Shattered (Mists of the Fae Book 9)

by Jaime Marks

  She jumped as Kyle appeared and began taking off his clothing. Blushing she turned away. Did you really need to be almost naked to attend an awakening?

  “Rysa, beautiful, you ok?” Wytheryn asked softly but his voice was strained.

  She forced herself to meet his eyes. “I’m fine.”

  Kyle turned focusing on her, but she blinked and he was kneeling in front of her, half freaking naked. “Hey sunshine, what’s going on, hmm?”

  “N-nothing,” she stammered as she ducked her head, but she couldn’t hide the way her cheeks burned.

  He lifted her chin with his finger as he studied her. The corner of his mouth turned up in an amused sort of grin. “Now we both know that’s not true. Come on, sunshine.” He gently took her hand and pulled her as he stood, but she pulled back shaking her head.

  He stopped immediately and knelt back down. “Narysia, look at me sweetie.” His thumb casually caressed her hand as he waited and after a moment she met his eyes. “You need to trust that no one in this room is ever going to hurt you. Byryn and I will never cross that line with you. We’ll always take care of you, but you’re Wytheryn’s, and we’ll always respect that. We would never betray that trust.”

  She nodded slightly and he pulled her to her feet, guiding her to the bed. He kept hold of her hand as he and Byryn shifted Wytheryn. Kyle sat back against the head board and they pulled Wytheryn against them so his back rested partially on both of their chests. He drew her closer and Wytheryn wrapped her in his arms, holding her tight to his chest.It felt so much better to be in his arms.

  He released her hand and stroked her hair a minute as he spoke. “There are some things we should probably discuss. I know you bound Narysia to you in a respect, Wytheryn. Why?”

  He leaned down kissing her head. “Because it is the strongest form of devotion I could offer her and the strongest vow of trust she could give.”

  Kyle nodded seeming satisfied. “I know you know the ritual by heart, oryto, and we would never interfere in your relationship, but I’m going to ask that you not use it on her. What you did was fine, but never use anything stronger than that aside from the Bonding Ritual. Alright?”

  “Yes…” He seemed to hesitate in confusion.

  “It’s alright, oryto. Whatever you’re comfortable with I’ll accept, but you can’t call me Father in public, ok? I’m not denying you, only protecting you,” Kyle explained.

  “Yes, Father.” Wytheryn seemed to almost sigh in relief and Narysia could tell he was far more comfortable than he’d been. “Thank you.”

  She shifted and felt the bulge of his sex press against her. She went to move, not wanting her hurt him, or even sure what was appropriate, but he held her in place.

  “It’s alright, Rysa. Nothing is going to happen. I’m sorry but…” He paused as if searching for the right words. “The awakening can be very…intimate, and having you this close is always a temptation.”

  Byryn chuckled softly, “She’s your mate. She’ll always be a temptation. Which we should discuss while we have some peace…The Fae have very particular traditions regarding mating. They mate one and only one lover, and exceptions are extremely rare. There are also guidelines to courting your mate. It’s a means of showing respect. Nothing more than a kiss prior to the betrothal, but you’re already betrothed. You can take certain liberties with your mate, but until she awakens you can’t have sex. You can kiss her, touch her, caress her, taste her…” Byryn’s words were almost a taunting lilt and the heat in her body rose as he continued. It was almost too much and she ducked, burrowing into Wytheryn’s chest to hide her blush. He reached over gently petting her head. She had a passing thought that it should feel demeaning, but it soothed her as he spoke. “Cherish her, make her feel your love and passion, and enjoy her, but until the peak of her awakening you can’t penetrate her with your sex…but your tongue, your fingers…” He murmured sending shivers through her body. “There aren’t any rules against that.”

  She could feel Wytheryn’s desire pulsing through her. Her eyes met his and he smiled down at her. “You’re cheeks are so pink, beautiful. Now what could be on your mind, hmm?” He chuckled as he caressed her cheek, “It’s alright Rysa. I can sense you, but I won’t push you.”

  “Wytheryn?” She breathed, unsure of what exactly she was asking or wanting. She shook her head and hid her face again feeling ashamed for all the things she wanted.

  “Narysia, look at me,” Byryn commanded.

  She breathed deeply and slowly forced herself to look up. “Yes, Prince Byryn,” she replied, reverting back to formalities out of comfort. It created a clear separation in her mind and made it far easier to look at him.

  He smirked, seeming to bite back laughter. “If I can’t break you of that formality, sunshine, I’ll have Wytheryn spank you every time you insist on using it.”

  She felt her cheeks heat again although she was pretty sure she’d been blushing continually.

  “There’s nothing wrong with what you’re feeling and feelings aren’t selective. They aren’t going to turn off just because Kyle and I are in the room with you,” Byryn reasoned.

  Kyle gently turned her to face him. “Not to mention you’re in your mate’s arms, in bed, while he’s almost naked and you can sense his arousal. It’s only natural that you’re responding to him.”

  She swallowed hard as he released her and felt Wytheryn’s essence flow through her. She shook her head again. “I shouldn’t want the things I want with you both here…it’s wrong.”

  Kyle studied her shrewdly, “What exactly do you want, Narysia?”

  She shook her head and ducked again but Wytheryn gripped her firmly by the hair and raised her up to meet his gaze. It didn’t hurt, if anything it felt like a claim on her and his possessiveness turned her on.

  “Answer him, Rysa.”

  “I…I want…to please you, Wytheryn,” she nearly whispered as she stammered.

  After last night she’d thought even the idea of anything like that would make her want to puke, but this was Wytheryn, her mate. She belonged to him and he cared for her so much. She wanted to show him she cared for him too. She wanted to feel what it was like to be with him, to please him and have him claim every inch of her body until his touch was the only touch she remembered.

  He searched her eyes before kissing her softly, gently teasing her lips open. Her eyes drifted shut as he deepened the kiss and she felt her body being repositioned so she straddled him. She gasped into the kiss as she felt his body press against her core. She couldn’t pull away, he held her too tightly. She couldn’t fight the tidal wave of emotions, she was just drowning in them. All there was in that moment was the sensations between them. She could feel his essence, feel it changing and her own emerging to respond to it. She could feel his hand gripping her hair, his other hand caressing her breast as his sex ground up against hers through her panties.

  He pulled back and her eyes opened slowly to gaze into his as he released her hair. He traced her lips with his finger. “You can explore me anyway you want, Rysa.” He bit and nipped her neck. “Touch me any place you want. Taste me with that beautiful mouth of yours.” He brushed the hair out of her eyes and met his gaze again. “But I won’t push you to do so.”

  Her hand shook ever so slightly as it trailed over his chest. She knew Byryn and Kyle were watching them, and it was unnerving, but it was also exciting. She didn’t understand the way she was feeling. She almost stopped but his hand slid down to her core and began massaging small circles on the sensitive bundle of nerves there at the juncture of her thighs. Her nails dug into his skin as a small moan escaped her.

  “Rysa,” Wytheryn breathed as he watched her, cupping her cheek. “You are so beautiful, my pet.”

  She turned her head kissing his palm and he gently guided her mouth to his neck, letting her bite, suck, and kiss him there. For a moment her nerves almost caught up to her, but a wave of essence rolled over them and it was like she was drunk. His ess
ence was almost like a drug to her now. Her hands traveled his body as she kissed her way down his chest.

  He hissed when she bit his nipple. She went to pull back but his hand slid in her hair, holding her there. “That feels so good. Please don’t stop, pet.”

  She teased the tight little nub with her tongue and teeth, learning what he enjoyed more by how he reacted to each action. She sucked on it and he groaned, holding her in place moment before loosely running his hand through her hair. When she met his eyes as she kissed her way to the other nipple they were intense and hungry.

  A sudden sharp pain coursed through her body as Light illuminated the room. She collapsed in pain, not really caring where she landed. Wytheryn caught her by the shoulders and pulled her close kissing her head and she could feel him drawing some tangible energy from her into him. It eased her pain.

  “What…” She shook her head trying to reason it out. “What’s happening?”

  As the wave of essence flowed through Narysia and into Wytheryn, Byryn gaged the intensity of it. He almost groaned realizing what was happening. Her awakening had triggered either from the constant stress of the day or the intensity of Wytheryn’s Darkness drawing her Light to the surface.

  Wytheryn could still awaken her. He was almost at his peak now, but she had some time. Unfortunately, it was more like a couple hours than a couple days. It was likely going to hit her hard and fast and there was no way Wytheryn was going to be able to manage it on his own after the metaphysical punishment, the rituals, and his own awakening.

  Byryn exchanged a glance with Kyle. “You up for this?”

  He ran a hand through his hair in exasperation, “Do we really have a choice? Shit, my Dad’s gonna kill us.”

  Byryn rose a brow and searched his mind. He’d been so wrapped up in monitoring Wytheryn’s awakening and seeing that Narysia was comfortable that he’d missed a good portion of his and Cymeryn’s conversation. He’d been trying not to get aggravated and retain his focus. As the words ran through his head he groaned and rested back fully against the headboard.

  Cymeryn was going to see this as justification that he was right, but he wasn’t, not really. More than likely the rituals had no effect on Narysia and the effect they had on Wytheryn wasn’t what triggered her. If anything, between the assault and Healing her last night, her essence had probably been brought to the surface. It had been only a matter of time. If she’d taken it easy and had time to calm down it might’ve settled, but she’d been dealing with one thing after another. That wouldn’t matter to his Grandsire though. He tended to see things his way and arguing with him was pointless.

  This was going to be a headache one way or another. If they really wanted to be a pain in the ass, Marcus and Cymeryn could insist on witnessing her awakening. If it was just Wytheryn he could argue his rights, but the fact was their sister, the daughter of Cymarcion, was in a bed with three men who were practically naked, and they were going to need to get her pretty close to naked herself for the awakening.

  “If we don’t tell them this is going to turn into a frickin’ war.”

  Kyle nodded absently looking over Narysia. She was confused and maybe even a little scared. Her cheeks still held a faint blush and reddened more so when she glanced up at them, as if just now realizing they were still in the room. Wytheryn had her cradled against his chest, gently stroking her back as he reassured her quietly. Byryn watched as Kyle leaned over and cupped her cheek studying her.

  “Shhh, sunshine, everything’s gonna be alright,” Kyle reassured her. “You’re just going into your awakening. I need to know what you want to do about that, precious. We’ve got you, but this is your choice.”

  She blanched slightly. “But I…isn’t Wytheryn going to awaken me?”

  Byryn gently stroked her hair trying to soothe her. “He can, if that’s what you want, but you need to understand that he’s going through his own awakening as we speak. He’ll need to remain connected to you and we have to continue to process his essence until his peak hits. If you choose to do this in this way, that’s fine, but you’re likely going to be connected to us as progeny as well.”

  “I didn’t think that was possible. I thought awakened Fae only had one sire,” she considered out loud. Focusing seemed to calm her down as she played through facts she’d learned from books, scrolls, and her Mother’s journals in her mind. Byryn could sense it all easily being this connected to her at the moment. The bonds were already beginning to form.

  “It’s never been attempted before Kyle,” he explained, knowing she wouldn’t find any other examples.

  He nodded. “I almost died in my awakening because my essence was unstable as a hybrid and I was wounded. In most cases in the past a Healer would have attended and I would’ve died, but my Dad and Marcus were determined to save me so they attempted a joint awakening. Without the wounds it would’ve worked, but I’d lost too much blood. Byryn assisted with a transfusion. I have three sires, Cymeryn, Marcus and Byryn,” he relayed. “Astryn’s essence is bound to mine and shared its intensity. Byryn and I awakened her together, but Star was closely connected to us both and in the bed with the three of us. It wasn’t intentional, but because we didn’t block her essence, Star also sired Astryn through that connection. She has three sires as well.”

  “We know how this works, sunshine, and we would be honored to claim you,” Byryn held her gaze trying to convey that everything would be fine either way, “but we need to know if you’re ok with that. If not, either of your brothers would be happy to awaken you.”

  He felt Wytheryn tense slightly but he remained quiet. He didn’t like the idea of any separation between them and Byryn understood his reasons. She had a right to choose though, and the twins would ask her the same thing. This conversation would at least give her a chance to consider her options before she began to feel any real amount of pressure.

  She only thought about it a moment before looking up into Wytheryn’s eyes. “I already made my choice.” She looked back to him. “I chose Wytheryn and I’m not going to change my mind. I trust him, and I trust you.”

  Byryn nodded in understanding. It was a feeling he understood well and he knew after they cemented the bond she’d never regret it. He would make sure she never had a reason to because he’d never use the power he held over them. He’d never allow anyone, especially Alayne, to come between them.

  Kyle looked down and over all of them before pointing to the sheet at the foot of the bed. “Narysia, I need to let my Father and Uncle know you’re awakening, but they aren’t exactly in the best of moods. Climb off the bed and hand me that sheet a moment, sweetie.”

  She did as he asked and watched as he covered the three of them up to their chests with the sheet. “Do you need anything else?”

  “No, you can come back now, sunshine. I’m just trying to make this as easy for you as possible,” he offered.

  She curled back up in Wytheryn’s arms. “They aren’t going to be happy about my choice are they?” She asked quietly.

  Wyth lifted her chin. “We will deal with it, Rysa,” he said with a strength Byryn had rarely heard from him since he’d switched allegiances.

  It made him smile because he could instantly tell the difference. It wasn’t that smug arrogance that had annoyed him when he first met his brother. Instead, confidence and determination ran through him.

  “Their quarrel isn’t with you. If they have issue it will either be with myself or my sires and you have already chosen. You are mine and I am theirs. I won’t allow your brothers to make you feel less than you are over that choice.”

  Byryn nodded to Kyle ,satisfied with Wytheryn’s words. “Summon them.”

  First Cymeryn, then Marcus appeared, both scanning the scene before them. He waited for their reactions. They almost seemed confused for a moment until Light rolled through Narysia and Wytheryn drew it in himself.

  Cymeryn shook his head and paced. He was on edge and Byryn knew it. His Grandsire never paced, but he�
�d taken to it more and more recently. At first Byryn had thought it was his connection to Marcus, since they appeared to begin sharing each other’s traits and Marcus thought better on his feet. Now he was beginning to realize Cymeryn could stand to practice what he preached. Something was wearing him down.

  Marcus looked to Narysia a moment and met his eyes. “This is her choice, but before she makes it I must know that you’re certain this will work. I mean no offense but he looks exhausted, and I can clearly see how you are channeling their essence.”

  Byryn nodded. “Wytheryn can’t handle this alone right now or I don’t believe it would even be an issue, but he’s been through too much.” He paused balancing Wytheryn’s own wave of essence. “He should be peaking soon, but I believe Narysia has a couple hours. Until Wytheryn peaks we’ll balance the essence through him and then after continue to assist him as it’s needed. Once he’s awakened it’s no different than how we awakened Astryn. We won’t touch her, but with the close proximity to Wytheryn and us assisting him to manage the flow of her essence, she’ll be bound to us as progeny as well.”

  Marcus studied him. “How would that be possible? The awakening requires a physical connection to bind sire to progeny. Even then, if there are two Fae in close contact the intended sire can block the other’s essence in almost all scenarios. Granted this is more complicated with the Sacred Borne, but if you have no physical contact I do not see how the bond would form.”

  “Staryana was there for Astryn’s awakening but they had little to no physical contact. I was holding her through most of it while I kept contact with Astryn. Our bonds make it extremely difficult to separate our essence in such close proximity. The physical connection to me with the way our essence is linked bound them as sire and progeny.”