Choices (Mists of the Fae Book 6)

by Jaime Marks

  Ever since the moment that she walked into the Queen’s sitting room to talk to Byryn she’d been taking risk after risk. She never intended on making a choice on her awakening, she figured she’d let Byryn decide even if that meant he’d awaken her because she really didn’t know what was safe and she couldn’t bear to be tied to someone new. Instead she chose Trina because it was the option she wanted. She chose to stay with Devyn, no one told her she had to. She chose to let him take her to the banquet and to allow him to court her. She chose to allow Grifyn to Claim her. She wasn’t sitting in her room staring at the walls and reading anymore. She was actually living her life.

  She’d blame it on the awakening, but the fact was it wouldn’t have mattered. She easily would have gone back to her room and stayed there. No, this had more to do with Devyn and Byryn. She glanced over at her brother who carried Kylion in his arms. He really wasn’t an ass, well unless he chose to be. Basically he just tried to take care of everyone else, like he tried to take care of her. She didn’t have all the answers and there was so much they needed to work through yet, but maybe someday she’d be able to move beyond their past, to trust him and make up for the secrets she was hiding from him. For the first time since the night of the attack, she sincerely hoped that she could.

  Chapter 21

  Byryn stood by the thrones with Kylion in his arms as they watched the Claimings. Cymeryn and Reyana were processing through Staryana’s. He knew his Grandsire was up to something but he didn’t know what. He’d sensed something in her and was taking extra precautions to protect her by moving up the Claimings. When he’d brought it up Cymeryn had dismissed it but he knew him well enough to read his actions. It was fine really, but he thought he was overreacting. His mate was fine.

  They were acting as if the Dark surges in her weren’t normal but they were the same thing he felt in himself, the same that every Shade experienced. They may be Sacred Borne but they were born Shade and Night essence still thrived in them. That was what was surfacing for the most part. She hadn’t shifted at all and yeah she needed to learn to harness and control her power better, but they had hardly had time to get into any of that. It would work out itself out once she had the opportunity to train. Really he just wished they’d stop worrying so much. They just needed to get through today.

  He watched as Staryana and Marcus joined wrists, aligning the cuts on their arms. Cymeryn stood behind her and slid his hands under Staryana’s arms so that his and Marcus’ hands were linked with her arms in between. A bright glow emanated from the three of them as Reyana continued the ceremony. White essence swirled around them and their hair and robes flew about as if they were caught up in the strong winds of a storm.

  He took a step forward sensing her pain and alarm but Cymeryn met his eyes and shook his head. What the hell were they doing? This wasn’t part of the ritual.

  His Dad’s hand clamped on his shoulder all but restraining him. “No Byryn, you must let this play out. Cymeryn didn’t wish to alarm you, but he sensed Lazurys’ essence in Star,” Grifyn explained quietly so that only he could hear him.

  “That’s not possible, Dad. I would have sensed it. We’re completely linked and connected. She wouldn’t be able to hide something like this from me.”

  “It’s masking and he only sensed it for a moment. He was hoping that he was wrong, but he’s not risking her. You know they care for her as their own. You have to trust them, Byryn.”

  He stood there watching helplessly wondering if they were right and if so how could he have missed it. Her pain was killing him but there was nothing he could do. All he wanted was to go to her and scoop her in his arms to reassure himself, but he was helpless to do anything but wait. If he interrupted the ritual it could bring questions against her, worse if they were right he had no idea what the consequences would be.

  He glanced at Kyle letting his essence flow through him but he wasn’t even sure he knew what was happening. He seemed to be studying the ritual, taking it all in and committing it to memory. It made sense. He’d never witnessed a Claiming before and ritual magic and essence manipulation were sort of his thing. He had been born a Priest. It was a strength in him that he despised but one Byryn meant to cultivate, tempered with a Warrior’s skill of course. There was no point in denying who he was, it would only hurt him in the long run.

  He wondered briefly if he was being attacked like Staryana but one of the three of them would have picked up on it, right? Did he know what was happening to his sister? Is that how Cymeryn had picked up on this? Once today was over with they’d have to have a long talk. He knew that Kyle didn’t trust him yet but with as strong as the connection between them was, they’d need to get passed that. Sooner or later he was going to know what Byryn had done to save him. He wouldn’t be able to block him forever. He doubted he was really succeeding now.

  Turning his attention back to Staryana he hoped that if she really was in danger Cymeryn and Marcus knew what they needed to do to save her. They were so close and had fought so hard. After tonight they would finally be able to breathe a little bit. They’d never fully be able to relax but she’d be free from the chains her Father’s blood had placed on her. They just had to make it that far.

  Star felt like she was being tossed around in the middle of a tornado as the power of the Divine coursed through her veins. Marcus held her eyes and Cymeryn held her steady but otherwise she was pretty much at the mercy of the elements.

  “Just a little…longer, Starshine,” Marcus reassured her.

  “It’s almost…integrated,” Cymeryn grunted.

  She nodded but couldn’t speak. She was still silenced. They knew, there was no other explanation. She could feel their combined essence cleansing and integrating the Darkness within her. The power didn’t diminish but it was becoming her own instead of controlling her. Not that she had the slightest idea of how to use it.

  A bright orb of Light flashed around them and the storm within her went silent. She felt peaceful and calm for the first time in days. She blinked up into Marcus’ gaze as Cymeryn released her and the wind around them calmed. “How did you know?” She whispered to them both, relieved she could even ask.

  “I sensed Lazurys in you briefly. I believe your brother revealed it and Alayne was not quick enough to hide it from me,” Cymeryn explained in her ear as he relaxed his hold, slowly ensuring she was steady. “It was your brother’s quick wit that exposed its depth to me however, but do not acknowledge him now, and speak not of it until his Claiming is done. I will explain further once the rituals are completed.”

  She nodded, “Thanks. I feel so much better.”

  Cymeryn squeezed her shoulder as he walked back around the altar to complete the ritual. She met Marcus’ eyes, feeling their joined essence flowing between them.

  He smiled warmly at her as he spoke, his voice echoing through the room, “I claim you, Staryana, as daughter of mine own blood and name you Staryana a Marcus of the Cymarcion Line of Lucerna.”

  A single tear ran down her cheek and she smiled. “Thank you, Father.”

  Her Mother reached over and touched each of their arms spreading a warm glow through them both. It was Light and love strengthening the bonds between them. When she removed her hands and motioned for them to do the same Star noticed their wounds had healed without even leaving a mark.

  She watched her Mom raise the chalice that held their blood in the air reciting an incantation in what Star now recognized as the Sacred Language of the Fae. Though she still couldn’t follow the meaning of the words she caught bits and pieces. She definitely wasn’t fluent but she intended on studying it until she was.

  Once the chalice glowed her Mom handed it to Marcus. He held it high above his head, his voice echoing through the hall. “Blood of my blood.”

  He took two deep gulps of the blood and handed it to her. She stared at it a moment. She and Byryn had shared essence before but this was a bit medieval for her. Taking a deep breath she met Byryn’s eyes cat
ching the smirk on his face as she felt his amusement. He knew the idea of this made her squeamish.

  Raising her voice to take on a regal intonation she didn’t think she had, she held the chalice up. “Blood of my blood.” She forced herself to take the two gulps of blood and surprisingly it tasted more like wine and flowed smoothly into her stomach.

  She handed the chalice to her Mom and relished in the warmth and Light that filled her heart and soul. She felt more complete in some way. Star went to kneel as she knew it was part of the ceremony but Marcus scooped her hand and turned her to face the crowd with him.

  “Royalty does not kneel at their own Claimings,” he whispered with a smirk before raising his voice. “I present, my daughter, Staryana a Marcus of the Cymarcion Lines of Lucerna, Princess of the Night throne of Balance.”

  She heard Cymeryn’s voice echo from behind, “You are acknowledged. Be seen and embrace in the eyes of the Divine.”

  Marcus drew her into a warm, gentle hug. “I love you, Starshine.”

  “I love you too, Dad.”

  A peace she’d never know settled in her heart. She knew almost immediately what the difference was. She couldn’t feel Syneous and Alayne. Tears streamed down her face. Was she finally free? God is this what it felt like to be free of the Shade?

  “Yes Princess, you are free. I only apologize that it took us so long to realize you were imprisoned in their hold,” Cymeryn’s voice echoed in her mind.

  “You can hear me?”

  “Yes, we both can. The ritual strengthened our bonds and we’re Sacred Borne. We should possess the ability to share our thoughts by choice, but right now you’re actually quite loud, Starshine. It should die out some after a while,” Marcus offered.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I wanted to. I tried so many times to tell Byryn but it was like wearing a gag or something, even in my head,” She explained.

  “God, baby, I’m so sorry. I should have known,” Byryn’s voice wrapped around her.

  “Lazurys himself was masking her,” Cymeryn offered. “None of us could have known. If Kyle had not been so quick witted this morn we still might not.

  “Come,” Marcus interjected. “Let’s leave this behind us. You still have to free and Claim Kyle.”

  Their thoughts faded from her mind and she joined her mate by the thrones kissing Kylion gently on the head. The boy was still very traumatized though he offered her a smile. He was generally bright and mature for his age but he seemed to have reverted. He was even sucking his thumb while Byryn held him, but neither of them corrected him. He needed the comfort right now.

  A specialist was coming from the Realm of Light to attend to him. She had been a therapist of some form prior to her awakening and was trying to establish a practice to assist Fae in dealing with the trauma they endured at the hands of the Shade. Star fully intended to help her do just that and perhaps even start a new educational program and training. Too many suffered the invisible scars of their experiences, especially these kids.

  Kyle shifted nervously. Cymeryn had explained the ritual to him and he was ready, but Syneous, or the sperm donor as Kyle had always referred to him when no one could punish him for it, was calling for him. Icy slivers of pain were shooting through his veins. It was getting worse.

  It was a good thing Star had gone first because he wasn’t tracking as well as he needed to. At least he’d seen the ritual run through once so he had something to follow but it took all of his focus just to walk up to the altar. He wasn’t sure if he’d be able to get through this. It was clear they weren’t gonna let him go without a fight.

  Another wave of pain raced through him and he heard Queen Reyana addressed him. Her words seemed to echo from a distance though she stood just on the other side of the altar. “Are you prepared to make offering of thine own blood?”

  It took a few seconds for the words to register. He forced out the response through caged teeth. Why they hadn’t been able to stop him from saying it he had no idea but they’d tried. It was painful to even think them but he was putting everything he had into speaking them at the moment. “I am your majesty.”

  Both Cymeryn and Marcus looked to him with concern but he couldn’t tell them what was happening. He tried, but the words weren’t coming. He thought Cymeryn knew but he had no way to know if he’d actually heard the ramblings in his mind or not. All he could do was hope that the reason Syneous and Alayne were fighting him so hard was because this would break their bonds.

  He vaguely felt the cuts being made in his arms, surprised that he’d even managed to raise them. Tremors ran through him while he stood there struggling to continue as he watched the blood begin to spill into the chalice. It pooled in the cup and began to glow. Suddenly he felt the tension in him ease slightly as a warm essence flowed through his arms and he sighed unintentionally in relief, trying to focus back in on the ceremony.

  He watched as the Queen cut Cymeryn’s wrists and his blood flowed over them into a glass chalice, filling it before she raised it to the sky chanting in the ancient language of the Fae. It was almost identical to the language that Alayne used in his rituals so he followed it pretty easily. When it began to glow she mixed some of the blood she’d collected from him into it with her fingers before spreading the mixed essence onto each of their wounds.

  When she spoke her words were much clearer than before. “Cymeryn a Cymarcion claim him as your son in the eyes of the Divine.”

  Kyle tried to turn to Cymeryn but a rippling pain shot through his being. How he was even standing he didn’t know, but he suddenly couldn’t function. He knew he had to move but his body wouldn’t respond. He felt a presence beside him, Marcus. He’d come around the altar and stood just aside of him.

  His voice was low and quiet next to his ear. “Do you still want this son? I can see you struggling. It must not be forced, but I get the sense you’re not making the choice to abstain. If you want to continue I need to hear it.”

  It took every ounce of strength he had to force the words out and they were barely even a whisper, “Please…I want…to do this…I…can’t…”

  Marcus nodded, physically turning him to face Cymeryn as he lifted his arms with his own. Cymeryn smiled apologetically a moment before joining hands with Marcus around his wrists and a sharp pain assaulted him momentarily as a bright, white essence overtook his body, jolting him. It was like being tossed about a wind tunnel as air churned around them but they held him steady even supporting his weight when it was needed. When the pain receded all he could feel was peace and love, even if he still couldn’t seem to breathe. It felt like it had right when he’d come out of the awakening, before Syneous had begun pumping him full of more Dark essence. A final bright flash erupted around them and he could breathe freely again. Marcus pulled away and patted him on the back before rejoining Reyana on the other side of the altar.

  Cymeryn met his eyes as he spoke to him with sincerity and a touch of respect in his tone, “I claim you, Kyle, as son of mine own blood and name you Kyle a Cymeryn of the Cymarcion Line of Lucerna.”

  “Thank you…Father,” Kyle choked on the words this time, not because they were forced, but because he was so greatly moved. He had to fight to keep the tears that he knew were glistening in his eyes from rolling down his cheeks. Not only had Cymeryn, Marcus, and Byryn awakened him and saved his life, but Cymeryn had Claimed him as his own, and he and Marcus had freed him completely from Alayne and Syneous’ hold. That was a debt he could never repay. It was also one that he knew they didn’t want him to. It moved him in ways he could never express.

  Queen Reyana touched their arms and a warm, tingly glow spread over them both before they turned and accepted the glowing chalice. He watched Cymeryn drink and recite the decree before passing it to him. He followed the actions allowing his voice to raise in reverence as he called out, “Blood of my blood.” Then he took two deep gulps before handing the chalice back to the Queen.

  After the glow engulfed them Cymeryn
took him by the hand, turning him to face the Fae and unawakened gathered in attendance. “I present my son, Kyle a Cymeryn of the Cymarcion Lines of Lucerna, Prince of the Night Throne of Balance.”

  His head shot up to meet Cymeryn’s proud and amused gaze as everyone in the room kneeling vaguely registered in his periphery. His new Father chuckled as he raised a brow. “What other title did you believe you would hold, Kyle?” He requested quietly. “Your sister is the Princess. All three of your sires are royalty; I, myself being King.”

  “I-I guess I just didn’t consider,” he stammered. “I need to thank you and Marcus, Cym...Father. I feel like I keep having to thank you.”

  “It is I who should thank you, son, for many reasons. I would never have even known the difficulty and danger both you and your sister were facing had you not been so intelligent as to find a way around their blocks,” Cymeryn responded before wrapping him in a warm, strong embrace.

  It felt right in so many ways. He only wished his Mother could be here to share in his joy. He never really thought he would even have a home or a true family again. He never thought he’d ever have a future that was his own. He didn’t know what he’d done to deserve this blessing but he’d be damned if he didn’t fight with everything he had to protect it.

  Byryn smirked, “I think your brother almost fell over when Cymeryn proclaimed him a Prince.”

  Staryana giggled, “Yeah, somehow I don’t think he connected the dots on his new status.”

  “No, don’t think he did.” Byryn studied him. Kyle had been fighting extremely hard against the control his Father had over him and the restraint he’d shown and pain tolerance he’d exhibited was impressive. He might have been considered physically weak but Byryn noted that Fae had a strength of mind few possessed. “I told Cymeryn I’d mentor him.” He met her eyes. “It’s more than just training. We’ll be spending a lot of time together while I guide him into all this.”