Choices (Mists of the Fae Book 6)

by Jaime Marks

  “Before you raise your voice keep in mind that your sister is resting and still recovering from a severe head injury that almost claimed her life.” His eyes bored into him demanding him to remain calm.

  Byryn shook his head and cursed under his breath. He was anything but calm. He already knew she’d almost died. Marcus had explained what happened and assured him she’d be fine but that she needed to rest, otherwise he would have been there sooner. She was still unconscious which only infuriated him more when he took in how closely Devyn held her.

  This wasn’t the first time he’d found her in a compromised position with a male taking advantage of her and it was hard not to view it like that. He knew he was mixing the past with the present but if Devyn hurt his sister there’d be hell to pay. He kept his voice down but his words were terse and clip, “What do you think you’re doing with my sister?”

  “It is not as it appears, Byryn.”

  “Oh? Then you aren’t laying in your bed, in your bedchambers naked, holding Felycia who’s naked, or damned close to it, against your chest?”

  Devyn sighed in exasperation, “She needed healing, Byryn, and I would never lay with your sister naked before she was mine. I am wearing shorts and she her undergarments. I would never dishonor her.”

  Byryn rose a brow, “Before she’s yours? You aren’t even courting and right at the moment I seriously suggest you don’t ask.”

  Felycia shifted moving closer to him and Byryn cursed. He knew she wouldn’t want him interfering in her relationship like this but damn if he didn’t want to rip Devyn out of that bed every bit as bad as he had that john the first night he found her. He knew this was different. He could clearly see that Felycia was comfortable with him and he knew they were more than likely bonding, but this was pushing his limit. All he wanted was to protect his sister and give her a chance in this world.

  “You are overreacting, Byryn. Once you think this through you will see that. I know how you care for her and that you only mean to protect her so I will not take offense. I was no better with my own sister.” He smiled for a second as he stared off like he was lost in a memory but it faded quickly as he met Byryn’s stare. “I care deeply for Felycia. I swear to you I will not dishonor her or bring her harm but…nearly losing any chance to even know her this day...” He shook his head. “You can fight me if you wish, but I will not let her go nor will I walk away from her.”

  “Has she woken up at all? Does she even know she’s in your bed?” He demanded. If he was taking advantage of her in this delicate state Byryn wasn’t sure if he’d be able to stop himself. It wouldn’t matter if they were bonding or not. She was his sister damn it.

  “Aye, we discussed her injury as well as why she was in my bed.” Devyn looked down at her gently brushing the hair off her brow before looking to him. “I will not lie and say her first reaction was calm, but once she knew where she was and that it was I she was with she did calm and we spoke at length. This was the result. I swear I did not lay so closely with her before though I did tend to her healing and as you are aware that requires skin to skin contact for the rapid flow of essence necessary to tend to the severity of her injury,” he reminded him to further prove his point.

  Byryn looked at them, really looked at them. He couldn’t deny what he saw. The trust she placed in him to sleep so comfortably with him and the loving way Devyn held her…He shook his head considering it a moment. “What did you talk about?” He requested slightly more calm.

  “When she realized our…lack of daily attire she neared a panic. In order to calm her and prevent her from reinjuring herself I allowed her the knowledge of my mind and emotions of my heart.” Devyn sighed and kissed her head gently, “She knows how I feel for her, Byryn. I can no more deny it to her than myself for she has sensed it all. Felycia is my bond, my true mate.”

  Byryn pinched the bridge of his nose and groaned a moment. Felycia didn’t exactly deal well with anyone caring about her, especially not if she felt anything for them in return. That alone might be enough to make her run. “What did she say?”

  “Well, she did not say much. She asked me a few questions. I answered her. Then she lay down closely to me and slept.” Devyn looked down studying her a moment. “In truth I have no idea what that means but she is at ease with me and that is enough for now.”

  He nodded as he crossed his arms looking them over again. Letting out an exasperated sigh he warned, “She’ll probably try to run from you, Devyn. She thinks love means pain. It’s all she’s ever known and she’s scared to death to let anyone in. Just because she let you get close right now doesn’t mean she accepts this.”

  “I am aware of that, Byryn. At the same time, she was terrified in the human realm that the Brood would come for her. She is afraid here as well, but she knows that she is safer because we are here to protect her.” Devyn seemed to consider his words carefully, “How long has she been here, in this realm?”

  Byryn could see the barely restrained rage in him. Something was off. This wasn’t just about today and he wasn’t sure he’d have time to deal with it if he asked the question he dreaded. “Almost two months. The night we raided the safehold and brought the first of the unawakened here I brought her with us. She was among the unawakened in the cells.”

  He nodded absently but didn’t elaborate on his reason for asking. “I do not mean to allow her to run. It is clear that she would be in great danger on her own though I am uncertain of the exact circumstances. She keeps saying the Brood will reclaim her. She has fitful dreams.” He looked up hesitantly as if he wasn’t sure he should ask, “Do you know them? Michael, Obitryn, Malym, and Impetyus?”

  Byryn froze. Three of those names made sense. He half expected that Devyn would accuse him, having heard his own name on her lips, but... “Did you say, Michael?” He choked.

  “Aye,” Devyn studied him carefully.

  Byryn couldn’t even imagine the expression he wore. Michael hadn’t been there the night the Brood assaulted her. She hadn’t said anything about the cells and Kylion had been in her cell and never even suggested it. She hadn’t appeared to be injured when they found her. He cursed under his breath realizing the truth. The Brood would never ignore her presence in the safehold. The Elders had been hunting for her for too long. They’d attacked her again and this time Michael had been there. There was no other way she would be having nightmares about Michael. She’d never even met him.

  He breathed deeply trying to regain his own composure. “Yes, they’re our brothers. Three of them are some of the oldest and most depraved. Michael…he’s probably twenty now, but his awakening was forced in the most violent way.” He shook his head. He needed to stop making excuses for his brother. It was one thing to target him, but to do this? “He’s apparently taken after Trevyn or maybe even Crytos since he was awarded to him as his slave a couple years ago.”

  Devyn grunted, “It does not matter. Aside from the Sacred Borne you must realize that there is no other who could keep her safer than I, whether it be in this realm, the Realm of Light or even the human world. I will not allow any further harm to come to her, Byryn, and I will find some way to convince her that there is nowhere safer for her than by my side.”

  Byryn ground his teeth again. He knew Devyn meant well, and there was a chance Felycia might even agree with him considering they were bonding, but he couldn’t deny the idea of this irked him, especially after what he’d just figured out. He wanted nothing more than to take her out of here and keep her with him but he knew she’d never accept that and he had duties to attend to.

  He ran his hand through his hair in frustration realizing the safest place for her tonight was as close to Devyn as possible; which only served to aggravate him more. “I’ll be detained the remainder of the eve. Cymeryn and Marcus are awakening Kyle. He was severely wounded. He won’t survive the awakening any other way. Cymeryn is technically our Grandsire so I have to witness it,” he explained before motioning loosely to them. “I’ll try
to keep an open mind but I need to calm down and I want to hear what she wants from her, myself, before I even attempt to be ok with any of this…If something happens you will send for me.” Not a question. He knew he held the rank here both as her brother and Prince. He might not want the title but he’d take the advantage it gave him at the moment.

  He nodded. “That is all I can ask and of course, I would notify you immediately. Had you been in realm when we realized her situation I would have notified you then. Marcus did communicate it to you?”

  “Yeah, I was bringing Kyle back. Misting would’ve killed him and the awakening still might, even with Marcus and Cymeryn’s abilities. He wasn’t in the greatest of shape when it hit and the Healers can’t seem to repair the damage in his current state.” Before they got into a discussion about that Byryn turned and left.

  He couldn’t believe this day. He was really sick of the rollercoaster they were living on. All he really wanted to do tonight was lay in bed holding Staryana…well, exactly how Devyn was holding his sister.

  He breathed deeply as he crossed the hall seeing Wycelion and Trycen waiting for him in their ritual attire. Normally he would have involved Kylion but he’d been through enough. If he thought for an instance he could trust Wytheryn not to exploit the situation he might have even sent for him, but that wasn’t a risk worth taking.

  Shit, what the hell was he going to do about that kid? He didn’t think he’d accept Redemption and he wasn’t sure what to make of him. Kato hadn’t had time to verify his lineage yet, but if what he said was true, and Grifyn seemed to think that it was, that meant he was like him, hybrid Fae, not to mention it meant he was of the Lucerna Lines. Crystal Franklin had been dormant Fae of the Verthyrion Lines.

  Grifyn said that they would work together to reach him but that was gonna take time. Locking him up indefinitely wasn’t the answer but he couldn’t have him around if was going to be a threat. How old was he? With him being unawakened he’d almost have to keep him here so they could work on trying to gain his trust, otherwise he’d probably die when he awakened. There was something in the way he looked at him, something he sensed when he’d revealed who he really was. That kid hated him, there wasn’t a doubt in his mind and that was a problem. Either way, a decision would need to be made and it would fall to him predominantly, though the Kings would all discuss it in detail.

  He shook his head. Did he really want to take responsibility for Wytheryn after he’d played them once already? After how he’d treated his mate? If he really was his brother, he’d have to try.

  Wytheryn knelt in a meditative stance trying to ignore the others in his cell. He did not trust them any more than he trusted being here. Revealing himself to Byryn was a risk. Why had Lazurys requested him to do so? The directive had come through Alayne but he knew it had been the Dark Lord’s decree. The feel had been different and the power behind it was intense.

  There was no way they would allow him to leave this place now. Originally he had intended to force his own exile. As an unawakened they would not hold him long term. They had turned out several and allowed others to leave of their own accord. They were few but it did occur. He had assumed that once his time here had been served he would be able to return to either his brothers or the High Priest as was deemed necessary, but then the Command had been thrust into his mind.

  What did that mean? Why did they want him to remain here? It was not as if Byryn would trust him enough to allow him close to Staryana now. The better question was why had he been sent on this mission in the first place? He did not even understand why he had been returned to the Brood. There were too many questions and no answers available.

  His eyes opened as voices began to echo through the dungeon, if you could call it such. Where Alayne kept his prisoners was a dungeon, this was merely a dorm. “No, I want him moved to a private cell. Leave the others together. Has John been isolated?”

  “Yes Commander. Should I retrieve the boy now?”

  “No, I will get him.”

  He looked up wondering what this was about as Commander Grifyn stopped in front of the cell measuring him. “Wytheryn, will you come with me please?” He requested.

  Without a word he stood up and approached the cell door as the others watched curiously. They all knew his lineage now, what they didn’t know was why he served Alayne. It didn’t matter. It was none of their concern.

  Grifyn opened the door allowing him to step out of the cell. “This way, son.”

  He nodded and followed taking in the surroundings. Both walls were lined in the cells, their doors formed of glass or plastic, some lined with iron bars. Most of them were empty but a few held Shade and unawakened. They stopped at the empty cell at the top of the hall and he opened the door.

  “Here. With your lineage it’s not certain if you would be a target or not. It is not safe to leave you among the others. Also, Trina would like to assess the truth of your claims.”

  A female with green and silver highlights in her hair walked up to the cell and nodded. Fae of the Forest. He had anticipated this. “Obviously Byryn does not believe my lineage then. I am not surprised. He expects every member of his lines to be as treacherous and manipulative as he is.”

  Grifyn’s brow arched. “My understanding is aside from the brief meetings you have had with him, you had never met your brother before you came here. Perhaps you should give him a chance before you judge him so harshly.”

  He scoffed and jerked his head towards the female. “What is she going to do?”

  “If you allow it and open yourself I’ll be able to tell if you are of the same lineage as Byryn,” she explained. “As I am well versed with his lines I should be able to sense through the masking and verify your assertions knowing what I am looking for.”

  “Fine.” He walked into the cell and knelt clearing his mind. “Let’s get this over with.”

  Her essence washed over him and it caused him to flinch in confusion. It should burn in the least but it felt oddly comfortable. After a few moments she withdrew. “It is as he says. His lineage is a direct match to Byryn, Grifyn. He is Verthyrion.”

  His head shot up. “You lie. I am not Fae. Crystal Franklin was human.” He knew Verthyrion was one of the lost lines of Lucerna.

  Commander Grifyn sighed. “Your Mother, Crystal Franklin, was dormant Fae. She was the daughter of Verithyous a Verthyrion and Marcia Franklin, but never awakened. Verithyous was the son of Verthyrion and Meridythia a Cerulyion. Your Father may have been Shade, but your Mother was half human, half Fae.”

  “More manipulations and lies. Leave me. I have no need for your games,” he spat in frustration.

  There couldn’t be any truth to it, could there? He knew of Alayne’s experiments, his efforts to combine Fae and Shade. There were several that lived. Kyle a Syneous was amongst them, but was he? He had been born of the Trevyn Line, of Cymeryn’s Warrior lineage, abandoned to the world of the Priests. He was not an experiment, but had his existence been a manipulation, had Byryn’s? Could Alayne have gifted Crystal to Trevyn? No, there was no love lost between them.

  “We will leave you, Wytheryn, but I will return as I am certain will your brother. I know that this is hard to understand, but you are one of us, son. We are your family and we will not merely abandon you to the lies and abuse that you have lived in,” he replied.

  They left him there before he could respond. Seething in his rage he overturned the bed with a growl and the guard walked over to survey the scene before heading back down the hall.

  Lies. It was all lies. He would not believe such trickery. Byryn was the enemy and family always abandoned unless they wanted something from you. Of course that was the point wasn’t it? They needed intel on Alayne’s plans. They’d have to pry the information from his mind as his Master ended him before he’d give up the secrets they sought.

  He’d been here long enough to see how everyone nearly worshipped his brother, but it only confirmed what he knew to be true. Byryn sold out hi
s line for his whore, wealth, and power. The Brood was not enough, he wished to rule. Wytheryn might be Shade and he might hold little more rank than the imprisoned Fae his Master kept, but at least he held loyalty and respect for those who had raised him and protected him these long years. His Father and Byryn had left him for dead in the clutches of the Priests. His brother had led his Father’s enemies to his door and cut his brothers down in their prime. The bastard disgusted him and he would not be corrupted by his lies.

  Michael knelt impatiently waiting in the Dark Plains. He knew the formalities but he was barely restrained in his rage. It had been hell carrying on these last couple days since his Master had been captured but since Crytos had fallen he’d been running on tilt. He’d felt their bond and the binds he held over him break. There was a time he would’ve been grateful but the connection they’d formed these past years now festered in him like a painful pit of emptiness.

  The Shade could have killed him many times over, likely should have for his weakness. Instead he molded him into the force he was. Over time he had transitioned from a helpless slave to his favored servant at Crytos’ hand. There were times he thought they may have even been something more. He no longer forced his will upon him. Instead he respected and valued his opinion, keeping him at his side. They’d fought together, lived together, fucked together whether they were breaking some poor soul or taking each other to their limits. The loss of him was far more profound than he cared to admit.

  Syneous formed in front of him. “Report.”

  “They have failed,” he stated plainly. “Wytheryn is being held. He has delivered Lazurys’ message to the traitor but doubts he’ll comply. He did seem to feel that both Byryn and the Princess were shifting. They’re determined to let John die in his awakening. Actually if Staryana hadn’t called him to heel Byryn may well have killed him but they fear it will force the turn. It doesn’t seem as if they’re aware of the amount of Dark essence flooding through them both since her awakening.”