Page 55 of Ever Dark Academy, Vol. 7

Dani’s eyes narrowed. “I fought by your side in the War, Natasha. Or don’t you remember? Ashyr and Weryn together? I realize you were turned near the end of it, but surely that hasn’t escaped your mind yet.”

Natasha is a War Childe. I didn’t turn her. Who did, I wonder? She was not familiar to me at all. Likely, she was turned by someone loyal to Legion.

“Until you ran away,” Lawson said.

“Until your Immortal went mad,” Dani said with a shake of her head. “I don’t see many of you mourning Weryn. You talk about him, sure. But none of you are grieving him. Admit it. You know it’s better now that he’s gone.”

“We admit nothing of the sort!” Natasha snarled.

“You know nothing! You never met Weryn! You never knew the before-times! All you’ve known is this–this mess.” Dani’s expression crumpled as she took in the destruction of the Mer.

“What’s wrong, Dani?” Lawson mocked. “Are you upset by a little blood spilt? You were the one to rip his majesty here apart. You look like you regret it.”

Dani stared down at the legless, armless Marinus. “We should have tried to keep him alive. Find out about this weapon. That’s what Ashyr would have done.” She picked up the Mer weapon, but almost immediately dropped it, hissing as it burned her hands, shaking them. “Ah! It burns!”

“They can have as many such weapons as they want. We will still kill them with our fangs and claws,” Natasha mocked.

Dani shot an unbelieving look at her. “Are you truly such a fool? Did you not see what it did to the others?”

Natasha shrugged. “They died. So have many. What does it matter? We were victorious.”

Ryder grimaced. That was the position that he had taken during the War, especially in regards to the War Children. Why did he expect Natasha to know any better?

But she does know better now. She might have continued loving Lawson, but I know she’s a good person. She doesn’t kill indiscriminately any more. So she’s changed. People are capable of change, he reminded himself. I am one of those.

His desire to punish her for these acts, for these thoughts, fell from him. Most people could change. She wasn’t like Legion or Lawson. She could control herself and see the value in life. So long as she was not working for the Sect, he could help her. Bring her back all the way. Hell, maybe if she even was in the Sect he could still do it. Repenting for his past sins wasn’t enough if he wasn’t willing to help those who were harmed from it, even if they had caused harm themselves.

“Where is the Vampire they took hostage?” Dani asked.

“Legion has him,” Lawson said.

Ryder was about to laugh at that when the hairs on the back of his neck rose up. He shifted into his black bear form before swinging around to face Legion. His Childe had crept up behind him from the water, keeping downwind as well. Now Legion’s hair was slicked to their monstrous form, showing patches of scales and raggedy flesh. The fact that Legion felt more at home looking like this–some Frankenstein’s monster–than in their humanoid form shook Ryder. It had been hard to give them their Second Death, but he had been right to.

“Who are you?” Legion asked him as his Childe rose up from the water. “Who are you?”

The question was said almost as if Legion was asking themselves. Not that he could speak in his brown bear form. But still, even if he had been in his humanoid one, he doubted the question was really aimed at him. He let out a roar and positioned himself between Legion and Khos.

How am I going to get us out of this? Not enough room to become the Stormbird and… He cast a look back at the other Vampires. Dani and her three remaining Ashyr Vampires were fixed upon him. Lawson and Natasha were too. He doubted he would be able to shift and get up off the ground in time before they had him down. The Mer weapon lifted off the ground without anyone touching it and aimed for him. And I don’t think I can outfly that. Grayson, I hope you are somewhere safe. Don’t get bogged down in a fight you can’t win!

He thought he felt something stirring from Grayson. Power. Raw, unbridled power. He feared that his beloved was so angry at what he had seen Dani do and participate in that he might harm her in response.

Yet they didn’t seem intent on killing him. Not yet anyways. Perhaps, like the Mer, they’d want to question him, find out who he was, and all that. Legion certainly seemed keen on that. They had gone into the Mer-infested water to swim around to his position unseen. So they were intent on getting to him without violence.

“I think I know your scent. But it cannot be…” Legion’s large form grew still as they considered what their nose was telling them. One of their large, clawed hands went to a pouch that they had around their neck.

I know what’s in there. My soul. Gods!

Legion opened the drawstring bag and something glowed blue-white up at them. They grunted in satisfaction.

Can’t be me here if I’m in there, right, Legion?

“They are protecting that Dire Wolf,” Dani said, forehead furrowing. “Is that another Weryn Vampire?”

“No, it’s just a wolf,” Natasha snorted. Then with a lilt of laughter in her voice, she asked, “Do you suppose they’ve mated or something? How funny would that be?”

Lawson brought a crude arm around her waist. “Mated, huh? I can tell where your mind is after our hunt.”

She laughed and pushed him off playfully. “It’s just so loving! So protective. How… odd.”