Page 49 of Ever Dark Academy: Volume 6

It really is all of you, but different, a voice murmured in Ryder’s mind and he sensed in the others too.

Balthazar?! Thank the gods! We couldn’t reach you before, Ryder cried.

Balthazar, you always do manage to get through in the best moments, Fiona said.

Only Charlie did not look delighted. In fact, he looked very ill at ease, or more like, full of dread.

Balthazar… oh, gods, that name! Is it really popular in the world you all live in? I can’t quite imagine that, the voice continued.

Ryder opened his lips to speak, but then said through his mind, Eyros?

Yes, Weryn, it’s me, Eyros answered. And Wyvern, too. Oh, and what about–

Charlie. My name is Charlie, Charlie sent.

There was silence over their mind link for a moment and then Eyros answered easily, Ah, yes, of course, and Charlie. When Ashyr told me about all of you in the future being all chummy and such, I didn’t believe him even though his mind told me no lies.

Ashyr? You mean Grayson? You’ve spoken to Grayson? Ryder asked, feeling dazed and hopeful. If Eyros had connected minds with Grayson that meant his beloved was in this time, not the future. But where was he?

Yes, Grayson. I have spoken to him. But I’ve been locked out of his head by those bloody awful slices, Eyros growled the last.

What do you mean? Do the Kaly slices have Grayson? Fiona asked.

They do. Marched him right into the center of their den of evil and then cut me off from him! Eyros actually sounded worried, more like Balthazar than before.

Then we need to get to him! Now! Ryder said and started to move to the center of the clearing to shapeshift.

Weryn, if you go in there half-cocked–what does that word come from? Hmmm–anyways, if you go in there without a plan, Ashyr will be dead. Again, Eyros cautioned.

We have a plan! Ryder’s heart was beating so hard. It was Grayson’s heart that his own heart was reflecting. Grayson was in terror or pain or both. He had to get to him!

I’m surprised that you care to help us, Eyros, Charlie pointed out carefully.

So am I. But… Eyros paused here.

Grayson told you about the future? Your future? Ryder interrogated.

Yes, he said some quite extraordinary things. And now, here you all are and you’re… well, you’re just like he said you’d be, Eyros sounded surprised, but also hopeful.

Ryder grimaced and his hands fisted. He could well imagine his last interactions with Eyros. If he went into his memories, he could know. He wasn’t shirking doing that, but now was not the time.

I can only imagine the qualms you had to get past to reach out to me, Ryder said quietly. After everything I’ve done.

Eyros was silent for a long time. You’re… different. But people don’t change!

Fiona let out a soft laugh. That would have been my line, Eyros! At least before I was dragged kicking and screaming to open myself to people again. But they have changed. We’ve changed.

Wyvern… facing things rather than running away from them? That’s new, Eyros admitted. And you’re here. All together. To help Ashyr.

Of course, we are, Fiona answered. We’re so much stronger that way. We have each other’s backs. We wouldn’t leave Ashyr to face all this alone.

You–you believe that, Eyros again sounded shocked and almost dismayed.

They have changed, Eyros, Charlie chimed in softly.

And you almost believe it as much as Wyvern, Charlie, Eyros muttered.

That’s close enough for it to be true for a cautious creature like me, Charlie answered. You’ve reached out. You want to help.