Choices (Mists of the Fae Book 6)

by Jaime Marks

  The male who wanted to be his Father pulled him into a tight embrace. “You really scared me. There was a point when I did not think you would pull through, that I would lose you before I ever had the chance to truly know you.”

  It choked him up. Maybe it shouldn’t, they barely knew each other, but the awakening created a bond and closeness that he really couldn’t describe. Whatever the connection between them was, he felt it too. This was home. It was the first time since Mom died that he felt that way and even if it didn’t really make any sense to him it was right. Now he just hoped that he could fight what was happening to him so that he never had to leave.

  Wytheryn looked up from his meditation with a sneer as Byryn appeared in front of his cell door. “What is it? Come to see if you can get me to believe your lies as the Fae you sent failed?”

  “No, I came to see if you were alright. I heard you had a rough night,” he offered pulling up a stool. “I know you think I’m an ass, but the truth is Wytheryn, I have no idea why. We’ve never met before you came here. Hell, I didn’t even know you existed and you lied to me about your lineage initially. I was kind of hoping you’d shed some Light as to why.”

  He scoffed in disgust. More tricks and lies. “You were Commander of the Brood, Trevyn’s golden son. You know all of us. You just choose to leave those that do not serve your purpose to their paths until you have use for them.”

  Byryn shook his head. “Someone’s been feeding you a bunch of shit. Trevyn controlled me every bit as much as he did our brothers. I only ever knew what he told me or I found out on my own. If I had known that Crystal had another son, I would have looked for you.”

  “A convenient sentiment to have now that the past cannot be changed.”

  “I’m sorry. I don’t know what you’ve been through, or where you were, but I’m sorry. I know Grifyn upset you when he told you about our Mother last night, but I think if you search your heart you’ll know the truth. To be honest I didn’t take it all that well at first either, mainly because I was confused about what it all meant. I barely have any memories of her.” He ran his hand roughly through his hair. “What can I do here, Wytheryn? I can tell you don’t believe a word I say and you obviously hate me but I don’t have a clue what the hell I could have done to you considering we only just met.”

  His eyes ran over his brother. There was weakness in him. It actually hurt him to know that he hated him. “You are a traitor with no loyalty and a fool if you think I’ll ever follow you.”

  He shook his head and rose to his feet. “No, brother, I’ve got more loyalty to my line now than I’ve ever had in the past, but that’s something you’ll have to come to understand on your own. I’m not a fool, but I know manipulation and programming when I see it. Whoever had you all this time groomed you for this, to face me. I don’t know who or why but I have a few guesses. I’ll figure it out, but seriously? I’m not your enemy.”

  “Nor are you my savior,” he spat.

  “No, I can’t save you,” he admitted, “only you can do that. I’m Bonding tonight but I’ll be back to see you tomorrow.”

  Wytheryn watched in disgust as he disappeared. They all acted like his brother was some sort of god who could do no wrong, but he knew better. His sins were just as Dark and depraved as that of the full Shade. He was a hypocrite and a liar. He didn’t know how yet, but Wytheryn would find a way to bring his brother and his mate to his Master and watch as they were brought to their knees. Maybe then he could return to the simplicity of his service and be done with all these questions and confusion.

  Chapter 18

  Felycia groaned. She’d slept really good for the first time in ages but she still had a slight headache and her current situation wasn’t helping. She and Devyn had shared a nice quiet breakfast together and she had to admit she’d enjoyed his company. Now, however, her frustration was mounting.

  She was trying to untangle the brush from her hair as she got ready for this banquet…again. Steph and Star made this shit look easy, but she had no idea how to manage it. At least this time she’d managed to get the gown on by herself. She didn’t want to embarrass herself or Devyn, but she didn’t really have a clue what she was doing.

  “Will you allow me to help you, Felycia?”

  She glanced to the door and turned beet red. Devyn stood leaning in the doorway watching her. How long had he been there?

  He smiled softly a moment as he approached. “Do not worry dear girl, I have not been here long. I sensed your frustration and knew you were already decent.” Standing just behind her his eyes ran over her in the mirror. “You have no reason to be ashamed. My sister had similar difficulties after her awakening.”

  “She did?” She asked in surprise.

  “Aye. She was afraid to ask for assistance when she was young so she kept her hair short,” he explained as he easily freed the brush from her hair and began gently pulling it through the knotted mess. “Mother had passed when she was very young and she was the only girl amongst my family. Once she awakened her hair grew down past her shoulders and she decided she rather liked it but she had no one to show her anything about being a female. As our parents had passed into the Light she was my ward. I caught her one day quite by accident struggling as I just found you. We ended up working through it together.” He studied her in the mirror a moment. “Now would you like to leave it down? Or put it up like…this?” He gathered her hair up on top of her head with wisps cascading down.

  She hesitated. “Will you help me put it up?”

  He smiled warmly at her. “Of course.” She watched as he pulled an odd circular clip out from the drawer. “These are yours, from your quarters. I brought them over with your clothing last eve while you slept since you said you wished to stay for a few days.”

  “Oh, ok,” she murmured as she watched him coil the clip around the top of her head to hold her hair up.

  She wasn’t really sure she should stay for a few days. Devyn thought he was in love with her. Staying with him probably wasn’t fair. She enjoyed his company. She liked him, but she didn’t think she could ever love anyone.

  “There.” He stepped back watching her in awe. “I am fairly decent at applying accents as well if you like. I believe it is what you would call make up, although I do not believe you need any. You look absolutely radiant, girl.”

  She blushed at his complement, “Thanks. You don’t have to say that though.”

  He stepped closer to her. “Why not? I only speak the truth. You are quite lovely, Felycia.” His finger trailed down the back of her neck and spine to the line of the dress, sending a shiver through her before he gently pulled her back against him as he wrapped her in his arms. “I know this all makes you nervous but I only wish to see you happy. Please do not run from me. I will not rush you, and I promise to respect and honor you. Just please, give this a chance.”

  Felycia sighed heavily. It was like he could read her thoughts. She’d been debating if she could handle leaving all morning. She was afraid to stay, but the thought of leaving him broke her in a way she couldn’t understand. How was she supposed to deal with this?

  Really she still wasn’t sure if she needed to get back to Earth to protect those she left behind but if she started thinking about that she’d fall to the floor crying again. She’d been an emotional wreck on and off trying to figure out the best way to deal with the situation with Bryce. Really it was better for him if she stayed away. If anyone ever found out her secret it would be a nightmare, as it was Shrevyn finding out put everything at risk. She had a couple years to figure out what to do before her younger brother awakened, then all hell would break loose. Until then her presence in Bryce’s life would only provoke the issue. She knew as soon as she got to Earth the Brood would hunt her.

  Meeting his eyes in the mirror she knew this was the safest place for her. Devyn seemed so sincere. There was this connection between them that she didn’t really understand but she actually felt safe with him. He didn’t sugarcoat
things or try to manipulate her. If anything he was far too open with her but as much as it scared her it was a relief. She wasn’t used to knowing someone else’s thoughts enough to understand why she should or shouldn’t trust them and it gave her a sense of security in all this chaos.

  Shaking her head she closed her eyes hoping that she didn’t regret this. “Alright, for now, but I can’t promise you anything, Devyn.”

  He smiled shrewdly at her through the mirror. “I will ask you to promise me only one thing, Felycia, and the rest we will simply have to allow to develop in time.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “What’s that?”

  “Promise me that you will not run. If you feel the need to walk away from me I would never force you to stay, but I expect you to discuss it with me. Do not merely run and disappear from our world, dear girl. I could not bear it,” he pleaded before turning more serious than he had been all morning. “Aside from that, Felycia, I know you were extremely frightened last eve and I promised you I would keep you safe. I may not know the full extent of the situation but we both know if you return to the Earth you will be at risk and the Realm of Light has been compromised. I know you are afraid to stay here but I promise you, I can keep you safe. There is no Fae aside from the Sacred Borne that could keep you safer. Please, Felycia, promise me you will not simply run, allow me to protect you, and if not me, the Lucerna Lines in their entirety.”

  She breathed deeply. Running had been her M.O. for as long as she could remember. One of the reasons she came here, aside from needing to find her Mother, was she was really sick and tired of running. After what happened at the safehold she needed somewhere safe to regroup for a while and that had been here until last night. Devyn made her feel safe and he was trying to do so much for her, wanted to do so much more. Didn’t she at least owe him that much?

  “Fine, I promise that I won’t run, that I’ll sit down and discuss it with you if I need to leave, but you need to understand that it doesn’t mean that I’m going to stay, Devyn. I never meant to stay here in the first place.”

  He nodded. “Give me month. One month to prove to you that this life can offer you so much more than you could even imagine. Allow me to help you reason out the issues that cause you to feel you cannot stay so that I can protect you and those you love. Then if you feel the need to leave we will discuss it and decide what is best for what you want…Even if that means leaving me,” he conceded.

  She hesitated but knew the reality of the situation was if she ran off too soon, or recklessly, Byryn would hunt her down regardless of the personal risk to himself. He would find her without issue, he always did. If he didn’t, the rest of their brothers would and she couldn’t even imagine what they would do to her now that she was Gray. Worse she could lead them right to Tara and Bryce. Devyn was right. What he asked was not only reasonable but pretty much necessary. Although the implied chance for him to prove to her that they were bonding wasn’t a requirement she knew if she was here she’d never keep her distance anyway so she might as well try to enjoy it, right? Maybe? God she had to be losing her fucking mind.

  “Ok. One month and I won’t run. I promise.”

  “Thank you,” his relief flowed in his voice as he whispered aside her ear. He kissed her gently on the cheek causing her to blush before he drew back from her and offered her his hand. “Come, it is time for the banquet and as we are of the Lucerna Lines it will not do for us to be late.”

  She took Devyn’s hand and he looped hers through his arm leading her from the suite. In the hall the rest of the Lucerna Lines were gathered. Byryn seemed to be involved in a heated discussion with Mythos, Steph, and Cymeryn but Trina and Grifyn turned to walk over to them as soon as they saw them. She had no idea what to expect and tried not to cringe.

  “Felycia, you look quite lovely.” Grifyn gave a slight respective bow of his head before offering Devyn his hand. “Devyn, how are you this noon?”

  He glanced at her a moment with a careful smile as they clasped arms. “Well, Grifyn, quite well. Is everything alright?” He nodded to the debate continuing across the hall.

  “Yes. Just some bumps in the road concerning Star’s brother. Cymeryn, Marcus, and Byryn were able to awaken him Gray through a joint effort last eve and Cymeryn wishes to Claim the boy, but there is a…history with the Lady Steph,” Grifyn explained. “They are debating Kyle’s involvements in today’s festivities and rituals.”

  Devyn’s brow arched high. She was a little surprised herself. From what she knew Cymeryn didn’t Claim young and Byryn and Kyle hated each other. “Hmmm. What is your opinion of it?”

  “Honestly?” Grifyn shrugged, “If Steph can see him without losing control of her abilities I believe the boy has as much right to attend as any other former unawakened and Shade. We all have to adapt to these situations. Consider Cymeryn and Demytria, or even Byryn. Their presence is not always comfortable for others due to their pasts but we all must learn to move beyond it.”

  Felycia watched Devyn waiting to see how he would react. She certainly fit into that same category and she needed to know if he was actually moving past his issues. He turned to face her. “Felycia, would you be alright with your par-, um…with Grifyn and Trina a moment. Grifyn is right and I may be able to reason with Mythos.”

  Her brow arched in surprise both at his response and the verbal slip but she nodded. “Sure, I’ll wait here for you.”

  Grifyn smirked as he watched Devyn walk off but didn’t comment on it. Instead he turned back to her as Trina began speaking. “Felycia, we should speak briefly about how you wish to be presented this noon. We haven’t really had chance to discuss it but Grifyn would like to Claim you. You do not need to make a decision today, but if you wish you can be presented as Felycia a Grifyn rather than Felycia a Trevyn,” she offered, “or you may choose Felycia a Trina as I have awoken you, but it is not very common to use a feminine designation.”

  Grifyn smiled warmly at her. “We are honored you have joined our lines, Felycia, and whatever you decide the offer will remain. I know your brother was hoping you would choose to make a completely fresh start, but this is your choice, not his.”

  She thought about it a minute. The offer didn’t really surprise her. Grifyn had been coming to see her daily since she got here. He’d never disrespected her or tried to hurt her and they’d been alone in her quarters several times. Honestly aside from Byryn and Devyn, which she still didn’t understand, Grifyn was the only male she trusted.

  The idea of being free of the ties of her blood was tempting. She’d seen Byryn’s Claiming and had even dared to ask him one or two questions at random. What would it be like to be completely free of their Father? She knew he was dead but she still felt that connection to his line and her brothers. The Shade of the Brood still called to her and it was always a weight on her shoulders.

  Could she really do this? They were all asking her to build a life here, to start over and let go of the past but how could she do that when she had to think about Bryce? It would be safer here for him but what kind of life would he have in the world of the Fae? Would it be better than they could have on Earth?

  “I…I don’t want to be connected to Trevyn anymore…but tying myself to anyone makes me nervous,” she finally admitted.

  Grifyn nodded. “I can understand that. A lot appears to be happening for you very quickly. There is no rush with this. You are ward of my line by virtue of both your brother and Trina. You may still claim that moniker even if you are not ready to make it official by the blood.”

  “If…If that’s alright. I think I’d prefer that,” she replied hesitantly wondering where her strength was. Being free of the Brood was something she’d always wanted and here was the only male she’d probably accept this from offering her the possibly…and she was turning him down.

  He smiled. “That’s fine. You just let us know when and if you decide the rest, alright? And Felycia? Is it alright if I hug you a moment? To welcome you to our family?”

/>   Her brows shot up and red flags went off, but this male was asking to Claim her as a daughter and he’d never been anything but kind to her. In all reality she’d interacted with him more than Byryn since she’d been here. He came by to check on her all the time and brought her materials when Byryn was busy. Could she handle a hug? She had basically slept skin to skin in Devyn’s arms last night.

  She steeled herself and nodded stiffly. Sensing her hesitation and discomfort Grifyn stepped forward slowly and gently embraced her. She brought her arms up mimicking the act and he responded by squeezing her tighter for only an instant before he released her stepping back out of her personal space. It wasn’t that bad. It was just very different. Aside from Byryn, up until yesterday no one had ever hugged her and it had been a really long time since he had. She hadn’t allowed it after the night of the attack.

  “Thank you, Felycia.” Both he and Trina smiled warmly at her and she could feel a warmth growing in her heart.

  She swallowed the lump in her throat and spoke before she could chicken out. She knew what she wanted and she was already tied to these two Fae. All they were asking was a chance to free her and give her a fresh start. She couldn’t bear to keep the connections of her past any more and she couldn’t stand this timidness and fear she was letting control her. “Yes…Yes, but I don’t want to wait because I’ll over stress it and change my mind and I know this is right. I want you to Claim me, Grifyn.”

  Grifyn raised a brow looking shocked as he studied her. “Are you certain, Felycia? You weren’t sure about this only a moment ago. It is not something that can be undone. I can arrange for the ceremony to occur this day if it is your wish, but I’d prefer to wait until you’re certain.”

  She took a deep breath to steady herself feeling like she was finally starting to find her strength again. “My whole life I’ve been running from Trevyn or trying to fight free of the things he’s done to me. Now my brothers want to reclaim me in the name of his blood. I realize this won’t free me from their vengeance, but I don’t want to feel their pull and I don’t want to bear the shackles of my blood any more. If I wasn’t already tied to you through the awakening, yeah, I’d need loads more time, but the truth is we’ll always be bound anyway, right?”