Page 44 of Ever Dark Academy: Volume 6

Whatever is to happen will happen.

That doesn’t mean it won’t be bad, Eyros pointed out. Or painful. Or both.

Roan walked behind Grayson. He didn’t hold onto him or restrain Grayson in any way. There was no need. Grayson’s human strength was less than a child’s in comparison to a Vampire’s. His power was also at a low ebb. A very low ebb. In fact, he feared if he used too much of it, the slender cord that kept him in this body might snap. So though he could have used it back in the forest to save himself from Roan, it would have been an only temporary reprieve.

Even killing Roan wasn’t going to save himself from the Immortal slice, because he would simply go to another body to inhabit or meld with another one of his counterparts and they would know he was here anyways. And, besides, he wanted to get into the city. That was where the gates were. And the gates were his only chance to get back to his own time.

“You’re being so compliant! That makes me uneasy, Ashyr,” Roan mused in an almost musical voice.

He knew that Grayson was Ashyr. That meant he must be connected with the Roan that existed in the future. Perhaps he was the Roan–or a Roan–that existed in the future, able to time travel. He thought of that first gate Ryder and Demos had tried to take him through. It had been blocked. Kaly’s understanding of how the gates worked and what they could do was clearly beyond most.

The gates must be the key to traveling back and forth in time. Fiona likely is the only Wyvern able to do it independently, but it took whatever the structure did to trigger it, Grayson thought. But they didn’t realize that this would be the result.

Roan had been clearly surprised at his presence here. Grayson even hoped he might feel uneasy. Eyros was able to shield his mind from Roan so that Grayson didn’t tire himself trying to do the same thing.

Every time he looks into your head, he’ll only see past battles, Eyros had said. Despite being a sadistic bastard, I don’t think he’ll like to see you winning over and over again.

It might unnerve him more. I need all the help that I can get, Grayson had said with approval.

Still it was an interesting choice for Roan to have picked the tail end of the War rather than when it was completely over and the other Immortals dead or scattered. He found his steps slowing as he carefully searched for gates. Nightvallen had dozens. Solace at least six. There would, undoubtedly, be that many here.

But maybe only one or two open so that they can control who can get through, Grayson thought.

The Kaly Vampires feared more than just people getting through the gates, but from the Ever Dark itself. They had a veritable army of the undead marching around the city in a massive circle. And it wasn’t just the dead that were the danger, but treacherous soul gems that studded the earth like bombs ready to go off. There had been a narrow and difficult path to pick through to get to the other side of the army of the dead and that had exhausted Grayson more than he’d like to admit.

“Stop dwaddling, Ashyr.” A poke to his back that had Grayson grimacing. “There’s no way out of here for you, weak and pathetically mortal as you are.”

“I’m tired and muddy,” Grayson said quietly. “I’d like to sit down.”

“Oh? Would you like something to eat and drink? I could draw you a bath? Rub your feet?”

“You hate me that much, do you?” Grayson asked. “That you won’t even let me sit?”

“No, not at all. I rather admire you. Compared to so many of the other Immortals, you’re rather good at your job,” Roan admitted. “I just wanted to remind you that we aren’t friends like you are with Caemorn.”

“Oh, don’t worry. I’m quite well aware that you are nothing like Caemorn,” Grayson said wearily.

He felt pressure against his mind and grimaced. Annoying Roan was never a good idea. Eyros’ protection held, but he had to be careful.

I can protect you. But if I do too much he’ll realize I’m here and… I worry what they will do to you, Eyros said.

Can’t you do something to him? Grayson asked.

They’re like a hive mind, Eyros explained. Touch one of them and you touch them all.

Really? Grayson was shocked. He hadn’t gotten that impression before.

Yes, I can see they don’t act that way in the future world, but here they do, Eyros said. Probably because whoever is pulling their strings here isn’t in that future.

Why not? Killed off or–ah. Daemon. They want to avoid Daemon being awake, Grayson realized. So they’re hiding in the past.

Exactly. The one place where Daemon cannot get them, Eyros answered. How–how is Daemon, by the way?

I don’t know if now is the best time for me to fill you in on everyone’s situation, Grayson pointed out. Feeling Eyros’ hunger and slight hurt, he said, Daemon is wonderful and his fledgling is amazing.

So that all worked out, did it? That’s something, Eyros said.

Christian is Julian’s best friend, Grayson said. Julian is our prince.