Page 31 of Ever Dark Academy, Vol. 3

He could smell the coppery bite in the air.

Saliva filled his mouth even though this body had no taste or need for blood.

But he remembered the glory of it. Life-giving, hot, rich blood.

It had gushed down his throat by the pints, sometimes gallons, when he had gone to war.

It had heightened his senses and sent him spiraling into wild heights of power.

His power sparked within him, but it was a mere candle flame, he realized, compared to the nuclear furnace that should be there.

But it would be enough. He sensed the structures in the person directly ahead of him.

Just two people away. High heels. Slinky black dress.

Hair cut in a severe black bob. It was a woman.

It amused him to think of Legion as this woman who looked so very put together instead of a grizzled war veteran that he’d imagined.

But it didn’t matter that they weren’t what he thought they’d be. He’d found them. One of them anyways.

I’ve found them, Balthazar, Grayson sent.

Their face? Balthazar asked. Though that dress will stand out. Don’t bother about the face. We’ll track them by that.

No, Balthazar. I want to make sure you get the right person, Grayson insisted.

Of course, you do. I’d know that OCD anywhere, Balthazar answered with a sigh. Ryder and Fiona are at the top of the stairs. I’ve sent them an image of the dress. He and Fiona can whisk them away to more private quarters.

Good.

Can’t believe that we’ll be meeting the infamous Legion in a few moments.

I can’t imagine Legion following anyone’s commands though, Grayson admitted as he kept that sexy sway of hips in his vision. Yet why would the leader come here and put themselves in so much risk?

Legion must be using another name, have another identity that’s known, because they would have never gotten in here otherwise, Balthazar pointed out.

Good point.

Maybe there are less of them than we think and after Jill’s fuck up, the leader decided to make an appearance, Balthazar mused.

That could be–FUCK! Grayson hissed as a laughing, drunk couple bumped into him, taking him down onto the stairs.

Grayson? Balthazar’s voice was sharp.

I’m fine! Just drunk people and no Vampire reflexes, Grayson growled.

He would have been able to use his gift if he hadn’t been so focused on the person ahead of him. He looked up. Where were they? Where was the dress, high heels and hair? No one like that was anywhere to be seen. Had they gotten to the top of the stairs already?

No one who has come up has looked like that, Balthazar answered the unasked question.

Could the Sect member be a Mirryr Vampire? Grayson asked as the couple flopped on top of him. He used some of his power to lift them off.

But Legion is Weryn–

Didn’t you say that Charlie was interested in creating scents? Grayson interrupted as he managed to free himself from the pile of people.

Only certain high level Mirryrs could do that. According to Charlie, he thought he was the only one. He pooh-poohed it, but we have proof, Balthazar said with a bitter laugh.

That could be what’s happening here, Grayson said as he backed away from the apologetic, but giggling couple.

If that were the case then they would have to know that Ryder would remember that scent and–

The Ring, Balthazar. Everyone knows that Weryn is back. They don’t know that Ryder is resisting becoming Weryn by not exploring his memories, Grayson pointed out. They would likely think Ryder remembers that scent–

But why would they do this? What is the point? Balthazar asked.

I don’t know, Grayson confessed as he threaded his way through the crowd.

He was squeezing everyone, but there were no structures and more and more people kept getting in his way, forcing him back down the stairs.

The party was in full swing and people were headed to the dance floor.

I don’t know how he can smell Legion with everyone here. The way we’re packed like sardines–

Maybe that’s how. Maybe the Sect Vampire was around Legion, but is not actually them, Balthazar admitted.

More to think on, because that would mean that they met up with Legion on Earth or–

Legion is here. But Daemon would know they were! Balthazar began. Again, I just can’t imagine how they got in here unless they are someone else.

Isn’t everybody someone else these days? Even us? Grayson asked.

He did not hear Balthazar’s answer. The crowd swelled.

Grayson’s foot slipped off a stair. He started to pinwheel his arms and fall backwards.

An arm shot out and grasped Grayson just as he was about to sink under the flow of people.

He let out a cry that was smothered by the crush of the crowd.

But then he was up against the wall and a big body was between him and the other people, protecting him.

His heart was hammering so hard that it was practically beating out of his chest. But then it beat hard for another reason. He was staring into Ryder’s eyes.

“Ryder!” Grayson cried out as relief flooded him. “How did you get down here so fast?”

Ryder lifted an eyebrow. “Fast?

Grayson furrowed his brow. “I thought–”

Grayson! Balthazar’s voice was insistent and stole his voice for a moment. That’s not–

Not Ryder, Grayson realized as those familiar silver eyes held no warmth for him.

The Ryder-clone was smiling and looking down at Grayson with a kind of predatory amusement.

Grayson knew if he checked that he would find a structure in that mind.

Dress and slinky woman had become leather and big man.

But he didn’t. He couldn’t risk it. He had to pretend to be normal. Ordinary. Uninteresting.

You couldn’t be that if you tried, Balthazar admitted. We’re coming to you.

No, you mustn’t, Balthazar, Grayson warned. Stay away.

That’s a Mirryr Vampire, Grayson. They will change their appearance in a moment and we’ll lose them, Balthazar said. We need to get to them now!

No, we won’t lose them, because I’m going to bring them to you, Grayson said. They’re pretending to be Ryder. They want to be with me. I’ll lead them where I want.

Grayson, Fiona can whisk them away–

People will see! Please, Balthazar, trust me on this!

He gave his most seductive smile to the Ryder-clone who had two massive hands on either side of Grayson’s head.

If this Mirryr Vampire had wanted to, he could have crushed Grayson’s skull with a single blow.

But he had to show none of that knowledge.

He was a student here. He wanted to become a Vampire, which was true.

He thought he was totally safe here, like the place was Vampire Disneyland. This was not true. Not at all.

“Hey, thanks,” Grayson said, trying to slur his words slightly as if he were again that slightly drunk partygoer.

He was glad he’d drunk something earlier so that there was alcohol on his breath.

He would have been able to tell how much someone had consumed as Ashyr, but he was hoping this Vampire wouldn’t.

“I thought I was going down there. I couldn’t get up and body surf the crowd.

” He reached up and cupped that familiar face.

“But here you are. Saving me. My knight in leather and combat boots.”

The Mirryr Vampire glanced down at himself as if he couldn’t remember what body he was wearing, but Grayson couldn’t be sure. He gave Grayson a wolfish smile when he lifted his head to meet Grayson’s gaze. His silver eyes burned.

“Would you like to see me out of this leather?” The Ryder clone smiled broadly.

Grayson, why would this Sect member be wearing Ryder’s face and saving you? So convenient, don’t you think? Balthazar pointed out.

You’re right. Or maybe not. They know I’m with Ryder. Am I supposed to know that this is Ryder or not? Grayson asked. Which way do I play this? Like I know or–

If you didn’t know Weryn, would you know Ryder so well? If you hadn’t spent eons of time with him in the past, would you be able to tell the difference so easily? Balthazar questioned. I think not. Your brain lights up in all sorts of ways with Ryder that it’s not doing now.

You’re right, I wouldn’t know. So I shouldn’t know here, Grayson said.

But I can’t believe this is a coincidence that they would go after you, Balthazar replied.

Grayson smiled more broadly and leaned forward until his entire body was against the Ryder-clone’s body. It felt familiar and yet wrong. He wondered what it was that was giving this creature away. Was it just the eyes? Maybe the scent?

He doesn’t smell like Ryder at all, Grayson realized.

But it was more than that. The soul was wrong. And he knew it. This creature felt empty to him. An oily, black fog that was filling a pretty vessel. The other Mirryrs didn’t feel this way. It took all of Grayson’s willpower not to show his revulsion.

“This is supposed to be the Mirryrs’ night, Ryder,” Grayson said into the cusp of not-Ryder’s right ear.

He grunted and turned his head so that Grayson’s lips were practically pressed against his bearded cheek.

Daring him to kiss. Daring him to touch.

If this had been Ryder, he would have been dying to do this.

He would have had to fight himself not to.

Instead, he was fighting not to jerk away and wipe his mouth.

He rested his front against the not-Ryder’s and brushed his lips along the bearded jaw until they were face to face.

His eyes were hooded. He let a small smile play on his mouth.

He couldn’t make his pupils expand, but it was dark in the stairwell and he hoped that mimicked arousal.

But, he reminded himself, he would have known the difference.

“This stairwell is a little too crowded for my taste,” Grayson murmured practically against not-Ryder’s lips. “Shall we get out of here?”

“How about we dance?” Not-Ryder asked and, without waiting for consent, curled an arm around Grayson’s shoulders and practically carried him down the stairs.

Grayson realized, of course, he was heading in the exact wrong direction. But he thought of something else, too. Why would the Sect member be going after him? Not because they knew Grayson was Ashyr.

No.

It was because he was Grayson.

The Grayson that had spoiled the Sect’s plans.

The Grayson that was a clear favorite of Ryder’s.

A potential fledgling of the great Immortal Weryn.

Balthazar, Grayson said in as calm a tone as possible, I know who the intended victim is tonight.

Who?

Grayson smiled up at the not-Ryder. It’s me.