Choices (Mists of the Fae Book 6)

by Jaime Marks

  “We can’t mist in without risking Kylion,” Byryn shot back annoyed that they were wasting time. “I won’t risk it.”

  “Neither will we, Byryn,” Mythos reassured him. “We will get them all back safely.”

  “What about that trick? Some form of shielding you had mentioned? Can it be used to mask an open area? Cast as soon as you mist?” The Commander asked still sorting through information.

  “Yes,” Cymeryn nodded. “I can shroud us in the mist and create a field as we form. It will not solve the issue of the guns they carry once we reach them, however.”

  “I am not saying we should mist to them, but we need to have the element of surprise. Perhaps the answer is allowing them to make it to through entryway,” Devyn debated.

  Marcus rubbed his chin. “Can you see through her eyes, Byryn? Can you monitor them?”

  He nodded. “I am as I can now, but if we exit the realm we risk resistance from Alayne or Syneous. Even the Brood.”

  “It is a risk we will have to take,” Cymeryn replied. “I will be able to mask our location to a degree. Coming through the entryway will disorient them a moment and with you being able to see the order they are entering it will give us the ability to react accordingly. It is the best option with the circumstances.”

  He met their eyes thinking it was a shitty plan. He wanted to go right down there and tear John to shreds but he couldn’t risk Kylion.

  “Byryn, I know exactly how you are feeling right now. Devyn, Marcus and Cymeryn know what they are doing.” Mythos raked his hand roughly through his hair as he spoke through caged teeth. His rage was tightly reined. “As much as I share your desire to rush right in. We must trust their judgment.”

  He nodded stiffly. “Alright, they’re on the move though so we should go now. We have no idea if someone is waiting for them on Earth.”

  “I’ll see to the castle in case there’s another attack,” Demytria offered. “Reyana, I’m escorting you directly to the Sacred Grove. I know I can’t enter it and I need to stay here but I mean to ensure you reach it.” She nodded kissing the twins before leaving at Demytria’s side.

  Byryn shook his head. This whole situation was fucked up. “I’ll follow your essence, Marcus.”

  He nodded taking hold of Devyn and Mythos while Cymeryn took hold of Kato and Grifyn. They misted through the realm and he could only hope that they were making the right choice. If anything happened to any of his family he swore he would make John pay.

  Steph walked beside John taking in their surroundings and keeping a close eye on Kylion. She wanted to reassure the kid but if she moved towards him she could lose her freedom and risk his life. She just needed to keep playing this role. Hopefully Mythos and the others would come for them, although she didn’t know what they would be able to do without risking Kylion.

  “There’s a patrol up ahead,” the tall dark haired guy who reminded her a bit of Byryn came over and informed John. “We should hold here until they leave the area. If they keep quiet we shouldn’t have any issue.”

  “Thanks Wyth, tell the others,” John replied pulling her against him and meeting her in the eyes. “I think I want more leverage over you, Steph. You’re too calm and confident. Normally I’d find it hot as hell but I know you enough to know you’re calculating. I want proof that you’re going to come with me. I want to know that you’re gonna do as I say.”

  “I already promised you I would, John. What else can I do?”

  She bit her tongue to keep from screaming when he fell back to sit on the ground pulling her on to his lap. “First, straddle me. I want to enjoy this time with you.”

  Luke sat beside him holding Kylion. “Calm down and sit quietly. If you behave I’ll take the tape off your mouth and get you a drink once the patrol passes.”

  She watched Kylion nod slowly and glanced to Star and the others. Star was watching Luke with an intensity that concerned her. She couldn’t kill any of these boys. They were still technically human and she was Fae. If she did, she’d turn.

  “Steph?” John requested calling her attention back to him.

  She positioned herself on top of him as he moved her skirting out of the way so that she was against his sex. Swallowing bile she cringed. The only thing between them was her panties and the jeans he had on. He slid his hands under her skirt and up her thighs watching her reaction. She didn’t try to hide her discomfort from him, but she couldn’t fight the gasp when he clamped down on her hips and grinded against her. It made her sick to her stomach but her body remembered him. Every time he touched her it was like her body, emotions, and mind were at war. She hated it, didn’t really understand it either. How could his touch make her so sick and her body still react to him?

  “There’s one way you can prove to me that you’re loyal, Steph,” he spoke softly in her ear as he kissed and nipped at her neck, “one way that I’ll know you really are listening to me.”

  “I’m not having sex with you, John, so you can forget it. I don’t think I could handle that. I’d lose control and you saw what happened on the plateau.” She was struggling so as it was with him touching her like this. Essence was rolling along her skin again surging on and off. He didn’t seem to mind it which was weird considering Luke moved away a couple inches rubbing his arm as if she’d burned him. “You’re just going to have to realize that you’re the only link I’ve had to my Father since I was six. I don’t really have any choice but to trust you.”

  He nodded. “I know, and I know you won’t fuck me…although I could make you.” He smirked grabbing her roughly by the chest massaging her breast before releasing her. “But I won’t…yet. No, what I want, is easier on you. I want you to share my essence.”

  “What? You’ll make me sick,” she scoffed in shock. “Besides, my essence is too strong. If I shared essence with you I could seriously hurt you, John.”

  “Not that way. I realize how potent your essence is, not that I haven’t always enjoyed the burn. I can feel it now,” he chuckled before pulling a knife from his belt and cutting a thin slice in his arm. “No, I want you to drink, sweets. It’s not enough to make you sick because I’m unawakened and your blood will dilute it as you absorb it, but it will allow my essence to flow through you. It’ll prove to me that you’re gonna obey me.”

  “I, I can’t drink your blood! What the fuck, John? We aren’t vampires!”

  She heard Luke chuckle, “She really is new to this, isn’t she?”

  “Completely,” John snickered. “Keep it down, Steph. I don’t want to lose my leverage because your mouth attracts the patrols. And no, we aren’t vampires, but it’s common to share essence in more…intimate situations. You’ve shared my essence like this before, even though you didn’t remember it,” he smiled smugly. “You’ve always enjoyed it and it’s never hurt you before.”

  She stared in horror at the thin train of blood that rolled over his arm. He was serious. She didn’t know if she could do this. Worse, she was afraid of what the consequences would be. Was this how the Shade turned Fae? She wasn’t sure and there were no memories coming to her mind to answer her questions.

  “I mean it, Steph. I need to know I have you, that you’ll obey me when I need you to. Drink from me and prove it to me.” He stared at her and she knew he wasn’t going to let this go but she just…couldn’t.

  “What if I say no? It’s not that I’m not listening to you, John, or that I’m trying to trick you, but that’s just…gross.” She wanted to puke, seriously puke now.

  “It’s not gross, sweets, and once you try it you’ll know I’m right. It’s a very sensual experience. Whether you remember it or not you like it. You could never get enough,” he smirked again, cupping her cheek as she fought the urge to pull away.

  “I never drank your blood before. I’d remember that shit.”

  “My essence and yes, you have. Every time we drank alone together I would mix some in your drinks and then while we were making out I would cut my finger and slide it i
n your mouth letting you suck on it, taking me inside you. Once you even drank from my throat but you were lost to me that night.”

  He ran his hand up her thigh and rubbed his thumb against her sensitive bundle of nerves, the satin adding to the sensations. She struggled between wanting to puke and wanting to moan. She didn’t want his touch and she sure as hell didn’t want his blood. There was nothing he could do or say that would make her willing do this.

  “Drink Steph. Now, or I’ll make you.”

  She cringed watching in horror as he lifted his wrist. She couldn’t do it. Not only did it disgust her beyond belief but it felt like a betrayal that she wouldn’t be able to take back. Shaking her head she pulled back slightly, “I’m sorry, John. I just…can’t.”

  “Wytheryn, can you break Staryana’s arm and keep her quiet at the same time?” John requested. “After all, I think she’ll appreciate it more coming from you, since you look so much like her mate.”

  She turned and watched as the unawakened rose and walk over to Star yanking her to her feet. “I can manage it if that is your order.”

  Kyle tried to move to protect her but one of the other unawakened kicked him in the ribs knocking him down and laughed quietly. “Try that again and I’ll make you my bitch.”

  “Touch my sister and I swear to Lazurys I’ll make sure Alayne guts you,” Kyle snarled as his essence surged to his skin and his eyes swirled with Darkness.

  She turned back to John. “Don’t. Please.”

  “Drink and he won’t hurt her. Deny me again and I might even give him permission to play with her. Not like Byryn hasn’t already ruined her purity,” John shrugged.

  “Promise me that if I do this you won’t hurt anyone, John, please,” her voice shook. “If you swear it to me, I’ll do what you want.”

  He nodded taking his hand off her to reopen the wound on his arm since it was starting to clot. “Drink until I tell you to stop, stop fighting my touch, and provided they don’t attempt anything stupid, I swear we won’t hurt them; but if you fuck around trying to find a way out of this any longer I hold you down and make you watch as they rape Star.”

  “You son of a bitch,” Kyle cursed as one of the unawakened restrained him but he ignored him. His entire focus was on her and she knew she didn’t really have a choice. John meant what he said.

  As his hand slid back up her thigh, caressing her again, she struggled to contain her reaction and leaned down taking his arm with both her hands. He watched her intently as she lifted his arm to her lips. Fighting the urge to gag, she latched on and began to drink. When the first taste hit her tongue she just wanted to puke but it started to taste sweet, like honey maybe.

  “Use your teeth, baby. Keep the essence flowing,” he commanded but his voice took on a seductive tone. “Drink from me.”

  Her head started to feel strange and her body grew hot with desire, lust. She wanted him. She needed him but she knew she shouldn’t. He slid her panties aside sliding his fingers along her delicate folds and she groaned drawing greedily on his arm now.

  His lips grazed her ear. “That’s it, baby. Feels good, doesn’t it? Let it flow through you. Let me take care of you.”

  He bit and kissed her neck sliding his fingers inside her driving her closer to that edge. She couldn’t think. All she could do was feel and it felt so good. An orgasm crashed through her and she had to bite down on his arm to keep from moaning out loud.

  When the waves ebbed off he pulled his hand away and whispered in her ear. “That’s enough, sweets.” She drew back and watched as he licked and sucked the moisture from his fingers. “God you still taste so good.”

  Realization hit her hard and she gagged but his hand cupped her mouth. “Don’t you dare, Steph. Stop yourself.” He grabbed her hair holding her tightly so she couldn’t move her head. “You puke that up and we do this again only this time it won’t be my fingers inside you or my wrist that you drink from. I’m trying to make this easier for you but I’ll gladly say fuck it and take what I want from you instead.” He watched her waiting to see what she would do.

  She choked forcing herself to swallow and breathed slowly until she was sure it would stay down. Her head still felt a bit off and she was completely confused. It felt like she was drunk and nothing she was feeling made sense. The whole world was spinning as she fought off some weird exhaustion.

  “Good girl.” He smirked pulling her to him and kissing her deeply. She hesitated for a second but returned the kiss. She didn’t want to, tried to stop herself, but for some reason she couldn’t fight it, some part of her needed it desperately. Their tongues entwined and she gave into the hunger, the need she had for him. He pulled back with a wicked smile, nipping at her lip. “I will bring you around, Steph. It won’t be so bad. I’ll make sure you’ll enjoy every fucking minute of it.”

  She shook her head trying to clear her thoughts. Everything was hazy and her mind was clouded. Her eyes were closing despite how hard she tried to keep them open. “I, I…”

  “Shh, sweets. I know you’re tired.” He pulled her down to his chest. “Stop trying to fight it. Rest and let me take care of you, like I always took care of you. I’ll carry you ‘til your body processes it.” He caressed her back and kissed the top her head. “You’re mine, baby.”

  She could hear murmurs around her but she couldn’t make out what they were saying. She knew this was wrong, completely wrong. Something in her heart was screaming at her but she was so tired and just needed to rest. She felt her body being lifted and knew John had her. He’d take care of her, keep her safe. For some reason she knew that was ridiculous but at the moment, she really didn’t care. She knew she was safe with him.

  Chapter 4

  As she walked back from the entrance to the grove Demytria gathered her wits and sent out the call for all hands. She knew that she’d meet some resistance. Every time she gave orders there were males that questioned her or simply undermined her but if she was to accept the position that Cymeryn had offered she needed to find her own way to deal with it. Even without her new post she outranked every Guardian here and she couldn’t allow this to continue.

  Both her sire and Kato had wanted to intervene but it was imperative to her command that she find some way to prove herself to these fools. It was appalling in some respects since some of them were the same males she’d bested in battle, having wounded them severely at the fronts, but then perhaps that was part of the issue. This was their manner of revenge for being bested by a ‘simple’ female.

  The squad commanders were gathered when she reached the barracks. Taking the lead immediately she left no time for debate, despite the looks and questions regarding why she was the one addressing them. “There has been an attack. The Kings, Commander Devyn, Commander Grifyn and High Councilman Kato have left the realm to handle the fallout. In the meantime we must brace for a secondary attack geared towards capitalizing on this distraction. Hopefully it is only a precaution but be on guard. It wouldn’t be unheard of.”

  Guardian Rayvier stepped forward. “The Queen?”

  “Safely in the Sanctuary where none but the Kings of Balance may reach her,” she offered noticing the relief on some of their faces. “I escorted her there before coming to meet with you. I need…”

  “Good, thank you Lady Demytria, we shall take it from here,” Guardian Kevyrn cut her off as he began to issue orders himself. “Double the patrols on the plateau and…”

  “That would be pointless and I was not finished,” Demytria replied speaking over him. “If there is an attack it will not be head on. There are hidden passages throughout the Palace which Alayne’s progeny have already mapped. I want guards in every storage area, double patrols and station additional guards in all the corridors, especially that of the Council and dignitaries who are here for the banquet as they are currently potential targets…”

  “What of the Princess? Lady Stephynia?” Guardian Veryion cut in with a scowl of distrust. “Your strategies do not attend t
o them and they are the priorities.”

  She levelled him with a glare, “Do you honestly believe that all of the male warriors of the Lucerna Lines would leave the realm and leave them unattended? Who do you think the targets were in their first attack?”

  A hush fell over the room as realization settled over them. Trycen stepped up holding his hand up to his brother who Gavyn was attempting to reason with. “What do you need of us Demytria? Wycelion and I will assist in any way we can. Gavyn has agreed to work with Wycelion until his Redemption tomorrow night.”

  She sensed Wycelion and felt his concern and the need to attend to something. They knew Felycia and Kylion had been taken as well. He was used to being in command himself not being held aside while battles ensued as he had since his arrival. She nodded feeling the kinship she always had with these boys. They were family to her in so many ways.

  “Byryn has already trained you with what he expects in this instance, Trycen. Take Gavyn and Wycelion with you. Follow his plan and brief me of what you find. I can still hear you when you call,” she reassured him and watched the three of them set out.

  They were to begin checking the known passages hidden within the Palace walls for intruders, wounded, and prisoners. It was something they didn’t have enough Guardians to spare in order to attend to but that Byryn knew his brothers were trained to handle such circumstances from their time in Trevyn’s safehold. They knew how to defend themselves in such tight quarters if necessary and it was a strategy that the Shade would not foresee.

  She scanned the rest of the room. “Also there was a struggle in the dungeon. Increase the guard there and ensure there are no wounded hidden that need attending to. You are dismissed.”

  She turned to find Kevyrn glaring at her. “What is it Guardian?”

  His brow dropped low, “This is not your place, milady. You do not understand the way things are run and the needs of securing the Palace. Your fortifications are not geared towards the proper defense.”