11. Run
Run
Khos looked over at him with its tongue lolling out, a happy smile on its face, and its eyes bright with the hunt.
The Dire Wolf did not realize that this was deadly business.
It thought they were playing. He gave a deep woof of appreciation for Khos’ presence and was rewarded with a deliriously joyous look.
It had found a pack, he realized. It was no longer alone.
We will take you with us, Khos. We will not be parted, he sent.
The Dire Wolf danced a little as he ran.
He let out a bark of laughter in response.
He sent images of the Weryn Palace, the large fireplaces, his and Grayson’s comfy bed, and all the people who would be Khos’ family from now on.
Demos’ smiling face. Siban offering tasty bones.
Eager hands reaching down to pet him or go running with him.
Never alone. Not anymore, he sent.
Khos’ eyes half shut with pleasure. The Dire Wolf couldn’t believe how lucky he was. To have a pack again! To be with family! To be accepted and wanted! To have a place of his own!
Always, Ryder promised.
A wave of pure unadulterated love flowed between them. The Dire Wolf would share his meat always with him and his.
Ours, Khos, he corrected.
Ours, it was a word that he used this time rather than an image though it was accompanied by one of him, Grayson and himself sitting on the bed with a roaring fire. His head was in Grayson’s lap while Ryder thumped the Dire Wolf’s side with one hand.
Yes.
He’d missed this. Gods, why had he never reached out to the animals before?
But he knew why. There was this prejudice against the Weryn that they were lesser because of their ability to become animals and, therefore, maybe they were as unsophisticated as animals.
At least compared to humans or Vampires.
As Weryn, he had never had this prejudice, but after the War, the violence and bloodthirstiness he’d shown–his animalistic nature–had made his people take a few steps back from nature. It was a great, great loss.
But it will be fixed from now on, he promised himself.
Khos would be just the first. They would re-establish their connection with nature and all the creatures within it.
Glancing up at Grayson flying above them, he vowed to make that promise doubly true.
The last thing he would ever want was for his beloved to shy away from all the gifts of his Bloodline.
Connection was one of the greatest the Weryn had, far greater than their claws or beaks or teeth.
Truly, this exploration of the wilds around Solace with Khos and Grayson at his side would have been, under other circumstances, almost his favorite thing to do.
It was connection at its greatest levels.
If only Legion weren’t chasing us, he thought ruefully.
This was only to be a chase and not a fight.
It was to lead Legion somewhere they couldn’t follow after them when they went to Nightvallen’s gate.
He had been in Solace many times in the past, but he’d never actually spent much time in the wilds here.
His memory offered him a broad-based sketch of the area, which told him that a swamp filled with Nighthags and other loathsome things was to the north of them.
In that thick, gooey stew of bubbling mud, they would lose Legion.
Their scent would be obscured by the belching of the ground.
Then they would double back and head to the Nightvallen gate.
He could see it nearby. Like the gate to Destiny, it, too, stood on a prominent rise.
But it was much higher up and there was absolutely nothing around it.
The forest had been completely tamed or so it seemed.
And the twin moons shone down onto its pale, white stone painting it with shades of red and blue.
We’re going to be home soon, he thought.
Going back into the past had led to many things, not the least of which was Grayson’s turning, but he would be glad to leave this behind.
He hoped it wasn’t just because he was getting an up close and personal view of the aftermath of the War.
No, it was because he knew they didn’t belong here. They couldn’t change anything here.
All they could do was make as least an impression as they could.
Considering they had already let much of the cat out of the bag with Eyros, Elgar and Tanis, he wondered if they were truly doing a very good job at that.
Though seeing Fiona come alive like she had when seeing Tanis had wrung his heart out a little bit.
He hoped there was some way to save her.
There must be. It would be too cruel otherwise.
How long do you think it will take Fiona, Charlie and Tanis to get to Seeyr, Grayson? He sent to the bird that glided ahead of them.
He’d already sent the location of the swamp and Grayson was unerringly headed there, able to see farther in his bird form than he and Khos could see on the ground.
Truly, he was using his nose to “see” where they should go.
But he was grateful that Grayson’s keen eyes were confirming the miasma of muck was coming up soon.
More time than we’ll likely find comfortable with Legion on our trail, Grayson admitted. Since we cannot attack them.
There was definitely displeasure there at the thought of not attacking.
Ryder lifted an eyebrow. Was it just the heightened emotions of being newly turned that had Grayson sounding a little bloodthirsty?
He hoped it wasn’t his blood that was causing it.
But he pushed that away. Demos, Siban and many, many others were good in Weryn.
Peaceful. More in control than any other Vampires he knew. So it wasn’t that.
We know they live to fight another day, Ryder reminded him gently. I gave them their last hunt.
I know, Grayson admitted, sounding a little shamefaced. Then with a breathy laugh added, I’m jealous!
Of what?
Of Legion! Who else? Like I said, they thought they were the Childe of your Heart. They think it now, Grayson admitted. I rather resent that and want to make it clear to them that they are not.
But you know that’s not true already. Legion is mad. They will not give us that foul idea. Not even in the end did they give it up, Ryder scoffed.
In fact, it had been that very fact that had allowed Ryder to trick them into their Second Death.
It had been the right thing to do. They couldn’t have been allowed to go on.
But he was surprised at the slight pain it caused him.
He was glad it did. Killing someone–even someone like Legion who must be killed–should always weigh heavy on him.
It was when deaths had no effect at all upon him that the trouble had started.
Actually… He could picture Grayson mentally biting his lower lip, I rather think they are.
What?! No–
Your heart was broken after what happened to me. You wanted revenge. You wanted destruction. Legion was born of that, Grayson told him.
I… I suppose that is actually true. I did accept that when I took them on the hunt.
They are mine. A Childe born of my rage and pain.
The blackness of my heart. But you are my heart, Grayson!
The healed version. The version that beats true and clear.
You know that, don’t you? Ryder crooned to his beloved.
Yes, I do, but I admit that I am feeling a little protective and possessive of you right now, Grayson said with a sigh. I remember feeling this way about my fledglings. I guess I feel that way about my Master now, too. It’s quite the same thing. Actually, it might be stronger.
I am well-loved and protected then, Ryder said, feeling absurdly pleased with Grayson feeling so strongly about him in ways that were as deep as their romantic love. As Ashyr, his beloved had always been a little distant, keeping part of himself separate. Like a cold star.
Yes, I thought I was doing what was best back then by keeping myself apart like that, Grayson said, reading that last thought easily. But I wasn’t. I was merely protecting myself from feeling the full consequences of my actions.
You’ve always had to make hard choices. I don’t blame you for that, Ryder said.
I do. I’m glad I’m trying something new now. Though I think it will be harder still, but more rewarding as well, Grayson said as he rode the thermals happily.
You are doing so well in your bird form, Grayson! I have to admit I am impressed, Ryder said.
Didn’t you expect me to fly this well? Grayson teased.
I did. I knew you would be a natural, but still, you are being more than an overachiever, Ryder said, feeling proud, but a little worried. Grayson was so new and he was having to expend a lot of energy.
I’m all right, Ryder. You truly fed me well, Grayson assured him. And soon we will be back in our time where it is safe and you can feed me for ages. We won’t leave our bed for weeks!
Ryder chuckled. Promises, promises, Grayson! But I know you. You’ll want to be out and about, making sure everything is going to plan. Introducing yourself to the humans–
All right, all right, I admit I may want to take a gander at some of Daemon’s plans for humanity and whatever this secret project Arcius is on, Grayson admitted.
I knew it! But still, I will pamper you. But I know you love nothing more than working–His words were cut off as he heard a howl that was not from a human or animal throat suddenly echoing through the air around them.
Ryder glanced over his shoulder. He could see in the far distance the gate they’d slipped through out of Solace.
Legion’s massive bulk filled it and they weren’t alone.
There were two other shifters with him. Two lions shifters.
A lion and a lioness, in fact. The two of them were so familiar to him that Ryder couldn’t quite fathom what he was seeing, because those two shouldn’t have been here, shouldn’t have been together, not for thousands of years.
And yet…
And yet…