Page 16 of Ever Dark Academy: Volume 6

Speaking of them, his father and Sam were watching the argument anxiously. His father had been pacing before, but now was seemingly rooted to the spot, a few feet away, careful not to drain him. His stepfather was simply smirking and caressing his jaw contemplatively, clearly enjoying the result of dropping that bomb upon them.

Whether he knew it or not, whether he had intended to or not, he had helped them. Grayson had never considered his mother in any danger from Roan. As far as he could tell, no one realized he was anything other than a human. Roan’s only interest in him was because Legion had been jealous. But Legion was gone now.

“It’ll just take an instant to go get her, Balthazar,” Fiona agreed. “In the time it’s taken to talk about it, I could already have been there and back with her. We shouldn’t debate any longer.”

“I have people watching her home,” Balthazar said. “She’s in no immediate danger.”

“But it wasn’t your spies that told us about Roan hanging around her. It was him.” Grayson jabbed a finger at his stepfather. The smirk grew. His rage increased.

“Speaking of him,” Caemorn said quietly as he fished a ruby soul gem out of his pocket. “I assume you have no problem with me imprisoning him, Grayson?”

“No, do it. Can’t let him get away and tell Roan we’re onto him,” Grayson said.

He felt a stab of satisfaction as his stepfather’s eyes widened and his mouth opened to object. But before he could say a word, his soul streamed into the gem that was gracefully held between two of Caemorn’s fingers. The Kaly Vampire pocketed the now glowing gem.

Now you’re the one in prison! Grayson thought with cold satisfaction about his stepfather. Where you wanted to see me. But that’s never going to happen!

Yet his father and Sam appeared only slightly relaxed. Likely because they knew that his mother was still in danger from someone far worse than his stepfather.

“I realize we’ve rather been behind the eight-ball here on a lot of fronts.” Balthazar’s lips flattened for a moment as his displeasure showed. “But I’ve beefed up security since hearing this. Lisette and William have gone together to make sure that Roan is nowhere near your mother, Grayson. Now that we’re aware of him, we won’t miss him again. Not with those two for sure. And we have Acolytes in the police as well as others with military training guarding the house during the day.”

“Nothing could be safer than here though, could it?” Grayson asked.

“I don’t know about that. We’ve had more dangerous escapades here against the Sect than anywhere else,” Balthazar pointed out with an elegant shrug. “Besides, you realize that your mother is being watched not just by the Sect or us, but by the reporters. If she disappears, they’ll have questions.”

He thought of Melinda. Yes, they would definitely have questions. He wondered what Caemorn had said to Rachel when he’d rushed off. He wondered too if she’d found out from Erika who had strangled her. Perhaps he should get Rachel in on this. Bring her with them so that his mom saw a friendly face. But that seemed overly complicated. They should just get her and bring her back. Explanations could wait until they were safe in the Ever Dark again.

Grayson gritted his teeth. “She’s my mom. You could tell them she’s just come to visit.”

“Except that we’ve explicitly stated that no student is to have contact with their family while at the school,” Balthazar reminded him. “If we make an exception for you, that just draws yet more attention to your situation. I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

Grayson cursed himself. He knew this. He was being sloppy. Not thinking things through! He raked a hand through his hair.

“Right. Of course. There’d be more questions by moving her here, but she’s in danger, Balthazar, and I’m supposed to just sit here and…” He clamped his lips shut. This wasn’t about him. Or his feelings of weakness. “I just don’t like things that feel out of control.”

“We know, Grayson,” Christian said gently. “But you have to trust others to handle things. You’ve been doing so well with that recently.”

“Only because I can’t do everything myself!” Grayson bit his tongue at that explosion. “I’m… I’m not feeling…”

Everyone’s gaze at him with sympathy. They knew he wasn’t feeling well. They knew the weakness that was upon him. He hated this! Yet he was the one still insisting on not getting turned.

If I get turned, I don’t know how powerful I’ll be out of the gate. Most fledglings are practically tied to their Master’s apron strings for years. I can’t afford that! I’ll just go from one form of weakness to another!

But what that the real reason? He wasn’t sure. It felt like it should be. But it also felt like it wasn’t the whole story.

“Let me think. All right. Just… I’ve got to think.” Grayson started to pace. His head was pounding and the incipient headache he’d felt coming on all day was most definitely blooming in his skull. But he forced himself to use the pain as an anchor point rather than a distraction. His mind quieted and he stopped dead as an idea came to him. “Charlie.”

Balthazar’s brow was furrowed, but then understanding bloomed. “Ah, Charlie. You’re thinking of replacing your mother with a Mirryr. Of course, quite clever.”

“That will definitely solve the problem of the press for the most part knowing she’s gone.” Fiona nodded. “Unless they notice she’s not being seen during the day.”

“She has kept mostly to her home, purposefully not going out,” Balthazar said. “So it wouldn’t be too suspicious if they only saw her occasionally peeking out from behind the curtains. I really think Charlie would enjoy playing this role. Let me contact him–”

“Hold a moment, Balthazar,” Caemorn said. “You have not told Grayson the other part of why you did not want him to go get his mother.”

Balthazar met Caemorn’s eyes. Grayson could see that they were speaking to one another telepathically. Balthazar appeared to be pleading, but Caemorn appeared just as firm in response. It was fascinating seeing them as such partners. The truth was they were a powerful pair together, far more powerful than apart. Balthazar sighed and lifted his arms up.

“All right, all right, but he hasn’t suggested it himself so I highly doubt he’ll want to do it,” Balthazar said, evidently this was the tail end of their conversation, but now had spoken out loud.