Shattered (Mists of the Fae Book 9)

by Jaime Marks

  He’d expected her to come around. He knew she was struggling. It pissed him off that she hadn’t; not just because she was betraying him with the god damned King of the Fae, but because there was nothing he could fucking do to help her. It was only a matter of time with the pressure she was under. He knew Steph better than anyone and he knew she couldn’t handle this shit without the right support. Right now he couldn’t decide if he was more pissed off at her or himself for fucking losing her.

  “Fuck!” He screamed, punching the wall as another intense wave of essence hit him. He breathed through the pain absorbing it. It was more his rage than anything that was getting the better of him. A few more weeks and he might have figured a way out of this, but he was out of time.

  “You seem to tolerate the pain easily enough. What has you so enraged?” A voice asked in amusement. He turned to find a Shade leaning against the wall watching him. He was fairly certain he was of Byryn’s line, likely a brother. “Is it that they left you here to die? Or your failures that plague you?”

  “If you’re only here to taunt me, you can leave. I’ll die reveling in my pain and rage.”

  John studied him cautiously. He was older than Byryn, not as strong, but he doubted any of the Brood were now that the Princess had granted him her strength. Still, this Shade held power. He was definitely an Elder.

  He smirked smugly as he watched him. The bastard knew he held all the cards in this encounter. If he killed him no one would care, and he wasn’t in the position to fight back. “You have strength to you. What is your line? I do not recognize it.”

  Typical Warrior arrogance. Like they knew every line of the Shade. Not the that Priests were any better, he just didn’t have any patience for the rivalry bullshit at the moment.

  “You wouldn’t,” he scoffed. “Your Grandsire slayed my Father when he was only a year sired. I’d only just been born and there are no others. His name was Atlyion.”

  The Shade’s smile grew. “I knew your Father. He was a dangerous Shade, but he was part of the raid on our line and Cymeryn shows no mercy. Your name?”

  “John,” he stated levelly. “John Atlyion.”

  “You know me then?” He requested.

  “Only that you’re Brood.”

  “I am Vilyn a Trevyn. My Commander is Servys to the Dark Lord and things have changed in your absence. Alayne has fallen from favor and his line is in direct conflict with our own once more. I know of your previous allegiances and I understand the reasons, but I also know of the deal you made with my Elders before you took this mission. It is clear that you are not solely loyal to the Priests.

  “Get to the point,” John huffed.

  The male smirked, as he assessed him. “I simply want to know, what is it you want, John Atlyion?”

  His aggravation was mounting with the games but it would be stupid to attack the only hope of surviving this he had. Choosing to cut through the bullshit he laid it all out there. “I want to live to reclaim what’s mine. The soon to be Queen of the Fae, Stephynia a Ceryn is my slave and my only allegiance is to the sire who would grant me the means to obtain her. I’d gave my life to the Shade that granted me the means of obtaining her.”

  An evil sneer spread across his face. “Then kneel, John Atlyion, and be reborn of mine essence, but what shall I call you, son of one so worthy? What do you wish to define you? Your obsession, or your strength and passion?” He tapped a finger to his chin, studying him. “Ahhh, perfect. You shall be known as Ravyshyn a Atlyion, for I will not usurp your line, and that is what she will endure as she screams in the throes of your hunger and perhaps mine.”

  “Her ravisher. Perfect.” He grinned wickedly as he knelt. “If you’ll allow me that right, to reclaim her…then I give my life to you…mine sire.”

  He nodded, satisfied as he sliced open his vein, offering it to him. “This should stabilize you temporarily and bind you to me until I can complete your awakening. Can you travel? We need to leave here. Your awakening will be quick but it will leave us both vulnerable.”

  “I can manage whatever you require,” he replied before latching onto his wrist. His strength flowed through him and the bite of his pain alleviated somewhat. The lust that slammed him was a surprise, but he bit back on his needs. First there were more important things at the moment, and second he had just offered himself to a sire that was definitely stronger than he was. The Shade owned his ass and would use him as he saw fit. He knew his place in this life.

  “Good…very good,” he measured him smugly. “Pravyous will find you interesting indeed. Jarceryn, Scratryn, we’re done here.” He caressed his cheek. “Enough Ravyshyn.”

  John looked up as two more Shade stepped out of the slight shadows of his room measuring him. He was surprised they could even navigate them, there was far too much Light here.

  “I will be able to shroud him, but we should find some place at the edge of the realm for this. That area that is only patrolled hourly at the far edge of the northwestern quadrant,” one of them offered. “We still have the day to waste before we can make a move to reclaim the boy and our sister.”

  It was a smart move. Most of the Sacred Borne, if not all, would be at Steph’s Bonding. He bit back his rage but Vilyn caught it. “Patience. Save your rage for the battle I will ask of you.” He paused watching him closely. “I find it interesting that you have not asked what it is I require as your sire.”

  “It doesn’t matter. I’ve served Alayne for years.” He shrugged. “All I want is Stephynia a Ceryn. I don’t give a shit what I need to give to claim her.”

  He leered at him. “And if I want more than you’re willing to offer?”

  John laughed derisively. “Then as mine sire, if you’re half the fucking Shade you seem, I would expect you to take it and put me in my place for denying you, as I would do to any progeny I ever claimed.”

  Vilyn gripped him by the throat. “You may live to regret taking my vein boy…or you might rather enjoy it,” he chuckled. “Come, while your awakening is stayed. It will not hold long. I intend to savor in this.”

  John watched as Shadow surrounded them and followed them from the cabin. He knew what the Shade wanted, but he could give two shits. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d submitted to someone more powerful than him to gain what he needed. It was how he’d been gifted the favor he’d gained with the High Priest in the first place. He’d give his sire what he needed, what he wanted, and then he’d focus on reclaiming Steph.

  If she wanted to ignore him, to be a little whore and let that Fae fuck her, he’d show her what it meant to feel his rage instead of his favor. He’d make her his slave until she realized how good he’d really been to her. She’d learn to appreciate him and obey. Then he’d show her what she’d always needed from him so desperately…the affection and warmth he enjoyed only with her. Once he had her back, he had no intention of ever losing her again.

  Steph paced in her study. John was awakening, and up until about ten minutes ago she’d felt his pain consistently. He wasn’t dead. She knew he hadn’t peaked yet. So what the hell was going on?

  She’d made every argument she could to try to save his life, but it was like when it came to John, no one trusted her. It was really starting to tick her off. Her Grandfather would never have stood for this, and she was tempted to make a point of it in the sparring ring, but with the Bonding Ritual everything else had been pushed aside.

  She’d asked Star to come get her, but when she’d asked Byryn for permission, which Steph couldn’t even wrap her head around, he’d gotten on the com and asked why she was asking to arrange a visit through Star instead of going through proper channels so that security could be arranged. When she didn’t answer quickly enough he’d just smirked and said ‘nice try, sprite’ and asked if Mythos knew what was going on with her. The whole masculine ego that she was stuck dealing with was starting to piss her off.

  They just didn’t get it and they weren’t hearing her. John might be an ass, but he
knew where her Father was. She needed him alive. No one else knew where Ceryn was being held and interrogations hadn’t yielded any information. He swore he’d only tell her in person and she knew he would.

  It wasn’t like she was stupid. If he had the chance John would try to reclaim her. She wasn’t about to try seeing him alone again. Of course if they hadn’t argued with her every time she’d even thought of talking to him about it in the first place, she never would’ve tried before either.

  Now she had a problem. Something was wrong. She could sit back and say nothing. John would eventually find a way to come to her, but who knew what damage he could cause in the meantime and she hated the idea of Star or anyone else getting hurt because she’d let him get away with whatever he was up to.

  She paced a few minutes longer before she misted to her lab. She jumped as Meryn took form in her path. “Your majesty, I will always allow you your space to attend to all you need, but you must not mist so suddenly without direction. I am tasked with your security and the realm is not safe.”

  She sighed impatiently. “I apologize, Securine Meryn. I’m still getting used to this,” she conceded. It bothered her to have them constantly following her, watching her every move. Her only real privacy was behind closed doors in her suite. It felt like she was always under a microscope or something, but the Fae was only doing his job and arguing with him wasn’t going to get her anywhere.

  He stepped aside and she walked over to the communicator, cranking the mini-generator that ran it so it wouldn’t die on her. Quickly she rang the Realm of Balance, waiting for an answer.

  A fuzzy image appeared and she studied it a moment until they spoke. “Your majesty, how can we help you this morn?”

  “I need to speak with Prince Byryn a Grifyn immediately, Scholar Frantyrion. Tell him it’s important,” she demanded.

  “Of course, your majesty. I will fetch him at once,” he replied and she could see him rushing out of sight.

  She paced waiting for the man who’d quickly become the closest thing she had to a brother. He wouldn’t be happy, but she needed to know what was happening. Something wasn’t right.

  “Hey sprite, what’s up? You look stressed. You’re not getting cold feet are you?” She stopped, meeting his eyes and almost bit her tongue. Byryn looked like hell. Something was definitely wrong.

  “Hey. No I’m actually fine with the Bonding and Coronation, but the isolation requirement sucks.” She shrugged dismissively even though in a lot of ways it was a lie. None of them would understand what she was feeling and she didn’t have time to get into it. It was something she’d have to find a way to get over and deal with on her own.

  Searching for words she tried to figure out how she could get him to hear her, “Byryn, it’s about John. I…”

  He cut her off. “If this is about his awakening again, it’s not happening Steph. I love you like a sister, and that’s one of many reasons I’m putting my foot down on this. That asshole’s dangerous to you. I know you don’t realize this, but he’s messing with your mind. Even Kyle feels we need to let this happen and he was John’s protégé.”

  “No, I know, and I might not agree, but that’s just it, Byryn. Something’s wrong.” She struggled to figure out what she was sensing exactly. “I…I can’t describe it but I think someone’s awakening him. How’s that possible?”

  He grimaced rubbing his face. “We had an issue last night. Apparently some of my Shade brethren might be trapped here in the realm. I’ll go check on John and add security. I need to find them if I hope to make it to the ceremony tonight anyway.” He sighed. “If I don’t, I’m sorry Steph. I want to be there, I really do, but I have my brothers and Bryce to consider.”

  “It’s fine, Byryn. I expect you to do what’s necessary as you always do. If you can’t make it just…be safe,” Steph conceded, but really she was disappointed. She was also worried as hell. There were Shade in the realm and John was awakening. If he lived what would that mean? Not that she really wanted him dead. Why the hell was this shit o confusing to sort out. “Go. I’ll see you soon either way.”

  He smiled and nodded. “Don’t worry about John. I’ll handle it. Just go and try to enjoy your day. Take a bubble bath or do one of those other girly things you do to relax,” he teased. “Take care.”

  The screen blanked and she turned to find Meryn blocking her path again. “What is it now, Meryn?”

  “You should tell his highness. He would want to know,” he all but demanded.

  “Telling him isn’t going to serve any purpose other than to drive him crazy and upset him. If Byryn lets us know there’s an issue I’ll tell him, but I’m not even supposed to be reaching out to him with my mind. It’s better to let this rest until we know something for sure,” she retorted, pushing past him to. “I’m misting back to my chambers,” she warned before taking to the mist.

  Part of her felt like she should postpone the Bonding, but the truth was the entire Kingdom was waiting for this eve. She couldn’t really postpone it…even if she wasn’t ready. There was too much pressure to go through with it now. She’d already managed to find reasons to postpone it for almost three days and the Kingdom was getting restless. It had to happen tonight, even if she wished she had more time to get used to all this shit.

  The only saving grace in the situation with John was that even if he had somehow escaped and managed to awaken, he’d never be able to get free of the Realm of Balance with it sealed. Not that it was really a saving grace for her, more than ever she needed her Father and no one was listening to her. If she had the ability she would’ve gone to him and gotten him to take her to her Father by now. Instead she was stuck waiting for him to die and that was harder on her than she cared to admit.

  It was a double blow. Her Father had been gone for four years, but because of all the games that had been played with her head it was like he’d been gone since she was a child. It was a constant turmoil inside of her. John dying without telling her where he was…it was like losing him all over again and in some ways it already felt like she’d lost him twice, once as a little girl and again four years ago. That pain was real even if the memories weren’t.

  The other side of this was John. For all he’d done to her, for as much as she wanted to hate him, he’d taken care of her and been the only person in her life who cared enough at all to even notice her for a really long time. He made sure she had what she needed, even helped her find her apartment and moved her out of her Grandmother’s house. He’d been the stability and anchor she’d needed to keep it together; even when she didn’t want him to be. It didn’t excuse everything he’d done to her, but the truth was it actually hurt to know that he was dying. She was losing him to.

  Despite the fact that she really didn’t want him in her life, knowing he was alive and out there somewhere was an odd comfort. It was like she knew if everything fell apart here, if they all woke up one day and realized that she just didn’t fit in with their perfect lives, he would always be there to pick up the pieces. That illusion was gone though. He was never the caring lover he portrayed himself to be and he was dying. He’d be gone probably before she was bound this eve.

  She walked over to the window seat, looking down over the Palace gardens. Maybe Byryn was right. Maybe she was just getting cold feet. She loved Mythos and the Lucerna Lines. They were like family to her. Hell, they were technically family. She knew this was where she belonged. She didn’t really doubt that. It just all felt so overwhelming sometimes and no one seemed to notice or understand.

  It felt like she’d be letting so many people down if she admitted that it was all just too much. They all expected so much from her. She was Cerulyion, the destined Queen. All of this should be natural. There wasn’t any point to telling them how she felt anyway. If she admitted that she wasn’t half as comfortable as she faked they’d just justify it away and tell her how good she was doing like they always did.

  There was no one here who understood. Star was in th
e Realm of Balance. Besides, she was always off attending to duties or spending time with Byryn and now Kyle and Astryn, which was…odd, but apparently the new normal. She had a brother and sister in law; three brothers actually, not to mention a son. She had a life. She didn’t have time for her.

  Steph had Mythos, but all she really wanted was her family and everything here was just too damned much. Her family was gone, just memories in her head, and she knew no one else would understand what she was feeling. Somehow she knew her Dad would know how to make all of this make sense, how to make it right somehow, but she didn’t know how to find him. Maybe if he was here she wouldn’t feel all this pressure to live up to her name in a way that she didn’t even know how. Maybe he could help her understand how she was supposed to be what they wanted her to be.

  Chapter 10

  Byryn misted directly to John’s cabin and found Demytria and Cymeryn standing there, but John was gone. He scrubbed his face in frustration. As soon as Steph said that he was awakening he knew he wouldn’t find him here. He’d felt a faint echo roll through him earlier and as soon as she’d called he damned well knew his brothers were with John. He’d just been in denial.

  Now that he was standing here there was no denying it. Even he could feel the remnants of the Shadow they’d shrouded themselves in. If they didn’t find his brothers before John’s awakening was complete they’d have an even bigger problem on their hands and the bastard would be of his own line. According to the guards’ reports they didn’t have too long.

  “What are you doing here?” Cymeryn demanded.

  “Got a call from Steph…one of her feelings,” he explained pacing around to see if he could find anything useful. “She thought someone was awakening him.”