Page 56 of Ever Dark Academy: Volume 6

Maybe if he had tried harder to be okay with the idea of Grayson being turned by another then Grayson wouldn’t have delayed as long as he had. But even as he thought it, he realized that it was a vain hope. Grayson would never have believed him and it would have made any decision more painful for him.

Yet now they were in the distant past and separated. Grayson was in the hands of their enemy and weak as a kitten. The Kaly slices had already killed him once, seeing him so weak, they could do anything now.

We’re coming, Grayson. Just hold on! Ryder pleaded.

Eyros must have heard this, because he said, I think I should tell you something.

Now, Eyros? I have to concentrate on landing, Ryder said.

Yes, because I don’t know what those bastard Kaly slices are doing to Ashyr–Grayson–right now. But I know what I would do if I were them, Eyros said quietly.

What would you do?

Knowing what I do now about how we can combine powers and how the Master-Childe bond creates a great deal of sympathy and loyalty between them–no matter how unearned–I would turn Grayson, Eyros said.

Ryder’s wings beat ragged for a moment. What?!

He heard a muffled, “Hey, old boy, do be careful! Don’t dump us off.”

He gained control of himself. That’s not… you can’t be serious?!

What other play do they have? They can’t go up against Daemon directly, Eyros pointed out.

Grayson would never be against Daemon! No matter who turned him! Ryder growled.

No, he wouldn’t. I don’t think they intend to use Grayson as the general of their army against Daemon. I think they’ll use him as a shield, Eyros explained. If one of them turns him, there will always be something between them.

Then Daemon will use Armageddon to turn him back to humanity so he can choose who he truly wants to be with! Ryder snarled.

That is Daemon’s prerogative, but it is not some kind of gift without cost. Turning a newly made Vampire back would cause damage, Eyros pointed out. He’d have to wait and so that bond would grow.

Need I remind you of the memories you’ve already dug out of my mind, Fiona and Charlie’s? Every Immortal has killed the one that made them. You and Caemorn did it. Fiona did it. I did it, Ryder explained.

Well, yes, but some of those people seem to be still with us. Slices of slices, I suppose, Eyros guessed. But it actually makes my point stronger and makes your desire to turn Grayson seem foolish. If we all kill our Masters then it’s a good idea for Grayson to be turned by someone that we’d all like to see murdered.

He wouldn’t need to kill me! Ryder growled. We had to kill our Masters because they abused that power.

Or we had to because there can be no loyalty among us greater than that we owe Daemon. To have a Master or Mistress may be to have some other god before him, Eyros said.

Tell that to your future self and Caemorn. You’re thick as thieves and even more dedicated to Daemon, Ryder said.

Yes, I keep thinking that this connection must be because of the Master-Childe bond. Because me and Kaly… I just can’t see it, Eyros admitted.

You can’t see it because you’re not Balthazar yet. You’ll understand it when you are, Ryder said. All I wish to do is to help Grayson to the other side. Not to master him in any other way. I am devoted to him, Eyros. I would never do anything to harm him.

I know you mean that, Eyros assured him. But I’m just trying to warn you what they might be doing in there. What Kaly might be considering to save their own worthless skin.

Ryder swallowed bitter bile. While it would have still hurt if Grayson had chosen Caemorn to turn him, he would have understood it. Caemorn’s power was grand and it would give Grayson more direct power over undead soldiers, not to mention the ability to ensure that even those who fell in battle could be restored. Kaly was a worthy gift for Grayson to add to his own. But for one of the slices to turn Grayson? No, absolutely not.

They were twisted and evil. They were the most extreme parts of Kaly without the moderating influences of the rest of them. While he had only heard stories third-hand about Artemis and Roan, they were enough to chill his blood. Grayson could not be saddled with such a being.

I understand, Eyros. This must not happen, Ryder said.

Eyros let out a sigh. I just don’t want you to lose your mind again if something bad does happen, Weryn.

I won’t.

Are you certain? Because, I admit, I’ve come to be a little fond of this new you. I’d hate you to be consumed by darkness once more, Eyros responded and went silent.