Chapter 13 After
AFTER
Grayson’s eyes fluttered shut. His dark eyelashes fanned over flushed cheeks. Perspiration caused his skin to glow as Ryder moved on top of him and inside of him. His arms were loosely wound around Ryder’s neck, fingers linked to keep them there, as Ryder delved inside of him.
Ryder had worried that Grayson was still too exhausted to make love and that they should concentrate on more sleep.
Grayson’s languidness and his gentle participation in their lovemaking seemed to merit that assessment.
But Grayson had been insistent that they make love.
He’d said he couldn’t imagine a night together where they didn’t.
“I’ll sleep more after. I’ll sleep more deeply after. Better after,” Grayson promised him. “But I need you now.”
With the “no funny business” still ringing in his ears from Dani who remained outside like a sentinel, Ryder had given Grayson a lifted eyebrow.
“Then you will have to take the brunt of Dani’s anger,” Ryder told him.
Grayson grinned like a little boy. “Not if she doesn’t know. We can be quiet, can’t we?”
“Not that quiet,” Ryder grunted. “And the scent will be unmistakable.”
Grayson blushed. “Yes, I keep forgetting how keen a Vampire’s sense of smell is.”
“Indeed. There will be no hiding it. I can already smell your desire coming off of you in waves.”
“So the cat is probably already out of the proverbial bag anyways. And asking for forgiveness instead of permission never works with her either.” Grayson sighed and turned to the door. “Dani? Would you come inside for a minute?”
The door immediately opened. Grayson hadn’t even had to raise his voice so that likely meant that she had heard everything else they’d said too, which was really not a surprise.
Grayson was not only her Immortal, but her Master and she was attuned to him more closely than any other.
She did not say anything about the fact that they were cuddled under the blankets with Grayson still resting on top of his chest. She did shake her head though.
“Funny business” incorporated even cuddling, or maybe she just knew them better than they did themselves and understood that cuddling would lead to other things despite the best of intentions.
“You look all rung out, Grayson,” she said quietly.
Ryder expected Grayson to disagree, but instead his beloved answered, “I am. More so than I’ve ever been. I feel like I could sleep for a week.”
“Why don’t you?” Dani looked meaningfully at Ryder’s hands gliding up and down Grayson’s back.
“He’s not keeping me up, Dani,” Grayson insisted, but a firm look from her had him amending, “Not in spite of my own desires actually.”
“I know you are anxious to get well, Grayson, but that will only happen if you rest and rest well,” she told him.
Worry crossed her face as Dani came lightly to the bed.
She ignored their nakedness, which was hidden under the covers, but still they were in bed together.
Ryder remembered that in his days as Weryn, making love in front of other Vampires in his Bloodline had been normal.
It had often led to threesomes, foursomes, or simply orgies as everyone got in on the act.
Lovemaking was not something hidden away and nakedness, especially among shifters, was not considered even sexy.
But he and Grayson–when they had been called Weryn and Ashyr anyways–had been careful not to display such overt attention to one another, even though their Bloodlines had known they were together.
It was some kind of strange belief they’d both had that trouble could be avoided with the other Immortals about their relationship if they simply kept it on the down low.
It hadn’t. It had all the sense of guilty children, which they were not.
So it certainly didn’t make sense now. But still, Ryder was a bit taken aback when Dani perched on the edge of the bed and felt Grayson’s forehead. Her expression grew grimmer.
“You’re clammy and feverish,” she said, continuing to gently stroke Grayson’s hair. “While we have no idea what using your gift is doing to your body, I can tell it’s not good. And being here in the Ever Dark… your true nature is calling.”
“Yeah, I’ve had something like this happen in the past when I used my powers in this life. Not as bad, but I never did anything like the tidal wave when I was a human,” Grayson admitted.
“I wish I had seen that,” Ryder murmured.
Grayson grinned. “It was truly awesome though it took out a fair bit of the forest, which I regret.”
“You also took out two Kaly slices though, too, didn’t you?” Dani reminded him.
“I did. But that just means they’ll inhabit other bodies if these were destroyed, which I’m not sure about.
“So that means there are at least two more out there,” Ryder muttered.
“If not more. I wonder if they have Roan-bodies that they all move into when they’re not trying to pretend to be someone else,” Grayson mused.
“Probably. The one I met was as mad as a hatter so I wouldn’t presume anything less,” Ryder said.
“Maybe that’s how they keep their sense of oneness going. They don’t recombine into one soul, but by having the same body or bodies, that’s their connection,” Grayson wondered. “Can you imagine a whole room full of them?”
Ryder shuddered. “I would rather not. But I can honestly say that there is not even the slightest connection between them and Caemorn or even the Kaly we knew.”
“I hope that comforts Caemorn,” Grayson offered.
“I hope so, too. But I think while the rest of us–excluding you, of course, Grayson–have been running away from our Immortal pasts, he’s been facing his head on,” Ryder said.
“To forget is to risk it happening again,” Grayson said. “I wonder what it must be like to have the power he has. To know death. To control souls.”
“It’s the antithesis of what I have,” Ryder admitted. “I’m connected to all the creatures, the living ones anyway.”
“I imagine that it must be hard,” Grayson said. “Othering and more.”
“Yes, not that Balthazar will allow him to separate himself.”
“Which is a good thing. A great thing. Chivvying each other. It would never have flown before, but now it is as natural as breathing to them” Grayson said with certainty. “They’re each so happy together. And I never thought that either of them could ever be truly happy.”
“They are,” Ryder agreed.
And perhaps that showed that two Immortals being Master and fledgling meant that it didn’t have to be a relationship where one was subservient to the other. In fact, Balthazar was the one who ran that show if either of them truly did. But that was often the case with fledglings.
It would be that way with us.
Dani’s eyes flickered to Ryder and then back down to Grayson. “Speaking of Masters and Children, perhaps this illness means it’s time to be turned, Grayson.”
Ryder’s heart twisted a little bit in his chest, but he was in agreement with Dani.
He knew that Grayson wanted Ryder to turn him all things being equal, but that he was still deciding what was best for their king and their kind.
What power combination would be the most advantageous for them and what Vampire or Immortal would be a good fit as a Master who wouldn’t really be a Master to Grayson at all.
And there was the possibility, faint, but still there even after seeing the combination that Balthazar and Caemorn had created, that Grayson really needed an Ashyr Bloodlines member to turn him to make sure he kept that Bloodline’s powers.
The more complications that Ryder heaped upon this simple statement, the more he realized that while Grayon’s health would be improved by being turned, his health was also the same thing that should stop him from making that decision now.
Grayson needed to be clear-headed and not hurting.
His next words confirmed that for Ryder.
Grayson’s eyes closed. “I miss being an Immortal with all that strength and wellness.”
“And we miss you as well,” Dani said.
“I know. I feel like I’m keeping everyone waiting,” Grayson admitted. “But it’s not quite time yet.”
“When will it be time?” Dani’s concern seeped into her voice.
“Hopefully, once we get answers from Legion, Shaela and Roan,” Grayson said. “We’ll understand their plans, positions and people. Then we can make a decision about whether it is a good idea for me to reveal myself.”
“How long do you think that will take?” Dani asked and then grimaced. “I just realized I sound like a child that asks if we’re there yet. It happens when it happens. Yet I cannot help but hope for it to be soon when I see you like this.”
Grayson grinned at her, but it quickly faded as if it was too much energy to keep it going. “But there’s also the issue with the structures. Elgar was so lucky that these three didn’t have any, but we need to find those who do.”
“Are you sure that the structures really mean danger for us?” Dani pressed.
“I’m not looking for a reason to stay mortal, Dani,” Grayson assured her. “While I’m not 100 percent, I’m not willing to risk it.”
Again, Dani’s eyes flashed to Ryder and then away. “You take so much on yourself. I can check for structures now too.”
“Yes, but there is still a risk that if a Vampire touches them then they may… go off or whatever,” Grayson said.
“Your gift and mine are different. Not because I’m Ashyr reborn, but because I’m still human, I think.
I don’t know. Just there’s something in the back of my head telling me that now is not the time to be turned or to let our guard down. ”
“And you’re certain that you’re not just avoiding…” again, that flicker of eyes to him and then away, “making a decision?”
“I thought you wanted me to rest.” Grayson lifted an eyebrow at her.
She sighed and lowered her head. “You’re right. I do. And I truly want whatever you want, Grayson. You know that, don’t you? I’ll support you.”