I knew it was stupid, yet again baring my soul to see another’s, but I had to know what motivated Riven. I had to know if his scheme to pull me here was selfish. A demon’s words mean nothing if his heart is corrupt.
FOURTEEN♀♥♂♂♂♂EVERLY
What I found helped me make up my mind.
To stay.
When I was able to see inside him, I realized Riven’s motivations were good. And I also learned that Riven believes I’m the only one who can help him. It’s the reason he’s brought me here. There’s something going on at this school that isn’t good. Something dangerous and something Riven wants to protect the students against. And, for some reason, he thinks I’m the answer.
I also understand the term “shadow demon” much better now. Shadow can’t exist with both light and darkness. Riven is the line of gray residing among both. Gray is often the reality of things people don’t wish to see. People don’t like facing reality. And Riven exists in that grayness. People call his kind shadow demons because they’d rather live in a world of comfortable lies than painful truths.
Riven isn’t a bad person. He’s the opposite, actually. Riven is reality. He takes in so much pain and no one really understands what he does for this school. Without Riven, tensions between students would rise, different species would revert to old prejudices, chaos would be a real threat. The count has an inkling of the truth, according to Riven, but I’m not so sure.
Like a gentle lover trying not to hurt his partner, Harlow pulls away from Riven. It’s silly to think that, but I know how intimate Harlow’s power is. The relief on Riven’s face reverts to watchfulness, his mask of congeniality firmly over the underlying agony. Riven is a true soldier, carrying on no matter the course. Noble. Selfless.
As he looks at me, there’s an innocent vulnerability in his eyes. Heat blooms on my face. I see Riven—naked as a baby. But the warmth of embarrassment is overshadowed by the bareness of his soul. He isn’t swimming in a sea of light, like Harlow, but Riven is real, raw and compelling. The headmaster’s story is much more complicated than he would have me believe.
Harlow picks a glove up off the ground and puts it on his hand. “Everly…” He drops beside me.
“I’m… okay.” I reach out to him, and he takes my hand in his gloved one.
“What happened?” I ask.
“Jean-Claude attacked Riven.” Harlow’s eyes are huge, and his pupils are blown out. He looks at the count who has collapsed and appears to be unconscious.
“Why?” I ask.
“Jean-Claude is bound to the accords of host law and probably thought Riven had harmed you when you passed out,” Harlow answers.
The headmaster leans his chin against his fingers as he stares at me, pensive in thought. “Maybe.”
“Everly, are you okay?” Harlow’s eyes and voice plead for me to be all right. He holds his palm up, inviting me to take it.
His offer, to take my pain and fear away, is tempting, but I shake my head. “I’m fine.” Riven is the one I’m worried about. And Jean-Claude. “Is he going to be okay?” I point my chin to Jean-Claude’s slumped body.
“He’s not ashes, so he’ll be fine.” Harlow sneers.
“What happened to him?” I ask. “Why did he black out?”
Neither one speaks. They stare at the vampire.
“Harlow?” I reach out and grab his arm.
“I…” Harlow croaks. “I touched him.” The incubus shudders. “Fed from him.”
“The same thing you did to the kid in the hall,” I say, but what I’m really saying is: so why is this any different?
Harlow turns his head. His mouth is open and his expression is shell-shocked.
“What?” I ask.
“Everly,” Riven whispers. “Vampires don’t have any life force to feed from.”
“But you fed from him?” I peer into Harlow’s eyes. I’m completely confused.
He nods, then shudders again, like there’s a bad taste in his mouth.
“Harlow, are you well enough to take Jean-Claude to the infirmary?” Riven stands and looks over his library, next to his desk. “I need to speak with Everly.”
“Yeah… I can do that.” Harlow casts a glance to Riven, then back at me.
The headmaster pores over his library, looking for something as he scans the numerous titles, searching like a were-hound on a scent.
Harlow squeezes my shoulder. “You’ll be fine?”
I nod. He gets up.
Then the incubus lifts Jean-Claude in an amazing feat of strength, as the vampire must have one hundred pounds on him, and fireman carries him out of Riven’s office, leaving me alone with the headmaster.
“Please, do sit.” Riven motions to one of the high-backed chairs. “Cackus needs to hear this, too.”
I look at the overturned furniture. One of the plush seats is on its side. Then my attention turns to the fireplace.
“Did you two meet?” Riven asks. He’s talking about Cackus and me.
“Oh, yeah,” I answer and wave to the fire. “Hi again.”
The fire shimmies into a dance, twirling into a column and then simmering down again.
“He likes you.” Riven walks to the downed chair, rights it and sits. He gestures to the opposite plush chair, motioning me to sit.
I sit, glancing around the mess.
“Before we discuss why you’re here, let me apologize for… bringing you here,” Riven starts. He’s not ashamed, but he also doesn’t seem regretful. All I can think about is how he still functions even with all the pain pouring into him like he’s an endless vessel.
“Is that what you feel all the time? All that pain?” I ask.
His face puckers as if he’s sucking on lemons. “I don’t normally
