Chapter 5
Past Is Present Is Past
“I can’t believe I did it! The Kaly gift! And it was so–so easy!” Balthazar stared down at his hands as if they held the power he spoke of.
“Easy?” Fiona lifted an eyebrow as Julian poured her some blood-wine. “You nearly had our poor Grayson passing out from manhandling both Vampires for you for ever so long.”
“It wasn’t that long!” Balthazar scowled at her. “It was mere moments! Tell her, Grayson! Tell her I was wonderful!”
“You were wonderful,” Grayson said easily, though there were dark circles faintly staining the skin under his eyes.
“See! See, Fiona! There! I was wonderful!” Balthazar harrumphed at her.
She just chuckled and shook her head.
They were seated in an almost comfortable sitting-room.
It had a touch of the Eyros palace about it with the gracious fireplace and the blood red velvet couches.
Ryder made sure that Grayson was nearest the flames.
It wasn’t just the dark circles under his eyes that showed his exhaustion.
He had bobbled for just a moment coming up the stairs from the catacombs.
Ryder had to force himself not to simply bride-carry him the rest of the way to the surface, or better yet, to the Weryn Palace. But Grayson had wanted to stay and talk about what they’d discovered.
Which was sensible.
Weryn, however, was not sensible.
“I used too much power, I think. Not enough food earlier and a little too many jello shots,” Grayson had admitted on the stairs as he had leaned against Ryder heavily with every step.
“We will fix that, though I wonder if there is anything fit to eat here for you,” Ryder had confessed.
The thought of the undead and food had his stomach churning.
But Caemorn had provided. More than provided.
There were soft, warm rolls, a glazed ham, sharp, white cheddar, stout mustard and creamy mayonnaise for sandwiches.
There was wine and sparkling water unmixed with blood.
Ryder made Grayson a plate and urged him to eat every bite put before him.
“I’m not a turkey, Ryder,” Grayson said.
“Turkey?” Ryder lifted an eyebrow.
“You’re trying to stuff him, old man,” Balthazar laughed. “But it’s good you’re eating, Grayson. For, though I was wonderful, we needed you to exercise your gift a bit longer and a bit more than perhaps we should have.”
Grayson waved a hand to dismiss it. “It truly was fine and more than worth it. You discovered how to unravel the structures.”
“I know! I did! Caemorn only helped a little bit!” Balthazar's gaze swung to Caemorn who sipped his blood-wine absently while staring into the flames.
“You were quite clever, Balthazar, as you normally are,” Caemorn admitted.
The Kaly Vampire seemed quieter than normal–which was saying something–since he had spoken so effusively of Balthazar being his Childe down below.
It was almost as if he were worried now that he shouldn’t have said it.
And Ryder did not think that was because he wasn’t proud of Balthazar’s cleverness, but rather, more likely, he feared that Balthazar would come to regret it.
But Balthazar was bubbling over like a pot on top of a high flame.
“And you say that I’m controlling Bone Bear, too?” Balthazar asked him, eager to hear it all again evidently.
“Yes, Balthazar. Bone Bear has been under your control for months now,” Caemorn answered as he added another log to the fire.
“I did wonder,” Christian said as he perched by Balthazar’s side on the opposite couch from them.
“Bone Bear seemed to appear whenever you were upset and needed some cheering up, Balthazar.” Christian laughed suddenly as a memory struck him.
“Do you remember when he got into your clothes? He was wearing a hat that one time you were so worried about the school!”
Balthazar’s lips twitched into a fond smile. “Yes, and a scarf. I have no idea where that scarf came from!”
“I think Daemon gave it to him,” Julian said as he sipped his blood-wine. “It smelled of him.”
“Really?” Balthazar looked charmed at the idea. “So what does Bone Bear do all day? I’m not conscious of telling it to go out and do dead bear things.”
“Bone Bear mostly guards Christian,” Caemorn answered as he leaned lightly against the mantle.
“Oh! I did notice that. But I thought it was you looking in on me!” Christian smiled, then looked a little wistful. “But I suppose it makes more sense for Balthazar to be concerned about me.”
“I do watch you,” Caemorn answered bluntly. “I have dead birds observing you all the time.”
“D-dead birds?” Julian’s eyebrows rose.
“Yes, a whole murder of crows. And not just Christian, but you, too, Julian. And, of course, I make sure I know where Balthazar is every moment,” Caemorn answered curtly.
Everyone went quiet. That level of attention–and care and devotion–was startling to hear from Caemorn.
Kaly has finally found the value of the pack, Weryn chuckled inside of him
“It shouldn’t sound sweet to be observed by dead animals, and yet, I am truly touched! I’ll have you know that I listen to your mind all the time!” Balthazar beamed at him.
Caemorn actually looked at his Childe then and gave him a small smile. “I am aware.”
“I don’t spy!” Balthazar rushed to assure him. “I just make certain that you don’t need anything. And when you do need something–”
“You make sure it is provided for me. Yes, I know, Balthazar. You are quite thoughtful about my comfort and needs,” Caemorn answered.
“Are you worried that something will happen to them, Caemorn?” Grayson asked. “Not just because of who they are, but who they are connected to you?”
Caemorn gave a single nod. “Balthazar is, of course, the co-leader of the academy–”
“He’s your fledgling,” Christian contradicted gently as he took Balthazar’s hand in his. “You look out for him. For all of us.”
Another single nod. Caemorn seemed to be unable to meet anyone’s eyes. He was truly uncomfortable being exposed like this.
Can he not see that he is with pack so it is safe? Weryn wondered.
He has no idea what that is. And he’s seen what’s happened to our pack, Ryder pointed out.
Weryn had been very near the surface since the foul words spoken by the Mirryr Vampire. Before then really. Ever since Grayson had been in the hands of another. Not that Grayson was any fainting flower.
Ashyr is strong. So strong. He needs blood, Weryn murmured.
Grayson was still eating and drinking despite the turkey comment, but he did stare long and hard at the blood-wine that was being passed out to everyone else. To his human nostrils it might have smelled disgusting, but there was a thoughtful look on his face. Ryder wondered what he was thinking.
Ashyr is strong and wise and beautiful, Weryn growled low in the back of his throat. His blood… his blood calls to us…
Ryder curled his hands over his thighs as the urge to put his nose in the crook of Grayson’s neck and breathe him in nearly overwhelmed him.
But Weryn was not done. Better yet, Weryn wanted to be sniffing Grayson and marking him with his own scent at the same time.
Perhaps holding Grayson on his lap? Wrapping his arms around Grayson?
Even kissing his pale skin? Dragging his tongue along Grayson’s pale throat…
Grayson’s cool eyes turned towards him and Ryder quickly lowered his head.
“Is everything all right?” Grayson asked.
“Everything is fine,” Ryder’s voice was more of a growl than anything else. “Weryn is just… nearer the surface than usual.”
Grayson reached over and threaded their nearest hands together. “You have shown great restraint. Thank you for that. I know it wasn’t easy. If our positions were reversed, I don’t think I could have done half as well.”
“You do everything well. I am just trying to keep it together.”
Ryder resisted the urge to laugh. Yes, that had all been hard, but the desire to drink from Grayson was his problem now.
Perhaps he looks at the blood-wine and thinks of drinking from us, Weryn offered.
Stop that, Ryder firmly told himself.
Why? Are you so shy as to not wish the others to see he is ours? Weryn challenged. Balthazar has the Eyros gift and the Kaly gift. Imagine Ashyr being able to shift like we do. What would his first form be?
A raven, Ryder answered without thought. He is a being made of the air, not bound by the earth. And he is wise, too. Watching everything from above.
Yes, yes, I see it, too. But if he drinks from us, he may have other forms, too, Weryn said.
Ryder paused and asked, Is that possible? I’ve only heard of Children of Weryn having one form. But perhaps that is not true. Does–does Legion have multiple forms?
Legion’s form was useless outside of the Ever Dark, Weryn scoffed.
Why? Ryder asked.
Ashyr should be a raven and a fox and a… Weryn’s voice drifted away.
Ryder tried not to curse it. This wasn’t truly another person he was speaking to. It was himself. It was his own memories. Even memories of this life could stay out of reach if he chased them too hard. He imagined it was more so the case if he chased his ones as Weryn.
And then there is the possibility that I will be lost if I do catch them all, Ryder reminded himself.
“Did you not notice that it was a Kaly-Eyros weave that created the structure?” Caemorn asked, drawing him out of his thoughts.
Balthazar blinked. “Ah, I–well, I–it was so quick that–”
“He didn’t notice,” Christian said with a wry smile.
“Okay, no! I didn’t! I just realized that I could pull the end and have it unravel with no danger to anyone.” Balthazar shrugged, but still looked awfully pleased with himself.
Caemorn nodded. “The thrill of discovery. I know it well.” Of course, his voice was as cool and blanched of emotion as always when he said this. “I fear that Ryder is not the only one who may have someone from the past eager to get revenge upon us.”
Balthazar’s brow furrowed. “Are you saying you have another Childe in the Bloodline? I thought Christian and I were the only ones… well, the only ones left.”