Page 11 of Ever Dark Academy: Volume 6

“They’ll all want to see us shift,” another pointed out.

“Of course.” Ryder nodded. “Our gift is one that excites human imagination.”

“All those shifter books and movies work in our favor these days,” Amaris said with a laugh. “Used to be that shifters had a bad rap, but now we are the romantic leads.”

“And we’re Vampires. So we’ve got the best of both worlds,” Kayne added as he poured wine into Amaris’ glass before drinking out of the bottle himself.

“Hear, hear! Best of both worlds!” Came a heartfelt refrain.

“Did we get a list of students that stated our Bloodline as a favorite?” Siban asked. “I was unable to find out, but I have heard from the other Bloodlines that this is a thing.”

“Well, we weren’t in the running when they chose the students so maybe we weren’t on offer,” Harlan said, stretching his legs out towards the fire.

“If anyone got a list, it would have been Lawson and… well, yeah.” Demos shrugged.

Ryder found himself scanning the group to see their reaction to talk of Lawson. His old Master and Legion were now both in the past. But they were still sore spots. Yet he didn’t see anyone that dropped their eyes from his or looked uneasy. Ryder rolled his shoulders back to release some of the tension he felt.

Everything is fine. That is the past. This is the future.

“Based on what I know of Balthazar, Caemorn and Seeyr, I’m positive there are at least a few students that will be brilliant Weryns,” Ryder assured them. “The whole idea would have been to tempt us to interact with the school even if I hadn’t woken up.”

He said that so easily. Woken up. Became and accepted Weryn. It had been a process, but now he was… well, him. He was complete. Whole.

“I have a request in with the Eyros for a list if there is one,” Siban said.

“That’s good thinking, Siban. But I am betting that we will not need a list, because, as you all pointed out, the Weryn are the best Bloodline,” Ryder said.

There were more cheers all around.

“You know that humans will want to touch our animal forms. Hell, all of them will,” Amaris amended with another sip of wine.

“Do we still claim to find that disrespectful?” Kayne asked.

“Claim?” Amaris’ eyebrows lifted.

“Oh, c’mon now. Who here hasn’t let someone give them a good old petting?” Kayne asked.

Considering Kayne was as big as two people combined, the thought of him exposing his belly for a tummy rub had Ryder biting his cheek to stop from bursting out laughing. The man’s very serious expression as he asked the question had others trying not to snicker.

“We should save pettings for our significant others,” Demos suggested. “That way they don’t think we’re easy.”

“Weryns are easy?” Amaris chuckled. “Never!”

Everyone lifted their wine glass. There was drinking all around.

“So we have glamping under the stars. Shifting. And potentially petting… but I guess, knowing all of you, that petting of another kind will occur,” Ryder said with a knowing grin.

“WERYN!” The group cried and laughed.

The Weryn were notorious for their orgies. He wasn’t going to stand in the way of that. Not only did the Weryn Bloodline engage in such acts, because they were fun, but also because they bound people tighter together. Those who were drawn to the communal lifestyle and the earthy nature of the Weryn would be best suited to join them.

“I thought that Balthazar didn’t want us doing that with the students. Not yet,” Irine said as she fluttered a little.

Though Lawson was gone, she still showed a little of that extra energy. Her anxiety used to annoy him, but now Ryder found himself being more understanding. She’d gone through a lot. All of them had. Which was why he had asked them back. He was glad to see that Lawson’s House wasn’t grouped together, but was spread out among the other Houses. While he had not disbanded Lawson’s House officially, he’d asked Demos to let it be known that he’d like Lawson’s Children to be adopted out and it appeared to be happening with alacrity.

“After what he let happen at that Mirryr party? I’m sorry, but those rules are long gone.” Amaris shook her head.

“They’re more guidelines than hard and fast rules, Irine,” Ryder explained gently. “The concern is that we do not abuse our power over the students. Consent is key.” There were nods all around. “And if anyone is showing any signs of uncertainty, we back off, right?”