added with a slight grimace.

“Otherwise other Vampires might just think they can behave in any old way and get their fledglings too. We want to make sure there is no coercion or anything that the reporters can gossip about.”

“They will gossip no matter what,” Caemorn replied dryly.

“Yes, but only about what I wish them to,” Balthazar reminded him tartly.

He regarded Ryder and Grayson again, tapping a finger against his chin.

“We might use the two of you as a real love match. You know, overcoming adversity. Risking Daemon’s wrath for true love.

Us bowing to the power of fate and all that. ”

Grayson’s cheeks had heated with every statement.

It wasn’t really false. They had overcome so much and he loved Ryder beyond imagining.

But still he didn’t know if Ryder should be his Master for that same reason and many others.

If Balthazar used them openly as this and Ryder didn’t end up being his Master… Well, it was not a good idea.

One warning look from Grayson’s eyes and, undoubtedly, a peek into his foremost thoughts, had Balthazar quickly amending, “Or not. But it will explain everything even if it is simply whispered about in the right circles.”

“What are these rules we’ll have to follow?” Grayson asked tightly.

He couldn’t quite look at Ryder. The Weryn Vampire hadn’t asked him about becoming his Master. They had studiously avoided the topic. Now they would be playing the parts. What would that lead to?

“You’ve already broken quite a few of them,” Seeyr chuckled. “I do believe that they are much too Puritan for any Vampire’s taste, Balthazar. People expect us to ooze sex appeal and act upon it.”

It was strange to have her say that. Seeyr was a beautiful woman, even with her eyes gone, but she gave off an almost ethereal allure rather than a base sex vibe.

Balthazar began to tick the rules off on his fingers. “Well, the rules are there to ensure no coercion so most courting is to be done in plain sight. No taking someone alone to one’s palace–”

“No,” Grayson found himself saying without thinking.

“What?” Balthazar asked.

“I am not giving up making love to Ryder,” Grayson answered simply.

His usual ability to master himself deserted him as he realized where Balthazar might be going. His throat was tight with it. His body almost hurt at the very thought of it. He couldn’t do it. He simply couldn’t!

“And I don’t believe you’ll be able to stop anyone from having sex here,” Grayson said. “Seeyr’s right. Vampires have a reputation.”

“Oversexed,” Caemorn said with a twist of lips and Grayson wondered if Caemorn ever indulged in such activities.

“Well, yes, but–” Balthazar began.

“We’ve already made love several times in earshot of his roommates,” Ryder pointed out as he crossed his massive arms over his chest. “We can’t put that rabbit back in the hat, even if either of us were inclined to.”

“Yes, well…” Balthazar’s lips pressed. “You must at least pretend to follow the rules. And, Ryder, you can’t be suction-cupped to his side–”

“But I would most certainly be if I was going to be his Master,” Ryder’s voice deepened. His eyes blazed. “Ready to rip any other Vampire to pieces who thought to speak to him.”

“We’re trying to avoid that with the rules,” Fiona reminded him with a laugh. She clearly thought the rules weren’t going to work either.

“The rules are going to be thrown out the window, likely starting tonight, if they haven’t already,” Ryder said with a toss of his head.

“All those private nooks that Charlie was talking about? All that warm flesh and even warmer blood? Eager students just begging to be taught a practical lesson about Vampires rather than whatever you’re telling them in class? No rules will survive that.”

“My goodness, Ryder!” Seeyr fanned herself. “You are getting me all aflutter with that!”

“I do hope that you find someone among these students, Seeyr, to join you. I know that your Bloodline has suffered since the War.” Ryder made a stiff bow to her.

“Ah, yes, well, my gift is a hard one. To know something of what will happen, but to not be able to speak of it for fear you will make it certain–in the case of something one fears–or you will destroy the chance of it–in the case of something one wants–is difficult,” Seeyr admitted sadly.

An unbidden memory came to Grayson then that many Seeyr Vampires chose to end their Second Lives via suicide. His heart hurt for her. They’d broken up not long after that with Ryder walking him home.

“I know the courting is only our cover story,” Ryder had said as they’d approached the dorn, “but I am rather looking forward to it.”

His expression had been open and hopeful. Grayson’s heart had soared at it. He decided not to force it down, but to accept the joy he felt. He reached out and laced their fingers together.

“I expect to be courted expertly,” Grayson told him.

“Oh?” Ryder’s lips twitched into a smile.

“Oh, yes. As we’ve both done it many times before, you need to wow me,” Grayson teased.