Shattered (Mists of the Fae Book 9)

by Jaime Marks

  “Yes, but I would think that is because yours and Star’s essence flows freely between one another and there was already a connection through the bonds.” He motioned to the bed. “That is not the case here.”

  “Wytheryn is bound to me and just Claimed by Kyle. During the ritual our blood united in his veins strengthening the bond so Alayne can never break it. He’d almost have to break mine and Kyle’s bond to even have a chance. On top of that, we’re awakening him as he awakens her. Our essence is flowing freely into him, and as he balances her, to Narysia. As he draws her essence it’s flowing into us. Sense the four of us, I can feel it clearly,” Byryn explained.

  Marcus nodded and scrubbed his face before addressing her. “This is your choice, Narysia. I will not take it from you, but either myself or Cymeryn would gladly awaken you and it would be far less complicated.”

  She shook her head. “I appreciate your offer lor…” She hesitated to correct herself and Byryn hid his smirk. She really was attached to the separation that their titles granted her, wasn’t she? They’d have to work on that. “…Marcus, but Wytheryn is my mate. He’s already been granted the rights to my awakening and this is what I want.” She trailed off as she spoke, nearly whispering the tail end of it.

  Byryn cursed at how badly her confidence had been damaged in the attack. Unfortunately, the unawakened couldn’t be killed now that Wytheryn was awakening, but it was amazing what you could live through. Those bastards would pay their penance, one way or another, human or not.

  Cymeryn all but stomped to the bed. “Do you not think she has been through enough? This day has been confusing and trying on her. Your bonds and the bond with Wytheryn combined with her bond to the three of you as progeny…” He shook his head in aggravation but breathed deep and sat on the bed focusing on her. “Marcus is right, Narysia. This is your decision, and I understand and will abide by it. I am not angry with you in any regard. Do you understand?”

  She hesitated as she studied him nervously. “Yes, Lord Cymeryn.”

  He blew out a breath and cupped her cheek. “Narysia, you are mine sister. I am merely concerned for you. I know how difficult this day has been. I have seen all you endured and I realize this, all of it, is confusing and too much to process. I would have preferred you had more time to adjust to all this, but what is done is done. Just know that I am always here for you regardless of the issue. I expect you to come to me if there is something you need assistance with or if things get to be too much.”

  “Yes sir,” she responded almost automatically causing Cymeryn to start and measure them uncomfortably.

  Byryn felt Kyle cringe. They both knew where his Dad’s head had gone and it was ridiculous to both of them. They might be giving her the comfort she needed, even encouraging the connection between her and Wytheryn to some extent, but that was as far as it would go. She was Kyle’s aunt for Divine’s sake and they were bound to the girls. They meant it when they said they’d never touch her in that way.

  “Sweetheart, you are mine sister,” he replied quickly. “You have no need to call me Lord and please do not refer to me as sir.”

  She blushed looking down but only nodded and Byryn knew it was time to attempt to intervene. “Cymeryn, we would never do anything to harm or make things harder for Narysia. The level of stress she endured is what likely triggered her awakening and all we can do about it now is care for her.”

  Cymeryn’s stare was cold in a way he’d grown unaccustomed to, but it wasn’t the first time in his life he’d seen it. It was the same stare he’d never wanted levelled his way as Trevyn’s son. Oddly, it didn’t have near the effect on him now as it once did. Even if Cymeryn were Shade Byryn knew their strength was equal. He didn’t fear his wrath now.

  “Byryn, you will care for her and you will report to me once this is done. I have allowed you to rule our line, and I have given you more leeway than I have ever given another aside from my own brother, but my patience is wearing thin. You and Kyle have put your brother and my sister at risk with your actions and we will deal with this.”

  Marcus breathed heavily, gripping Cymeryn by the shoulders. “We should go. This is not good for her and her awakening is going to become intense. The essence is pulsing through her strongly. She needs to rest and allow her mate to care for her and we need to allow that.” He looked to Narysia. “Do you feel comfortable and safe with this?”

  “Wytheryn is my mate and Byryn and Kyle would never hurt me,” she replied quietly. “I’m not sure what it is you think they’ve done besides protect my mate from his past, but they’ve never done anything but protect me and support me. I know you’re my brothers, and I know you mean well, but I don’t even know you. I didn’t even know our Dad. Please don’t fight over me. This is my decision. I wouldn’t have made it if I didn’t feel safe.”

  Cymeryn ran a hand roughly through his hair. “I am sorry I upset you, Narysia. You are correct. I am out of line.” He shook his head. “And I am pushing you too hard, we both are. I will be at the lake. I need to think and I want to check on our other situation.”

  Marcus frowned a moment as he misted but nodded to himself before meeting Byryn’s eyes. “I know there are issues that need to be dealt with, but I do still trust you, Byryn, more than you realize. I don’t question it in the least. I only worry how everything happening in such a short time will affect her, and Star and Astryn for that matter; but it’s not your fault and Cymeryn was out of line. It is well within our rights to witness this, but I realize you need a concession of sorts on our part.” He hesitated, “Just know I will be here in an instant if you need me. Take care of her.”

  Byryn nodded. “I would never put our issues before Narysia’s safety.” He reached forward stroking her cheek affectionately. “If you check the records, Marcus, you’ll see I’ve been looking out for her and trying for weeks to get her in with Kato. There were just so many younger ones that needed to be a priority. We’ve been seeing to her as much as was appropriate, but she needs her family.” He looked up and met his eyes. “We are her family, all of us. She can’t be in the middle of this anymore than the girls can.”

  Marcus sighed with a nod. “I’ll speak to him and I’ll let Devyn know dinner may be delayed.”

  He nodded and Marcus misted. It was going to be a long night.

  “You’ll talk to Devyn alone before we meet?” Kyle prompted.

  “Of course,” he smirked glancing at him, “but I think we need to figure out what’s up with your Dad. This isn’t just about us.”

  “I know, but try to tell him that.”

  Byryn nodded assessing where both Wytheryn and Narysia were at. They needed to get her ready before Wytheryn peaked and decide how they were going to handle this. They needed to complete the bond between them, because it was honestly the best thing for them both, but this was a lot different from Astryn’s awakening.

  Kyle shrugged beside them as his voice whispered through his mind, “Just let them figure it out. We don’t need to be involved and Wytheryn seems to be able to gage where her mind is at pretty well already.”

  “I know but she’s reacting to us on some level and I’m not sure I want to risk encouraging that in any way,” he reasoned.

  “We’ll handle it. It’s no different than how you are with Astryn and I am with Star. It’ll never be anything more. I’m honestly more concerned with how you’re taking all this. Between being exposed to Wytheryn’s memories, and my Dad’s issues, it’s already a bit much. We haven’t even had a chance to address what Wytheryn told us earlier.”

  He shuddered involuntarily, recalling some of the things he’d seen the Priest do to his brother. It would be a lie if he tried to convince Kyle that it hadn’t shaken him up a bit. They both knew how it affected him. Byryn had it easy compared to the hell his brother had endured from an extremely young age. He was younger than Kylion when the Priest began his abuse, and even before then every interaction was geared at training him to be subservient and obedient.<
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  He gently pet his brother’s hair and he turned his head into Byryn’s shoulder, drinking in the affection. Everything he’d seen in his mind gave him a better understanding of the interactions between them. It showed him why he took even the slightest rejection as he did, why he insisted on paying them favor in some manner, and how he interpreted the things they gave him and how they treated him. It all made so much more sense…and broke his heart.

  He’d never abuse the trust he’d put in him or the gift Wytheryn’s service meant to him. In a respect he’d chosen Byryn over Kyle to make up for how he’d treated him and the things he’d done since he got here. In another it was out of a desperate need for some connection to his family. It didn’t matter what they would have offered him, Byryn was the only one he’d intended to accept.

  It was humbling in a way. All his brothers in the realm held a connection to him. Kylion was by far the closest, but he’d always been more like a son to him and he was so young. He needed that connection as well as the attention. Wytheryn in a lot of ways was still a child, even though in others he was far from it.

  He hadn’t bothered with any of the education Byryn had given him because he couldn’t read or write all that well, and he hadn’t told him because it shamed him. He could follow simple things in writing but anything more complicated he’d need assistance with. They needed to have a discussion about his stress over the reports he needed to compile and him hiding it. His brother needed to know that he could come to him with anything without fear of punishment or judgement. He already felt like he was under constant scrutiny.

  Wytheryn didn’t try to interact with most of the others because he had no idea what to say or what was expected. He could tell others thought he was rude and arrogant, but he didn’t really know what they expected of him. It was easier to avoid interactions outside of those who held rank over him and it was a practice that had kept him alive over the years.

  Wyce had gone out of his way to try to reach him, and they’d had forged a fragile friendship that Byryn needed to be sure was repaired. Everything in his mind was in absolutes. Dark and Light, right and wrong, there was no in between. Knowing Wyce had gone to Demytria about his concern over the binding was a betrayal in Wyth’s mind, when in reality it was their brother’s way of trying to look out for them both. It needed to be discussed.

  There was a lot Byryn needed to work with him on. His brother wasn’t stupid in any respect. Wytheryn had some of the keenest instincts that he’d ever seen and the natural abilities he sensed in him were beyond what most Fae could obtain with years of training. All he needed was someone to guide and train him who actually cared about him. Now he’d have both Byryn and Kyle and their entire family. Byryn kissed his head knowing the connection he formed with him tonight was something he would cherish and respect. Wytheryn was theirs.

  Chapter 28

  Wytheryn breathed deeply as he stared down at her. Taking her face in his hands, he lifted her to look at him as he carefully balanced her essence with his own. His own essence was pulsing quickly through him. He knew his awakening would peak soon. He’d witnessed enough over the years to know the pattern. She needed to be comfortable in case he couldn’t manage to care for her right away after.

  He held her gaze as he slowly lowered the zipper on the dress she wore. Her eyes rapidly darted to Kyle, Byryn, and back to him.

  “Rysa,” he spoke in a firm commanding tone to hold her attention. She froze looking at him. “Mine,” he reminded her and she breathed slowly trying to calm herself. He slid the gown slightly down her arms. “Remove it.”

  She hesitated but brought her arms up to pull the gown off. Her hands were shaking. Wytheryn gently grabbed them stilling her. This needed to be done but she needed to know she was safe.

  “Beautiful, I promise this will be ok. We need to be skin to skin. Nothing else is going to happen unless you want it to,” he promised holding her gaze.

  She leaned forward kissing him softly. “I know…I’m just…”

  “Nervous,” he finished for her. “Why beautiful?”

  She shrugged but her hands wrapped around her stomach. He held her face again. “Rysa, it’s gone. No one else will ever know it was there.”

  Byryn rested a hand on his shoulder as he leaned forward, keeping his hip against him. “Come here, Narysia,” he commanded and Kyle edged up on his other side. She turned to face Byryn but he pulled her close and turned her to face Wytheryn. Slowly he slid the gown down her body before lifting her. Kyle carefully slid it off her legs and pulled the sheet down as Byryn sat her in Wytheryn’s lap facing him in nothing but her panties.

  He swallowed hard, but his own needs weren’t important right now. “Narysia,” he sighed lifting her face so he could gaze into her eyes. They shimmered with nervous tears as she covered herself. He rested his head against hers shaking it slightly. “So fragile, so nervous, and so very beautiful.” He gently took her hands and moved them to her sides. “Look at your stomach beautiful, there’s nothing there.” He kissed her, leaning forward as he pulled her hands behind her back and restrained her.

  Kyle shifted taking her hands in one of his, pulling her slightly backwards so she was exposed to Wytheryn. He leaned close to her ear. “You have nothing to be ashamed of Narysia. Wytheryn’s right, you’re beautiful, precious. He’s you’re mate, there’s no reason for you to hide from him.”

  Wytheryn felt Byryn’s essence shift and the walls suddenly shimmered in essence. He caught his eye a moment. “It’ll guarantee we have privacy.”

  He nodded keeping his focus on her as her body trembled slightly. Her breathing had slowed, her nipples had hardened, and her pupils were dilated. She wasn’t scared. He was not entirely sure, but he was beginning to learn her reactions and he knew she reacted like that when she was aroused.

  He gently caressed her stomach. “Nothing but your beautiful skin.” He cupped her breasts and leaned forward kissing her as he sensed her desire. “Tell me, Rysa. What do you want?”

  “I…I want to forget…I don’t want to…” She shook her head squeezing her eyes shut.

  Byryn cupped her cheek, “You need to tell him what you need, sunshine. He’s your mate. Trust him to help you through this.”

  Wytheryn held her gaze waiting as she struggled for words. “Before last night…” She shook her head as tears streamed from her glistening, almost sapphire eyes. “I’d never…no one else ever…” She sobbed and Kyle shuffled so she was leaning back against his chest but his legs were linked with Wytheryn’s. “I don’t want…”

  He grit his teeth against the rage as realization sank in and he kissed her. “Shhh, it’s ok. I’ll make it go away, Rysa. I will make you forget.” She gasped as he captured her lips forcefully.

  “You can’t take her before her awakening peaks,” Byryn’s voice whispered in his mind, “but you can do everything else and she can do anything to you. She needs you to take control, oryto. See how she eases in Kyle’s hold. It quiets her mind so she can enjoy you. He’s trying to teach you.”

  He threaded a hand in her hair. The pulses of essence were increasing through him and managing hers seemed to increase the intensity. The burn of the heat rolling through his body was nothing compared to the need he felt, however.

  “You are mine, Rysa. Only mine,” he promised.

  “Yes Master.”

  He faltered a minute, suddenly very uncomfortable with the term, but recovered enough to realize what he needed. He pulled her by the hair to meet his eyes. “No Rysa, I am not your Master. I may own you, you are mine, but you are not a slave. I will never bind you that way, but you will obey me.”

  “Yes…sir,” she breathed.

  He smiled in satisfaction and felt Byryn’s essence washed over him, proud of how he’d handled the situation. “If you want pet.” Wytheryn studied her a minute, “You will obey me, but I never want to hurt you, Rysa. If you are uncomfortable, if I ever go too far, you will tell me.”

  She eased so
me. “Yes, sir.”

  “Lay down beside me,” he commanded guiding her down so her head rested by his waist.

  Byryn turned him slightly and Kyle released her hands as he moved beside Byryn and they both leaned against his back. It felt secure, comfortable to have his sires so close. He knew he would peak soon and they needed to be in contact. Besides, he was theirs to manage as they saw fit and they would care for and protect him as he earned it.

  He slid her panties off spreading her open for him and began exploring her with his tongue. She was so wet and sweet and he knew before the end of the eve he would own her body completely. She moaned softly as he slid a single finger into her tight core while teasing her nub with his tongue. One of his sire’s slid his shorts down and he groaned into her.

  He heard Kyle’s voice as he softly encouraged her. “Taste him, precious. Take him in your mouth.”

  Her tongue tracked over the tip of him, tasting the drop of his cum that beaded there and then traced him. She explored him so slowly, so tentatively, and he slid a second finger into her as he began to work her into a frenzy. Her moist, warm mouth took him inside as she sucked him, slowly losing herself in the sensation of her body and serving him.

  Her essence surged and he balanced it, but it provoked his own to roll through him. The intensity of it increased as it continued to strengthen. He could feel the bond between himself and his sires strengthened as he drove her over the edge, consumed by lust and essence. His muscles ached and strained as Byryn’s arm wrapped around him as Kyle gripped his hip but it only drove him over the edge and he came hard in her mouth as he drank her in.

  The intensity began to ebb as the wave faded and he rested his head on her thigh unwilling to release her. He could feel her so completely. This girl had worked her way into his heart. He had no idea what love was. He didn’t know that he knew what it felt like, but if he was capable of it, he was certain he loved her and Byryn, maybe even Kyle. All he knew was the eve was just beginning and he could not wait until she was his and only his completely.