Page 34 of Ever Dark Academy, Vol. 3

The Timing Of Knowledge

G rayson put his arm through Ryder’s. In their free hands they carried glasses of champagne.

He rested his cheek against Ryder’s powerful arm as they walked down the moonlit streets of Nightvallen to the Kaly Palace.

That was where the Sect Vampires were being kept.

As Jill had been gotten to in the Eyros Palace, the Kaly Palace was deemed a more secure area.

Unlike the Eyros Palace where many different Vampires and humans came in and out to speak to Balthazar, no one came to the Kaly Palace. At all.

Grayson found himself humming a bit of the last song they’d danced to as he sipped champagne.

Fiona had offered to teleport them to the Kaly Palace, but Grayson had wanted to walk.

In truth, he wanted to stretch out this little moment of peace and togetherness with Ryder before he faced their enemies.

“I want to celebrate a victory. It’s the first where we’ve all worked together in some time,” Grayson had told the others, excepting Caemorn who was supervising the prisoners. Everyone else had joined him and Balthazar on the dance floor in the Mirryr basement.

The students danced and spun around them, seemingly oblivious to them all being there.

More of Balthazar’s doing, he was sure. So they could speak without fear of being overheard or even noticed.

Now that Grayson had assured himself that no one else in the Mirryr party had structures in their minds it was perfectly safe to use their powers.

“And it went so well!” Balthazar had one arm around Christian and was beaming at him.

“Daemon wants all of you to know how pleased he is that you worked together. He is unsurprised that it worked well, because of that fact,” Julian told them as he took a swallow of beer.

“I’m sorry he couldn’t be here for the party,” Grayson said to Julian, taking in how apart the young man was from everyone in some ways. As the prince, Julian was singular and would likely always be so. Even Christian, his best friend, could not completely bridge that gap.

“Me too,” Julian admitted with a duck of his head. “He’s Communing. The truth is that he left the Ever Dark way too early to come get me and didn’t recover from his long time in stasis.”

“He had to rush in as a hundred wolves to save you from Balthazar, you mean,” Fiona had chuckled.

Balthazar sent her a scandalized look. “My offer to become Julian’s Master was one that came from the heart! He was never in danger from me!”

“From the heart, for sure. And also, from the loins,” Christian murmured into his beer.

Julian snorted and shook his head. Christian grinned at his best friend. Balthazar though was not shamed. It was hard to shame him and here he had a good reason not to be.

“Who wouldn’t have wanted to have the both of you?” Balthazar demanded to know as he gazed between Julian and Christian. “Name one among you who would not have done as I attempted to do? None of you! And I don’t even have to read your minds to know it!”

Both young men were gorgeous. Not that outside beauty was a prerequisite to be a Vampire.

Quite the contrary. But they were a splendid pair.

And they acted like brothers, even though they were so very different from one another.

But this meant that they were sure to be good Blood Brothers and sustain each other over the centuries.

They were also highly intelligent, strategic and brave.

Grayson could well understand Balthazar wanting both of them in his Bloodline.

But he couldn’t quite understand how Balthazar thought he could have Julian for his own.

Eyros, not even at his Puckish best or worse , would try to steal from Daemon.

But that must have been what happened. Or almost happened.

“Wait, so you thought you could take Julian from Daemon?” Grayson’s eyebrows were rising.

“It’s a long story! Huge, in fact. But I didn’t know he was really Daemon. I assumed he was a fraud and that I was saving Julian from a charlatan,” Balthazar insisted. “Who knew that Daemon was real? Not even Fiona! And she was a believer!”

“Who says I’m still not? I am in love with the leader of the Order now. Not that Arcius would require me to have faith. But I still believe,” she said with a warm smile. “Yet you are right that I truly thought that Daemon was a myth. I was in good company though.”

“Where is Arcius?” Christian asked, casting about as if he expected to see the Eyros Vampire in the basement. “I can’t believe he would turn down a party.”

“He’s actually doing something for Daemon with the Order,” Fiona answered.

“While we are all here demystifying Vampires for the public, Arcius has a different role in accentuating the more mystifying aspects of us. Daemon wants humans to have a little awe about us. That will, hopefully, quell some of their more violent instincts.”

“Arcius is perfect for that role. First, he truly believes what he’s saying about Vampires and Immortals being wonderful and sublime.

Second, he can talk people’s ears off,” Balthazar said with a sigh.

“I miss the old boy. We haven’t had much time to talk with both of us being so absorbed in our duties. ”

Balthazar drank some whisky and kissed Christian’s temple, which, for some reason, had everyone laughing.

“Your duties are so very heavy. We can all feel the weight of them,” Ryder teased dryly even as he had his own arm around Grayson’s shoulders.

“I know. I work myself to the bone,” Balthazar sighed, ignoring the snickering at his expense.

“Julian,” Ryder said, which had the young prince eagerly looking over. “Assuming that no emergency pops up tomorrow, we’re definitely going to go out to teach you to shift.”

Julian was instantly beaming. “Really? Do you think so? I mean, I’m just so psyched about it!”

“You weren’t this excited about learning to read minds,” Balthazar sniffed.

“Nor learning to teleport.” Fiona lifted an eyebrow, but her lips were twitching suspiciously.

Julian flushed and ducked his head again. “No disrespect for either of your gifts, but turning into an animal?! I mean, c’mon, that’s like… wild .”

“I have to admit it does sound cool,” Grayson agreed and stared up into Ryder’s face.

Ryder looked down at him and Grayson realized he shouldn’t have said that. Because it was on offer if he wanted it. And he did want it. He wanted it so much. But tonight had shown him that he needed to be as strategic as possible in who he chose to turn him. Not let love alone guide him.

Why not let love guide me? Doesn’t Ryder make me feel complete? I know he’ll treat me with respect and adoration. Maybe I’m thinking of this all wrong.

“So tomorrow?” Julian beamed.

“Tomorrow.” Ryder nodded.

Grayson’s gaze swept over the party and the students.

It was still roaring. There was no sense that it was going to end anytime soon.

He wondered how many would be sleeping the whole of the next day away.

There were no classes. Balthazar had been very wise about this.

How many students would have absorbed anything about Vampire history with their heads throbbing and their eyelids falling closed?

He caught sight of Eiji, Mairead and Amara.

Somehow Eiji and Mairead had convinced the doctor to dance.

She actually hadn’t left the party like Mairead had thought, but kept to a quiet corner sipping wine this whole time.

She wasn’t a bad dancer at all. She was even smiling and laughing.

Grayson wished he could be with them, to learn more about them, especially Eiji.

The man’s actions tonight had helped with the plan immensely.

He seemed like someone that Grayson might be able to trust.

I should be thinking of who I want to join my Bloodline. That’s just as important as who will turn me. We’ve lost so many since I lived before.

“I can tell by your pensive look, Grayson, that we need to get to work. We should all make our way over to the Kaly Palace. Dani has already joined Caemorn there,” Balthazar said with a sigh.

“We should. While I don’t doubt Kaly security, I wouldn’t be surprised if these Sect members have poisoned teeth or something,” Grayson sighed himself.

“There’s no sign of Legion though, is there, Ryder? I assume you would have said,” Balthazar asked.

Ryder shook his head. “No, I think the Mirryr Vampire had been with them not too long ago.”

“You have no memory of Legion, do you, Ryder?” Fiona asked. “Scent can usually inspire vivid memories.”

“None. They are the biggest blank in my memory. Not even Weryn wants to remember them evidently,” Ryder said.

“Sophia and Dani might know who they are. Or one of the other older Vampires in the Weryn,” Grayson said.

“I will be asking them for all they know,” Ryder stated simply.

“I can teleport us all to the Kaly Palace. Well, to the front doors, that is,” Fiona offered.

While the others agreed, Grayson had waved her off and taken Ryder’s arm. “We’ll meet you there. I just need a moment to clear my head.”

That was how the two of them found themselves alone on the streets, the faint sounds from the Mirryr party echoing through the air, but otherwise silence reigned. It was so peaceful.

“Are you all right?” Ryder asked.

“Me? Yes, I’m fine,” Grayson answered. “I admit I’m surprised it took you so long to ask.”

Ryder grimaced. “I was trying to remind myself how capable you are. But I was scared to death of losing you again.”

“Caemorn was there. He would have saved my soul and–”

“Don’t even suggest it. I can’t hear of him sucking your soul into one of his gems as if you are a bauble,” Ryder said with a shake of his head.

“I am not too keen on the idea either. I can’t imagine it’s pleasant,” Grayson admitted. “I really should be asking if you are all right.”

“Because of Legion’s involvement in all of this?” Ryder asked.

Grayson nodded. “Though you don’t seem surprised.”