by Jaime Marks
“We are,” he replied seeming to consider her words.
“I know you’re both trying to help me and I know that you’re just trying to offer me a fresh start. Let me accept it before I chicken out and run because seriously that’s more my style.”
Grifyn laughed. “Actually, Felycia, the last thing I see you as is a coward. You’re a fighter, a survivalist who will do whatever she feels is necessary to keep going and you’re intelligent and cunning. If you’re certain that this is what you want?”
She looked over to Devyn. She didn’t know what the future held for them and she was still terrified to let him in, but he’d asked her not to run. If she was going to have any hope at staying even for a while this had to happen. “Yes. I made a promise to stop running and I can’t stay here if I’m still tied to them.”
His eyes narrowed a moment but he nodded. “I realize how you can feel that way, but you must know that it’s not true. You’re always welcome here and we will protect you regardless, do you understand?”
She nodded and he turned to Trina who offered him a small smile and a nod.
“Alright.” He smiled warmly with a small laugh. “Yes, I’ll make the request to Claim you at the banquet and the ritual will occur today. Nothing would please me more.”
He embraced her again, this time more tightly and she allowed it. When he released her she exhaled slowly. This was all so different. She tried to tell herself that she had no idea what had possessed her to agree to this but the truth was, she was different. She might be afraid but she wasn’t angry anymore. She had Darkness in her but it wasn’t threatening to swallow her up like it used to and when it did it seemed like Devyn was right there making her feel beautiful and special.
She didn’t want to go back to how things were before. She didn’t think she could manage the pain and loneliness of it. If she ran from here, there was a good chance that her brothers would eventually find her and they would find a way to turn her even if it meant handing her over to Lazurys himself. Here might be uncertain and scare her on some level, but the alternative damn well terrified her. Somehow she would find a way to make this work, for her and for Bryce.
Mythos ground his teeth as he listened to Cymeryn’s reasoning. He did not quite frankly care the reasons, he would not tolerate Kyle near Stephynia. He had been involved in her rape. He had stalked her and tormented her. He had come here under false pretenses to kidnap her and Staryana. It did not matter what had changed or who was Claiming him, he would not stand for the risk to her safety.
“You are being unreasonable, Mythos,” Cymeryn groaned. “They will not even be near one another and you know it. We need to know that she can tolerate him being in the same room for the rituals this eve. And do not even begin to tell me that you will not allow him to attend. Staryana and Byryn are Bonding as well as Marcus, Reyana, and I. We are his sires. He has every right to be there aside from the fact that his own Claiming will be this eve.”
That caught his attention. “You are not seriously rushing into this, Cymeryn! Can you not at the least wait and ensure that the boy is not a risk to the safety of this Kingdom? I will not perform the ritual.”
“It is not necessary for you to take part in this. Marcus and Reyana are more than capable,” he replied levelly.
“So you would simply go over my head? Disobey my wishes and disregard my concerns?”
“Mythos, I know how you feel about this and I understand why you want to wait, but Kyle isn’t a threat to Steph,” Byryn interjected trying to calm the situation, which only served to aggravate him more. “I’d never do anything that would jeopardize her safety, including awakening Kyle. I’ve sensed him myself. Cymeryn’s right, there’s so much more to all of this. He saved Staryana’s life yesterday and almost paid with his life as a result. Doesn’t that earn him just as much chance as the rest of us? He’s awakened. He’s Fae now. His past is over.”
Mythos shook his head stubbornly. “I will not allow it.”
“Maybe…maybe I’ll be able to control it,” Stephynia murmured hesitantly. “I could probably try. It’s not like we didn’t share some classes together in school.”
“No, the point is Stephynia that you should not have to.” He turned back to Cymeryn. “When you came to us last eve you swore you would not rush this. That you would give her time to adjust and yet here you are pushing her into this.”
“I do not wi-…”
“Enough!” Devyn cut them all off in a loud bellow. “I have not heard such squabbling since you were but boys! Let us reason this out like grown males, shall we?”
Marcus, who stood beside them quietly abstaining from the discussion chuckled and Mythos shot him an annoyed glare. This was the last thing he needed. Devyn was almost fatherly to them and while they may all be Kings, when there was a disagreement amongst the three of them that they could not settle, Devyn would always supersede as Patryarch. Last morn he would have been certain that Devyn would have favored his stance, but this noon? He had no idea where the Fae stood. Things were changing.
“Holy shit,” Byryn murmured quietly. He was frozen in disbelief as he stared down the hall.
They all turned to see what he was reacting to and found that Grifyn stood hugging Felycia in a tight embrace. Devyn smiled warmly. “She is trying, Byryn. I very much wish to finish our discussion from last eve, but I must attend to this first.”
He studied the Fae and nodded, shifting uncomfortably. “We’ll talk after the banquet.”
Mythos raised a brow. He wondered just how involved Devyn and Felycia had become. “Devyn, there is really nothing to discuss here. Kyle should not yet be allowed to attend Palace functions. It is…”
Devyn raised his hand silencing him and crossed him arms. “Milady Stephynia,” he bowed respectfully, “your opinion is the only one I wish to hear. Do not worry for the feelings of Cymeryn or your King. Mythos loves you. He will understand regardless and Cymeryn will remain respectful so as not to damage the already fragile beginnings of trust that we are slowly forging.”
“Are we now?” Cymeryn smirked in amusement. “Then indeed, I shall remain on my best behavior.”
Devyn huffed shooting him a disapproving look before turning back to her. “I need to know how you feel, Stephynia.”
She stared up at Mythos a moment before turning to Devyn. “To be honest, I don’t really know how to feel, but I saw how Kyle helped Star yesterday. He even tried to reason with John on my behalf. It in no means makes up for the past, but…all of the Shade, unawakened or not, have done terrible things; things that are almost impossible to forgive. We’ve forgiven Byryn, Cymeryn, and Demytria...” She turned to Mythos. “I love that you want to protect me and it would be easier to just avoid this, but doing the right thing isn’t always easy. You told me that the awakening will wash away the sins of the past. Kyle is awakened now and as much as we might not like it, that means the past no longer matters. We have to judge him solely on what he does now.”
He smiled. “Spoken like a true Queen. She is right, the boy attends but I would like to minimize issue. Would you be willing to see him now, Stephynia? Only to ensure you can control your defensive impulses? I have read the full report on what occurred upon his arrival.”
She took a deep breath and nodded.
“Stephynia, you need not do this,” Mythos ground out. On some level he knew she was right, that they all were, but all he wanted in this world was to protect her. He could not bear Kyle being so close to her.
Devyn looked him square in the eye. “You are being irrational, Mythos. You ask me and the Kingdoms to embrace the possibility of Redemption when it puts many of us in these very same situations. You cannot avoid this and it would not do for the Kingdoms to see you selectively embracing it. It has to be all or nothing. You must realize this. I will not deny my own reservations but…” He turned watching Felycia a moment before continuing. “I can see there is truth to what you have professed. Kyle was not Shade, he was unawakened an
d is now Fae of the Gray. His past has been washed away through both the awakening and Redemption by the very reasoning and decrees you explained to me just yester morn. You must see he deserves a chance.”
“I do, but it does not change the fact that he is a danger to her.”
“No, he’s not Mythos,” Byryn sighed. “If he was a danger to her I would never have saved his life. Sprite? This is up to you. If you don’t want to do this you don’t have to.”
Mythos watched her breath deeply and nod. “Will you go get him, Byryn? ...just if I, if I can’t…”
“I won’t let you hurt him, sprite,” He reassured her. “I’ll make sure to get him away from you if you have an issue, but you know none of us would ever let him hurt you right?”
“I know and I’m sorry. You know this isn’t me, Byryn. I can handle this shit. I’m not sure what my issue is.”
He smirked. “You don’t have to be strong all the time, Steph. It’s been a long few days for you. Even you’re entitled to feel human once in a while.”
Mythos reached out and grabbed her hand to reassure her and steel himself. This entire situation was tenuous but Devyn was right. “Go get him, Byryn; but I swear, if he attacks her in any way I will kill him myself.”
He nodded and left with a respectful bow. Mythos pulled Stephynia close and wrapped his arms around her. He had to prepare to help her stabilize if this went badly. He would give anything to avoid this.
After a few moments Byryn and Kyle emerged slowly from the hall. Kyle dropped to one knee and lowered his head. “Your majesties.”
Mythos monitored her essence but it did not surge as he expected. He breathed deeply before addressing the boy. “Rise, Kyle, but I warn you to keep your distance.”
He rose slowly. “I won’t hurt her, Lord Mythos. I never wanted to in the first place.”
“Convenient,” Mythos grunted as he monitored her.
“I can handle this.” Stephynia nodded. “Let’s go.”
“Thank you, Steph,” Kyle replied softly.
She crossed her arms. “Don’t thank me. We aren’t friends and I have nothing to say to you. I get that you deserve a second chance, but that doesn’t mean that you get to have one with me. Stay away from me, Kyle. Come on Mythos, we’re running late.”
He nodded to the others and followed her down the hall. When they were away from them he stopped her and pulled her into him. “Are you alright, caria?”
She nodded against his chest. “Yes, I just…I don’t know. I’m actually feeling a bit off today yet. I think that I’m just tired and achy.”
“We will rest after the banquet if it suits you. We have a few hours before the rituals.” He brushed the hair out of her face. “I only need you to assist me with Reyana’s Bonding to the twins.”
She nodded. “If you think I can…my whole body aches today, Mythos. It shouldn’t should it?”
“Hmmm,” Mythos studied her closely as he rested his hand on her head, sensing her as he allowed his essence to flow through her. “I think you just need rest, caria. You have been under an intense amount of stress since your arrival here. In many ways it has brought good things to your life, but you have also had to question everything you have ever known and you have been placed in harm’s way more than once. It is catching up to you.” He kissed her softly, slowly deepening the kiss until he knew she relaxed, melting against him. “When we get back I will run you a bath and slowly massage all the tension away.”
She moaned softly against him. “You can’t say things like that and expect me to get through a banquet.”
He chuckled, “I promise we will take the time we need once the banquet is complete.”
She had been through so much. It broke his heart sometimes to even think about, but her strength and resiliency amazed him more every day. Once this banquet was done he would be sure to ease her tension both from her mind and body.
It was very possible she was progressing with the awakening but her essence was still not surging. He’d be concerned as some unawakened began to awaken without surges causing the essence to build in their system but he’d already had Kato assess her for Torporyion. He felt that her essence was flowing properly and they had all seen it surge. It appeared her awakening was simply progressing slowly in a way similar to how Reyana’s had occurred, but thankfully not as slowly as his sister’s had. They would just have to wait and see how things progressed.
Kyle rose slowly watching her go. He couldn’t blame her for how she felt and if she even had a clue that Alayne was reaching him she’d probably have him exiled. She’d be right to. He knew what the High Priest wanted and the price he’d pay for it. None of them should trust him. He couldn’t even trust himself. It was just a matter of time and he didn’t know how to prevent it.
Byryn squeezed his shoulder. “I know you don’t believe this right now, but she’ll come around. This shit with John is too fresh after yesterday and you’re tied to that for her. I’m not even sure she fully remembers that night after seeing it in your mind.”
He cringed, “If you saw that I have no idea why you of all people would give me a chance.”
With a shrug he just grumbled, “We have more in common than you think.”
Kyle turned to him but his gaze was focused down the hall on Felycia. “Is your sister ok? After yesterday I mean.”
He nodded. “She will be. Honestly she’s adjusting better than she has been since she got here.”
He watched as she spoke to Commander Grifyn quietly. Felycia’s past wasn’t exactly a secret. He knew Byryn never talked about it but there were members of the Brood that bragged about it like it was some great accomplishment. It was disgusting. What that girl had endured put that night with Steph to shame. If Felycia could heal, maybe she would too.
A tall menacing looking Fae cleared his throat pulling his attention. “I am Devyn a Devyion, Commander of the Fronts and Patryarch of the Lucerna Lines.”
He offered his hand and Kyle reluctantly clasped his arm. He’d heard stories of Devyn over the years. Some of his exploits could put a Shade to shame. He hunted and destroyed his enemies ruthlessly. There was probably something he was supposed to say but seriously, what could he?
Byryn smirked in amusement. “Devyn this Kyle a Cymeryn, my progeny.”
His head snapped unintentionally to Byryn. It was one thing for it to be true but technically only Cymeryn had made it known that he’d claimed him in that way and he’d never expected to hear the words from Byryn’s lips.
“Don’t be so surprised Kyle, I’m training you. I saved your life. I wouldn’t make such concessions if I wasn’t prepared to claim you.”
Devyn nodded in approval before focusing back in on Kyle. “You have been given a chance to start anew. Your awakening has cleansed you and Cymeryn is Claiming you, severing all ties to your past. Use this, Kyle. Do not take it for granted or you will answer to me.”
He swallowed hard, “Yes sir.”
Releasing his arm he continued. “At the same time the transition from human to Fae is often difficult and I would suppose the adjustment is even more difficult for those of you who grew up Shade. If ever you need, come speak with me and I will aid you as I am able.”
His brow arched at the offered but he bowed his head. “Thank you.”
They watched him walk away and Cymeryn’s essence washed over him. “Come Kyle. We must continue to the banquet. Are you alright?” The male asked studying him again with that shrewd knowing gaze.
He nodded trying to ignore the slithering feeling inside of him. He had a plan, a way to try to let Cymeryn see what was happening. Hopefully it would work. As Star walked passed him he studied her knowing what he’d have to do. If he was going to protect her, he needed to reveal her.
Star stood beside Byryn waiting as her parents, uncles, and best friend slash future Queen were announced. She could hear quiet murmurs coming from the other room. She wiped her hands on her skirting for what felt like the hundredth time
, glancing down to be sure she wasn’t leaving wet marks or wrinkling herself. Byryn suddenly pulled her against him kissing her slow and deep as he took her breath away. She looked up at him in surprise when he released her.
“You need to relax, brightness. You look perfect and in all honesty, their attention will be more on your parents and Mythos and Steph than on us. Besides,” he glanced grudgingly behind them, “if the Kings and Queens aren’t distracting enough I’m sure the fact that Devyn is escorting my sister will attract plenty of attention.”
She reached up and kissed him gently. “She seems happy with him, Byryn. She’s definitely nervous but she’s not used to all this attention either. Has he asked to make the declaration yet?”
“No, but he will,” Byryn grunted.
“Let them court,” she shrugged. “What harm can it do? Devyn will follow tradition and with the awakening passed they can’t mate without the betrothal accepted and the Bonding ceremony set up. It’s not any different than dating really.”
He huffed, “Yeah, except she’s staying in his quarters, in his bed.”
“True…” She didn’t really know what to say to that. “Just, give it time. She deserves this chance at happiness. Besides, if they’re bonding there’s nothing you can really do to stop it so why drive yourself crazy?”
A loud booming voice announced her uncle Mythos and Steph as they approached the door and Byryn looped her arm in his. When Mythos and Steph walked to their seats they stepped through the entrance, pausing as they were announced.
“Prince Byryn a Grifyn and the Princess Staryana a Marcus, Prince and Princess of Night,” Gastrion declared echoing through the dining hall. Star tried not to react but glanced casually to Marcus who winked at her and she couldn’t help but smile. He was claiming her as his own despite the fact that the ritual hadn’t occurred yet.
