Page 28 of Ever Dark Academy, Vol. 3

Senses

Earlier…

R yder stretched his arms over his head and cracked his neck.

One of the students–a man in his thirties with a wide, inviting grin and a slinky form–came up to him and touched his shirt.

He wore a black button-down shirt with a silver design of wolves on a hunt across his right shoulder and down his arm.

The man’s finger traced one of the lines of the wolf’s tail.

“You don’t look like a Mirryr,” the man said in an Australian accent. “I mean you actually look like one person. But you’re definitely a Vampire.”

Ryder lifted an eyebrow. “What gave it away? The nightshine?”

In the dimly lit third-story room, every Vampire’s silver eyes glowed.

“Well, yeah, that , but actually you’re size. Your sheer presence. I’m Roger, by the way,” Roger said and flashed a thousand-watt grin.

“Roger.” Ryder gently, but firmly removed the hand on his shoulder that had somehow crept up around the back of his neck. “It’s a pleasure, but I’m not for you.”

“Really, mate? Because I could so be for you,” Roger offered, leaning in and tilting his chin up to expose his neck.

“I’m certain. Off with you.” Ryder felt a bit like he was telling a child that they had to wash their hands before dinner.

“You’re sending me away?” Roger looked deflated.

“I promise you’ll find someone. In fact.” Ryder gestured for a Mirryr Vampire to come over. “He would like to see me on you .”

The Mirryr blinked. Blue eyes to brown to green. “You’re serious? You wouldn’t mind if I, ah, took your form?”

Ryder realized in that moment that the Mirryr Vampire knew who he was. Knew that he was Weryn. Charlie had told the group that various Immortals would be attending the party as a show of support. But still it was strange to be recognized outside of his Bloodline.

And they aren’t running away screaming. So that is something.

“So long as I don’t see a whole roomful of myself or you playing me after tonight, it’s fine,” Ryder said.

“Fantastic! I won’t be able to shift into a wolf or other animals, but,” here the Mirryr paused as their shape shifted from this wildly mutating form to a perfect replica of him. Or at least it looked like him, but wasn’t. Still, Roger was entranced.

“Holy shit, mate!” Roger looked between them. “This is incredible!”

Ryder urged the student over to his doppelganger. The two of them headed into a bedroom almost immediately and there was a delighted gasp from Roger’s throat. Ryder shook his head in amusement.

Balthazar, that rule you have against Vampires and students having sex? Ryder sent to the Eyros Vampire. I hate to tell you, but it’s being broken–

I know, Balthazar sounded put out. Very put out.

I don’t mean a little bit broken. I mean I’ve walked past two orgies, Ryder pointed out with not a little bit of glee. He rubbed his mouth as a grin threatened to break out. Balthazar wasn’t there to see it, but Ryder was sure he felt it.

You do not have to rub it in! Balthazar really sounded put out now.

I guess everyone’s fantasy is to have sex with a Vampire, Ryder laughed. And you were worried there would be a scandal because I slept over at Grayson’s.

There was a sigh over their connection and Ryder grinned wider even as he stepped around a couple kissing.

They hadn’t even managed to find a bed. The floor was good enough.

He’d seen some of the party favors being given out.

Some kind of ecstasy, which would explain the wild behavior in the party’s early hours.

But, then again, the students had likely been thinking about having sex with Vampires since before applying to the academy.

A lot of pent up desire was exploding here.

He wasn’t sure how the next Bloodline would top this.

Did you really think it was going to work? That people were going to resist? Ryder asked, surprised that the world wise Eyros had fallen for the idea that people would do something so against what they wanted.

I did not believe it would happen within the first hour of the first party, Balthazar protested, clearly seeing on the second floor what he was seeing on the third. It’s not that I care–

Unless it’s making you jealous that you can’t be with Christian snogging in a corner, Ryder pointed out.

When Grayson heard you were on the third-floor, he headed to the basement, Balthazar said almost sweetly.

Ryder ground his back teeth together. He almost immediately turned his feet towards the steps back down. He hated being away from Grayson generally.

Ashyr, Weyrn murmured with desire and distress.

But being away from him when they expected an attack was almost intolerable. And, of course, Grayson would choose to go in the opposite direction of where he was. His love wanted to prove he was strong enough to take care of himself. But also…

He wants to prove he can do his job without our relationship affecting things, Ryder admitted to Balthazar. As if anyone doubts that!

Yes, he’s quite stubborn and tough, but I suppose that’s to be expected.

A military leader must stick to his guns.

Quite literally, Balthazar mused. In any event, about the sex, I’m hardly a prude.

It’s just the press have been insistent on portraying Vampires as sex-crazed, blood thirsty rogues and here ? —

Here we are acting at least like the first of those two things, Ryder finished for him.

His eyes scanned the moving bodies. For a human, the rooms were dimly lit, but for him, he could see everything.

The amount of Vampire nightshine all around him told him he was not alone.

Maybe this is just a battle you can’t win, Balthazar.

Vampires are associated with sex, sensuality and indulgence. Let’s be that.

But this is a school! Balthazar bleated. Clearly, he knew that this argument was ridiculous, but was still clinging to it nonetheless.

Not for children, remember? These are all adults even if they seem like children to us, Balthazar reminded him. Besides, we shouldn’t sanitize the experience for them. They need to know what Vampires are actually like and what they will be like too. Feeding and sex go together hand in hand.

The humans are asking us to care for their kind. We have to show we are worthy of that trust, Balthazar said with a sigh.

Ryder felt Weryn perk up a little bit of this.

He got a sense from his other self that this was unexpected talk coming from the Eyros Vampire.

But it wasn’t unexpected from Ryder’s point of view.

From what he could tell, Balthazar was making himself sick trying to keep everyone safe and entertained while fending off the press and those who would see evil in everything they did. He was impressed.

Not the same, Weryn mused. He is not the same as before.

Ryder thought of his conversation with Caemorn outside of the Eyros Palace.

The Kaly Vampire had been telling him as much.

They all wanted to be someone different than who they had been while Grayson was going full steam ahead back to who he was, erasing Grayson from his consciousness as quickly as possible.

You think you can get public acceptance of us by pretending we’re kittens when we’re lions, Balthazar? Ryder asked.

Another sigh was his response. Humans don’t need to know everything. They just need to see certain things. This party is…

Ryder stepped over a writhing couple and started down the stairs to the second floor. Well on its way to being the most memorable thing that these students have ever done. It’s definitely a Mirryr party.

Yes, it is. I wish we could have some fun instead of looking for a potential murderer. Why couldn’t they have planned their kill for something boring? Balthazar sighed again. I’m sure the Kaly gathering will be absolutely deadly dull unless Caemorn lets me plan it. So far no dice on that front.

No dice, indeed.

And really, that was it. They were forced to be the sober ones, to not indulge and find their partners.

To not drink or dance or fuck. They had to simply walk past it all and keep a clear eye out.

He was distracted by a flicker of eyeshine appearing ahead of him in the hallway. But they had a purple tint.

“Julian,” Ryder said as the Vampire Prince hove into view.

Julian was like a sleek panther, all in black. Black dress pants and shirt. Hands loosely slid into his pants. Dark hair gelled back from a thoughtful forehead. He smiled at Ryder widely.

Hello, Ryder, Julian sent and Ryder remembered that Julian could communicate mind to mind as well. How’s your evening been?

Not as good as theirs.

Ryder gestured towards an ever-shifting Mirryr Vampire who kissed along a student’s throat.

She arched back, revealing a beautiful, long, swan-like neck.

Her eyes were closed in ecstasy. He swallowed as he suddenly felt very hungry.

He’d drunk from a willing Acolyte neck and also filled up with bagged blood, but he was hungry again with the scent of all this willing flesh.

Yeah, it’s been a little distracting , Julian admitted, bumping shoulders with him.

How does Daemon feel about you being here on a stakeout? Ryder asked.

You’re thinking he would be keeping me in a box of cotton-wool considering I’m so new? Julian’s eyebrows lifted.

Well… yeah .

Yeah . Julian laughed. He might, but then he says something about not breaking my spirit after I just stare at him until he gives in.

Ryder shook his head. You have the most powerful being wrapped around your little finger.

Julian ducked his head and ran a hand through his hair. Ah, don’t say that. I’m not wise enough to have that much control over anyone.

He adores you. Been waiting for you so long , Ryder said and felt a pang of memory.

For a moment, he saw Daemon hunched over the body of a dead fledgling, holding the young woman to his chest, rocking and sobbing silently. He swallowed hard against the memory.

And you’ve been waiting for Ashyr to come back too , Julian pointed out.