Choices (Mists of the Fae Book 6)

by Jaime Marks

  Star laughed, “Yeah, some gowns are tricky. So that’s where we’ll start.” She walked over picking up the garment and righted it. It had a single sleeve and a wrap at the waist that was twisted up in the sheathing. The sheathing itself had openings in it and was layered inside the gown. “Well I can tell you the first issue, you don’t need a slip. It has sheathing in it. I can either show you how to put it on or help you, but you have to take that off to get into this or it’ll just bunch everything up.”

  Felycia looked down at herself then back at the dress. “I really hate this shit.” She shook her head but stood up. “Can you help me, but…quickly? I kind of panic if I’m undressed and people touch me. I think I’m gonna be in trouble, actually, when Trina and Byryn talk to the seamstress. I kind of punched her…but it was an accident. I know everyone thinks I’m just a bitch but really it’s just a reflex sometimes.”

  Steph nodded meeting Star’s eye with resigned understanding and stood taking the dress. It was clear she’d read between the lines and considering exactly what Steph and Felycia had in common it wasn’t actually that surprising. With a sigh she bit down on the urge to go back down to the dungeon and tear into John again for ever hurting her best friend. Worse, she now knew her own brother had played a part in what had happened to her best friend. How was she supposed to accept that? She didn’t even know she had a brother until a couple days ago. Now he was here and wanted to see her but how was she supposed to trust him?

  She hadn’t gone to see Kyle yet. She knew Byryn had and he’d asked her if she wanted to go with him but she wasn’t really sure what to make of everything so she’d avoided even talking about it. There was a part of her that was curious, it wasn’t as if they’d never met. He’d said hi a few times, showed up in odd places and he used to watch her on occasion but really they’d never had a relationship of any kind. Did she really want one?

  “I’ve got this Star. I know exactly what she means,” Steph offered pulling her from her thoughts as she turned to Felycia. “And Byryn won’t give you any shit about it. We’ll talk to him. I’ll make him understand.”

  Felycia nodded and hesitantly took off the slip squeezing her eyes closed.

  “You have to open them, Felycia,” Steph spoke softly. “You need to know you’re here, safe with us, and not wherever it is that you’re going in your head.”

  Star sat in a chair watching as Felycia opened her eyes and followed Steph’s instructions as she helped her into the gown. She spoke to her calmly and softly the whole time, explaining what she was doing, keeping her grounded in the here and now until she had the fabric righted and the sash to the wrap tied. It was an almost turquoise colored sheer fabric that gave the slightest hint of the sheath underneath and brought out the highlights in her hair. It suited her perfectly really.

  “That’s gorgeous on you, Felycia,” Star murmured thinking how stark a contrast this was from her normal look.

  Then again, this entire situation was a major change for her. Up until today Felycia had been isolating herself in her quarters. She rarely came out for anything or talked to anyone. Grifyn went to see her almost daily and she tolerated it but she barely answered him and she was generally standoffish and abrasive. This was all going to be a major adjustment. Honestly, she might be struggling but that was to be expected. Star felt like she was taking it pretty well all things considered. She’d agreed to go with Devyn, let them help her get ready, even seeing the seamstress was a major step for her.

  “Thanks,” she muttered looking down at herself still obviously uncomfortable. “I’ve never worn anything like this.”

  Star picked up a brush from the floor that had probably been tossed across the room as Steph maneuvered her to the chair so they could work through the tangled mess she had made of her hair. They talked to her, explained things as they went and opted for a French braid with wisps of hair cascading around her face. When they were done they guided her to the closet and stood her in front of a mirror.

  She shifted uncomfortably turning and moving in a way that it almost seemed like she was testing to see if it was really her. “That can’t be me. I look so…different.”

  Star nodded with a smile. “But it is. You’re face still looks like you, Felycia. You’re just taller and your hair is lighter and longer. Aside from your eyes the only thing that’s changed is your clothes. Truthfully I think that’s the biggest difference.”

  “Yeah, I guess. I feel so…naked. I don’t like showing this much skin.”

  She sighed rubbing her arms. She stared at them awhile as if she expected to see something there and traced some unseen lines as she spoke. It made Star wonder if she’d been scarred in the attack but Byryn hadn’t seen evidence of that when he’d been tending her wounds.

  “They said the awakening is a rebirth, that your body changes. I never really believed you actually physically changed though,” Felycia mused.

  “Yeah, everything’s a bit surreal. I know how you feel. I just went through mine and it was really disorienting. Even when I train I have to adjust because it’s all a bit different.”

  Steph nodded, her eyes flashing gold a moment. “It will get better. Utilize your forms to familiarize yourself with how your body moves now. You will get used to it soon.”

  It was weird sometimes how she almost wasn’t there. It was like someone older, different, was speaking through her but it was also comforting for some reason. She didn’t understand it but she felt like maybe her Mom and Dads did. Shit. Did she just think of Cymeryn as her Dad? She heard Byryn chuckle through her mind and made a mental note to slap him later. She should have known he was paying attention.

  “I’m always paying attention to you, brightness.”

  Felycia turned to them and stared at the floor. “Thanks, I guess. I really don’t know what I would’ve done. I was completely lost.”

  Star smiled refocusing in on her. “Hey, no problem. And if you ever need help getting ready for anything you just have to ask, ok?”

  “Yeah, it’ll give us an excuse to slip away from the guys anyway,” Steph laughed. “They get a bit protective and demanding.”

  Star just smiled. “You haven’t seen anything yet. Wait ‘til you’re mated. I’m actually shocked I haven’t heard a knock on my quarters yet. Then again…” She reached over their connection again wondering why her mate hadn’t come looking for her yet.

  “Because I know what you’re up to brightness, no worries. Thank you for helping her. I wanted to check on her but Mom and Dad said I’m crowding her. Besides, you needed some girl time,” Byryn’s voice sang through her mind.

  She giggled silently to herself. “You are crowding her. This was more a girl thing anyway, and your sister needed this I think. We’ll all be ready soon.”

  “What are you doing?” Felycia looked at her curiously. “You kind of just zoned out or something.”

  “I was checking in with your brother. Apparently Trina won’t let him come over to this hall. They told him he’s crowding you and to give you some space.”

  She snorted walking out and sitting on the bed with her arms crossed. “He is. I know he means well. It’s just…difficult to have him around.”

  Steph studied her in confusion but didn’t say anything and thankfully didn’t ask. Byryn was really worried she would shut him out after she found out about what had happened with him and Felycia but the truth was it was beyond his control. Steph would understand in time and even Felycia seemed to know that it wasn’t his fault or choice, although it didn’t make dealing with the trauma any easier. They all just needed time to heal and recover from their past.

  Chapter 2

  Sounds of a struggle reached through his sleep and he jolted upright in his bed. Before he could really register what was happening or his surroundings a hard crack to his ribs stole his breath. What the fuck? He tried to fight back but he was completely disoriented.

  He was just starting to pull his energy inward to attempt a spell when a voic
e rang out. “Don’t move a fucking muscle, Kyle, and whatever you’re trying to pull, drop it, or I’ll blow your shit away.”

  Slowly he forced his eyes open and stared at two unawakened. One held him at gunpoint while the other worked quickly to bind and secure the two Guardians that had been standing watch at his door. For a moment he’d almost mistaken him as Byryn but when he looked up it was someone he’d never met. Why the hell were they attacking him? Were they Brood?

  “Who are you?” He demanded trying to figure all this out.

  “It doesn’t matter.” The Byryn look alike replied as he stood. “You are coming with us. Your Grandfather will want you returned to him.”

  Shaking his head his eyes zeroed in on the gun. Did they really think he’d go with them? They were fucking insane. “Look, you can fucking kill me if you want, but I’m not going anywhere. I sure as hell am not going back to Alayne,” he growled. He’d die before he let the High Priest take him. A sudden fear rolled through him as he realized where they were. Shit he hoped Star was safe.

  The one that looked like Byryn punched him in the head and ribs before dragging him out of bed by his hair. He couldn’t fight back with that gun aimed at his fucking head unless he really did want to die. If he knew for sure that his sister was safe that wouldn’t even be a question. He wasn’t going back to face his lines.

  After a few kicks to his side the unawakened stood over him. “We didn’t say that you have a choice.”

  “Don’t be stupid, Kyle. I can see you calculating. John said we shouldn’t bother with the guns because you’d try to force our hand to avoid your Grandfather’s wrath, but I know the one thing you want to live for,” the bastard smirked smugly. “You’ll do anything to keep your precious little sister safe or you wouldn’t have taken this risk to begin with so this is how it’s gonna go. If you ever want to see the Princess again, you’ll come with us and cut the shit. Any fucking issues and I’ll drop a bullet in you and ask questions later. Then you won’t have to wonder what’s gonna happen to her because you won’t be here to care about it. I have no patience for fucking traitors and I know your Father would rather you dead anyway,” he finished by spitting at his feet as if he were beneath him and Kyle had to fight to keep from rolling his eyes.

  Measuring them both he tried to weigh out his options. There was no way he could risk them actually having Star. He didn’t care what happened to him but he wouldn’t let anyone hurt her if he could help it. With a curt nod he made his decision. “I’ll go with you, but you told me not to move. That’s gonna make it pretty hard if you expect me to walk out of here.”

  “Then you’ll obey our orders without issue. I am Wytheryn,” The one that looked like Byryn offered stepping up to him. “Give me your wrists.”

  Staring him down he held them up as the male shackled him and pulled to his feet. They moved to the door and Wytheryn paused checking the hall. “There is a hidden passage, down the hall to the left. It is obscured by a tapestry. That is where we are going. You make a sound and I’ll be forced to silence you. As long as you cooperate I won’t harm you. That is not my place. Alayne will decide your fate.”

  He swallowed hard but nodded his concession. If he could reach Star he could protect her. He wasn’t stupid, John wasn’t the one standing here which meant he went for her and Steph himself. It was only a matter of time before Byryn and the Kings came for them. He’d just need to try to reason with John and somehow bide his time until they did. His life meant nothing to him, but he wouldn’t sacrifice his sister to the horrors of their lines.

  Steph shook her head. She didn’t know what Felycia had gone through but she had a pretty clear idea that they had a lot in common. What bothered her was the fact that she seemed to connect Byryn to it somehow. She didn’t know what to make of that. Anyone could see how much he loved his sister. It was hard to imagine that he had anything to do with hurting her.

  She could tell Byryn carried a lot of guilt for his past and he had grown up Shade. He may have been unawakened but out of any of them he had been the one to be submerged in the Darkness of that world. He’d had to find his own way to the Light according to Alysse. She wasn’t really sure she wanted to know everything that had happened while he’d been lost in it.

  Suddenly the air in the room changed and all her senses began to fire. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end. Light surged slightly to her skin as her instincts flared. Something was coming. She glanced at Star and Felycia but neither of them seemed to notice.

  “Star, we should all go,” she spoke quietly hoping no one could hear them as she tried to steer them towards the door to the hall but Star hesitated.

  She studied her with a shrewd look. “Are you alright? Your eyes are glowing.”

  “I don’t know,” she replied. “I think I ju-…”

  “Don’t you move a muscle, sweets,” John’s voice came from the closet causing her stomach to churn. She didn’t even want to look, the fear on Felycia’s face said enough. “Uh uh, Star. Not this time. You move I’ll blow the brat’s brains out.”

  Shit. Steph thought. If he had Kylion this was really freaking bad. “John, I’m just gonna turn around. I won’t do anything, but we need to talk before you do anything stupid.”

  “Slowly sweets, and I’m serious, no bullshit or I will kill this kid,” John ordered. “There’s too much at stake if I fail and I have nothing left to lose so don’t push me.”

  She turned slowly leaving her hands at the side. She would have raised them but they were coursing with essence and she had to keep a tight rein on herself right now. She turned to see John and three other guys standing in the closet. John held Kylion by the throat in front of him with a gun pressed tightly to his head. The poor boy was gagged, bound at the feet and hands, and his eyes were peeled wide in terror.

  Her essence surged and she squeezed her eyes shut to try to control it. Every protective instinct in her was firing and they were so difficult to hold back she literally felt like she was going to burst. It wasn’t anywhere near as bad as on the plateau, but it was a struggle to hold back her essence.

  “Control it, Steph. I know you can if you focus enough and I’m promising you, if you don’t I will kill him,” John demanded a harsh edge to his voice. “As for you Princess, if anyone shows up here I promise I will pull this trigger first and worry about who it was later. If either of you already reached out to Byryn or any of the Kings, anyone, I suggest you tell them to keep their distance.”

  Steph was finally able to pull back her Light to a slow churn and breathed deeply trying to remain centered. She couldn’t lose it. There was too much at risk. She had to think of some way out of this mess and protect the others until she could.

  “John, if you hurt my son in any way, I swear I’ll make you pay no matter where the hell I end up at the end of this.” A Darkness surged in Star that gave Steph pause, especially when a slow devilish grin spread across John’s face. “You’ll literally be in pieces when I’m done with you.”

  “See that’s just it, Princess, I can feel it in you. If I kill this kid in front of you, you will shift fully enough that you won’t because you know I can take you to them. You may not have awakened Shade but it’s there, that power. A gift from your Dad and Grandfather. The more you taste the more you crave. I felt it earlier in that cell. It’s only a matter of time and the right trigger so go ahead, give me a reason. I’ll deliver you to Alayne either way,” John sneered.

  “Star, listen to me. You have got to keep it together. You’re letting him get to you. Kylion needs you right now and if you lose it you know Byryn will follow. Think of them and hold on,” Steph reasoned. It took a few minutes but she felt Star regain control somewhat and she turned her attention back to John. “Ok, you have us. You know as long as you have Kylion we have no choice but to do what you say so leave Felycia be and we’ll come with you. She’s nothing to you.”

  “See that’s where you’re wrong, Steph. Delivering Star and you are m
y orders. I don’t have much choice in the matter, but I have a little problem with that. You belong to me and I’ll be damned if I allow you to be turned over to the Brood as payment so I made a little bargain. As much fun as they think you’ll be, the Brood has this thing about reclaiming what belongs to them. Felycia’s their blood and they’ve already agreed to turn you over to me in exchange for her.”

  Steph cringed at the arrogance and confidence in his voice as he watched the other three men come over and handcuff them. She turned as Felycia started to fight back but one of them quickly cracked her over the head with a gun. Blood splattered from the wound as her body crumpled to the floor. Steph went to kick the guy but John’s voice stopped her.

  “Control those protective urges, sweets. She’ll be fine. We knew she’d freak out and need to be knocked out. It’s no big deal. Now let’s go before your escorts for the evening come looking for you,” John demanded.

  She wanted to listen. She wanted to do what she needed to because if she didn’t Kylion and Felycia could both end up dead, but she was losing it. She squeezed her eyes shut trying to combat the pain in her chest that leaving was going to cause her. Tears streamed down her face and she couldn’t stop them.

  “Luke, take Kylion but keep a hair trigger on him. Any more shit and you kill him, got it?” John commanded.

  “Got it.”

  Suddenly she felt strong hands on her arms and a kiss on her forehead that made her want to gag. John’s voice whispered in her ear, “I know you don’t believe this right now, Steph, but I’m gonna make this alright. You won’t even remember him once I finish turning and awakening you.”

  She opened her eyes. “You’re wrong, John. I love him. My heart, my soul belongs to him.”

  “We’ll see, sweets,” John shrugged pulling her forward. “In the meantime you’ll do as you’re told or there will be consequences. Now let’s go, we need to move.”