Choices (Mists of the Fae Book 6)

by Jaime Marks

  She turned leaving the tower flanked by Grifyn and Gavyn. Her brother sighed. “Is this really necessary, my sister?”

  “It is if I ever expect them to stop treating me like a useless female who does not belong giving them orders. I have had to step in numerous times during crises,” she explained not ready to discuss her coming promotion to Head of the Securine with him just yet. “If he or some other fool challenges my orders in this way during an attack it can cost lives.”

  “Very well. I only wish you had discussed these issues with me before it came to this.” He shot her an annoyed look.

  “Why, so you can handle the issue and they can use it as justification that I cannot fight my own battles.” She laughed sardonically, “Thank you brother, but no. I am more than capable of handling this and as much as I don’t wish to remind them of their fear, they need to damned well remember that I am not some delicate little flower.”

  She hopped the fence and began stretching in preparation. Kevyrn’s voice drew her attention and she watched as Kato approached.

  “Ah, High Councilman, perhaps you can talk some sense into your mate before she gets hurt. She seems to have forgotten that female Guardians do not hold rank at the command level,” Kevyrn quipped.

  With a smirk of amusement he replied, “Actually Kevyrn, my mate is far more capable and qualified to see to the defenses of the realms than even you. Personally I came to witness Lady Demytria kick your ass and put you in your place.” She almost laughed at the shocked look on the idiot’s face.

  Kato hopped the fence and went directly to her. Gripping her by the hair he tilted her head back holding her in place as he thoroughly kissed her before leaning close to her ear. “Finish this quickly, my love, and there had better not be a mark on this beautiful body that I have not placed on you, Demytria.” He bit her ear. “If there is I will punish you for each one, but if you are mark free, well…” Kato pulled back and nipped at her lip, “I will reward you, but I swear it had best be quick…I need you.”

  Her breath hitched and she smiled secretly as he pulled her close gripping her ass to remind her of the marks he had left there just last eve. “Yes love.”

  Releasing her he nodded to Grifyn and left the ring. Her brother stepped forward as Kevyrn walked over taking his fighting stance across from her. “The Rites of Challenge have been claimed. As Challengyria you shall set the terms of the Guardian’s Duel, Guardian Demytria a Grifyn,” he proclaimed drawing his dagger.

  “We shall duel only with training swords, essence, and our skills, Second in Line Grifyn a Grifyion. The circle is to be sealed for the duration of the duel to prevent all outside interference,” she informed him watching the slight tick of his jaw as she added, “and we will fight until incapacitation.”

  Grinding his teeth a moment he nodded and drew a ragged breath before taking her hand. As he recited the incantation binding her to the Challenge he sliced a cut into the palm of her hand letting her blood fall to the ground between them. When the words were finished he wiped the blade on each of her cheeks. “You have invoked the Rites of Challenge, Challengyria. As such you have bound yourself to this path. The Guardian’s Duel will be fought using only your hands, essences, and training swords of wood. You and the Challengyn shall fight until one of you can no longer stand or defend themselves. These are the conditions you have set forth and to which you are now bound.”

  Her brother held her gaze long and hard communicating all the things his position prevented him from saying with that single look. She wanted to pull him close and tell him she’d be fine but he needed to see this as much as Kevyrn needed the ass kicking.

  After a long moment Grifyn turned to Kevyrn. “To refuse a Challenge is to dishonor your rank. If you accept, offer now your blood and bind to this course. If you refuse you admit here before these witnesses of our ilk that Guardian Demytria is the superior warrior and rank. As such you will concede your respect and report for reassignment and demotion in the morn as a means of penance to her per our traditions. Do you accept her Challenge, Guardian Kevyrn?”

  He looked to her in irritation and disbelief. “I have no desire to harm a delicate female such as you, Lady Demytria, but I will not suffer dishonor for this foolishness. I wish your mate had been wise enough to protect you from this, but as he is not, I suppose it is I who will have to teach you a lesson.”

  She smirked, “Insulting my mate’s judgment only proves you are both ignorant and disillusioned of your position. I will enjoy taking you down a few pegs, Kevyrn. Enough talk, complete the binding. Unless you are afraid of a delicate female?”

  With a growl of disgust he thrust his hand towards Grifyn. “I accept the Challenge as Challengyn. I will offer the binding of my blood.”

  Grifyn nodded and sliced his hand allowing his blood to spill as he spoke the incantation. “Shake and seal your fate.”

  They shook hands, their essences merging for a brief moment and when they released their hands were healed. Gavyn approached and offered her a training sword. “You need to hand over your other weapons. I will give them to High Councilman Kato to hold.”

  She nodded as she took her whip and dagger from her waist, the sheath blade from her back, and the blade from her boot and handed them over accepting the sword. “Thank you, Guardian Gavyn.”

  Grifyn waited as Kevyrn was disarmed and his supporter left then completed the incantation. He looked between them, “On my mark, you will begin. The seals will not fall until one of you is either unconscious or unable to stand to defend themselves for a period of time.” He held her gaze one last time and stepped out of the training ring.

  Kato watched his very nervous friend stare at his sister before all but backing from the ring. It was clear he did not wish to allow this but it was necessary. Perhaps he needed to see this as much as the other males, especially as she would be taking the reins of the Securine in a short while and half that stood before them would likely comprise those ranks.

  Grifyn’s voice echoed, “Incpyio.”

  The seals of essence swirled in Gray and Light as he watched Demytria easily block, Kevyrn’s first volley of punches and kicks. He almost smirked realizing she was toying with him.

  “I hope she knows what she’s doing, Kato,” Grifyn grumbled quietly as he came to stand beside him.

  “She does. You forget all you have seen your sister undertake at the fronts as Shade.”

  “I prefer to forget it,” he admitted. “Even still that was in her Darkness. Does she even have the stomach for this now? I mean look at her. She has yet to throw a single punch.”

  Kato laughed, “Just watch, my friend. You do not give your sister enough credit.”

  Grifyn arched a brow but said nothing as they watched.

  Demytria blocked a punch and then easily rolled out of the way from a kick, popping up as she circled the male with a grin. He measured her, “You are afraid. You know you cannot best me, Demytria, and only you can end this without bloodshed. Speak the words.”

  “No, I’m not the least bit frightened of you, Kevyrn. I am merely showing you that I am more than capable of defending myself and teaching you a lesson. I’ve already won.”

  He laughed coldly, “And how is that?”

  “You cannot land a single hit which means you don’t have the power to end this. I however, haven’t even begun.”

  Her wicked grin made Kato shiver slightly. It was a side of her he had not seen since they last faced in battle at the fronts. She often lost herself in the lust for battle back then and it was clear she did so now.

  Watching as she went on the offensive he could not help but smile. Her form and grace even in this was magnificent. Her hair whipped around her face as she spun a kick into the fool’s side knocking him off balance and punched him in the gut before gripping his head and connecting her knee to his face.

  Stepping back she drew her sword. “Draw.”

  He pulled his sword without question as he stalked her. “You will pay for
that. Few are more skilled with a blade than I.”

  She just laughed allowing him to stalk. Kato watched as he lunged and they exchanged blows. The last of his strikes in the volley connected with her side but instead of knocking the wind from her a smile crossed her lips. He barely heard her whispered words, feeling them more than anything. “That should leave a mark.”

  He could not help the laugh that slipped past his lips. Grifyn shot him an angry glare. “How could you find it amusing that my sister has been harmed?”

  Shaking his head with a grin he motioned to her. “Because she is fine. Watch her, Grifyn. She is toying with him and he has yet to realize it. Your sister can end this fight in an instant. Remember who it was who trained her in these arts. The Guardian’s Academy did not mold her into a warrior. They merely taught her to defend herself. No, she is fighting with the years of experience and skill that she was immersed in under Supryn Cymeryn,” he reminded him. “There was no Shade more skilled with a blade, no Shade more cunning in battle than that male and we should be blessed that he has been Redeemed or this war would still be lost.”

  It was something he truly believed. Cymeryn had plans within plans and knew things about how the Guardians were run that no other Shade in history had access to. He knew how the Kingdoms ran and all the connections of their lines. It was how the Shade had so easily brought them to their knees.

  It was not all his fault. Lazurys held the full knowledge of his mind once he had fallen. There were offensives and attacks that had been kept from his knowledge until their completion in order to prevent him from feeling torn and risking his twin’s ability to save him.

  There was very little of his twin’s past that was hidden from Marcus and it was something he and Kato had discussed at length. It was not that they did not trust him, more that they needed to come to terms with their own feelings on the issues they struggled with. It was not always easy to forget the wounds that had been cut.

  The match continued on. He could tell Kevyrn was getting desperate and the fatigue was wearing on him. His moves were more risky, his strikes more brutal, but Demytria countered him at every turn. They moved in the dance of battle, their swords banging loudly with each deflected strike. Thuds of flesh meeting wood, combined with a groan from Kevyrn more often than not the only other sounds. Few spoke. Most watched in awe of the skill his mate embodied, but even he could see she was beginning to tire.

  Kevyrn swung hard towards Demytria’s skull as she pivoted and Kato caught Grifyn as he lunged forward, cupping his mouth to prevent him from speaking the words to break the seal. None of the Guardian’s knew that they had the power to stop the Challenge. It was something that had never been done and he would not allow it to occur now.

  “Watch,” he growled in his ear. “Trust her, Grifyn. Let her do this. To end it this way would only prove that she cannot hold her own. You must not interfere.”

  At the last instant she blocked the blade and knocked him back with a solid kick to his chest. She spun with her blade and connected to his temple. They watched as Kevyrn dropped to his knees gasping for breath and holding his head. Without hesitation she used the hilt of the wooden blade and knocked him unconscious. As his body fell to the ground the seals broke and she knelt beside him, assessing his wounds.

  None moved, uncertain of how to react. Grifyn cleared his throat and Kato released him allowing him to go to his sister to finish the Rites of Challenge. He watched with pride as Grifyn brushed the hair from her face and pulled her to her feet before raising her hand. “The Challenge has been won. Guardian Demytria a Grifyn has proven her rank and earned the respect of her ilk.”

  Slowly applause rang out over the plateau. Gavyn approached and Kato clasped his arm. The male had served with him and Grifyn since the fall of the Cerulyions. He and Ceryion a Cerulyion had held a close connection and the male had taken the loss of their entire line every bit as hard as the Lucerna Lines. They kept him close, knowing the bond Ceryion had forged and the path he had wanted him to take, but Gavyn tended to keep all around him at arms’ length.

  “Thank you, Gavyn,” he offered.

  The male shrugged. “She would have managed the situation fine on her own. I only wanted to be sure that idiot couldn’t act against her.”

  “Indeed. Have her orders been reinstated?” He requested.

  “Of course. I’m heading back to the Palace to finish off my shift on guard detail and then I’ll retire. Have a good eve.”

  “Did you eat, Gavyn?” Kato prompted before he could get out of hearing range and felt the tension despite the lack of an answer. “You never break when you should. Things have settled for the eve. Take meal and then you may resume your shift.”

  He heard the sigh but Gavyn only replied. “Of course High Councilman. The Lady Stephynia?”

  “Is well. She is resting with the King. You could meet her, you know. I am certain she would appreciate knowing who you are and that you are alright. She holds Ceryion’s memories within her.”

  “I’ll consider it,” he replied quietly and walked off.

  “He’s still avoiding her?” Grifyn prosed as he approached with Demytria at his side.

  “And us, apparently,” Kato shrugged. “He will come around in time. In the meantime let us retire.” He pulled his mate close. “We will have to monitor things with the awakening but I am certain we can steal a few moments to ourselves.”

  “Awakening?” Demytria asked in confusion.

  “Kyle a Syneous was severely wounded and his awakening has begun. Cymeryn and Marcus are going to attempt to awaken him,” Grifyn explain. “Staryana will be joining the Queen in one of the sanctuaries until it is complete and Byryn is witnessing the awakening.”

  She scowled, “Why wasn’t I informed?”

  Kato stopped spinning her into him knowing where her mind was. “Stop. He is not purposefully shutting you out. This is a ceremony that traditionally only the males attend and you know this Demytria. Aside from that he has absolved you of your responsibility to his lines. He is trying to respect you. Besides,” he brushed the hair from her face, “you were busy tending to the security of the Kingdom, as he trusts you to do.”

  Grifyn nodded resting his hand on her shoulder. “And you did well, Demytria. Your fortifications were well reasoned and your prowess in battle is unmatched. I doubt many will attempt to undermine you after this eve. You made a fool of Kevyrn. I am sorry that I doubted you.”

  She sighed with a slight smile, “It’s fine, Grifyn. With you it’s not so much doubt as you being your overprotective self. You have never undermined my orders and have done nothing but support me and my decisions since my return. It is the males of your rank that I need to beat some sense into.”

  He chuckled pulling her into an embrace as Kato released her. “Yes well, just be sure you do not lay too many in the infirmary as you have just done to Kevyrn. I need my Guardians capable of serving their posts. I love you, sister. Go enjoy some time with your mate. The King and Stephynia are resting with their guards close by. Devyn is tending to Felycia and I will manage Kylion.” He kissed her head.

  “I love you too, Grifyn. I’ll check in shortly.”

  They watched him walk away before Kato pulled her close again threading his fingers into her hair to hold her still. His hand ran over her side to where he knew Kevyrn had struck her. Her breath hitched as he applied pressure.

  “Not shortly. You and I have some issues to first attend to girl,” he growled in her ear. “I believe I said there should not be a single mark on this beautiful body that was not mine.”

  “You did, love,” she breathed.

  He knew she had allowed it intentionally, that she needed this between them this eve. Her mind had been whirling this day and he meant to silence her doubts and fears. “Go. I will run through final checks and ensure everything is in place. You are to be ready for me when I reach you and you do not have long.”

  “Yes, love,” she replied, a secret smile gracing h
er lips as she turned and headed back to the Palace.

  His mate was phenomenal, one of the strongest females he had ever met. She was beautiful and fierce, intelligent and cunning, but she was also fragile. It was a side of her that few had ever seen. The horrors of her past still haunted her, immersing her in guilt. Cymeryn had controlled and molded her, making her into his perfect concubine for decades. She was addicted to the sharing of essence, and that coupled with the pain that he had so seductively gifted her was a craving that she had initially struggled with.

  Kato knew. He saw it all in her and remember their eve in the stronghold. There had been something fulfilling and satisfying about giving her what she needed, controlling her body so completely. It had taken a little while for them to adjust and work in ways for them to keep the dynamic of their relationship hidden without dropping the roles they took, but he thoroughly enjoyed what they shared. The connections and trust they had with one another were even deeper than they had forged before she had been taken. It was something he would not trade.

  Seeing her in battle during the duel only served to stir his desire. Her power, her beauty, all his. This eve he would thoroughly enjoy the levels of pleasure and pain that he could take his mate to as he sated his desire. The Kingdom was secured. Everything else could wait until the morn, because she would be thoroughly exhausted before he was through with her.

  Chapter 12

  Byryn knocked on the door and waited as he ground his teeth. He had expected to find Devyn and Felycia in the sitting room or her in the adjacent quarters and him in the study. That wasn’t the case and the fact that the only place left that they could be was Devyn’s bedchambers had him slightly on edge.

  Devyn’s essence drifted over him but there was no response. When it came again after a moment he figured that was the only invitation he was going to get. He entered the room slowly and it took everything in him to not to lose it. Devyn was watching him cautiously from the bed. He was laying there holding Felycia while she slept far closer than any Fae had right and they were either naked or pretty damned close.