by Jaime Marks
Gently caressing her cheek he kissed her head. “No, it’s not Astryn. Listen to me. I have to go. I don’t know what’s going to happen but it won’t be good. I want you to go to your Father and stay out of danger no matter what happens. Do you understand? Promise me you’ll stay safe.”
“What? But…Where are you going?”
“Shhh, I need you to hear me, Astryn,” he pleaded. “If you ever find yourself in trouble, if anyone ever hurts you, I want you to go to my Dad. I don’t care if it’s your Father trying to force suitors on you or Talerys threatening you, go to him and let him help you. Tell him it was the last thing I asked of you tonight and he’ll understand. Promise me you’ll do as I ask.”
“But…”
“There isn’t time, Astryn. Promise me,” he demanded more forcefully. He needed to know she’d be taken care of.
“Fine, I promise, but why are you leaving?”
He didn’t have a chance to answer. Darkness surged forth from the place where his sister stood and in an instant she was gone as Byryn’s scream echoed through the hall.
“NO!” Byryn screamed as he lunged forward trying to grab Staryana before she disappeared in a thick orb of Dark essence. He landed on his hands knees reaching out to nothing as his rage began to pulse through him in waves. This couldn’t be fucking happening.
All around him screams and arguments were breaking out but he couldn’t hear it. This was the worst possible outcome. If he could believe that Alayne had merely taken her he could cling to a hope that their bonds could save her until he reached her, but Alayne didn’t even have that kind of power. Only Lazurys could have pulled her to him like that. The Dark Lord had her and he would turn her to wield and use in whatever way he saw fit. He could already feel his power coursing through their bond feeding his rage, pumping hatred through his being.
Cymeryn, Marcus, and the others stood arguing about how to proceed, branching off to try to reach him at random, but he couldn’t hear them. He was trying to track her. He needed to know, to feel what she felt, to be with her until he lost her completely no matter how painful it would be. A pair of hands gripped him by the arms pulling him to his feet.
“Wake. The fuck. Up!” Kyle shook him. “I can’t do this without you, Byryn, goddamn it!”
“There’s nothing to do, Kyle. She’s gone. He has her.” Byryn shook his head in defeat. No one could fight a god.
“Goddamn it, Byryn. I know. I know Lazurys has her but I’m going to get her back and I need…so help me, but I need your help.” Kyle shook him again but he just stared at the spot where she had disappeared. “Oh fuck this.”
Byryn fell back after a hard crack to his jaw. He jumped to his feet and into Kyle’s face. “You bastard…”
“That’s right! I’m a bastard but I am damn well going to get my sister back so snap the fuck out of it and help me! I can’t track her without you!” Kyle spat his own rage surging through their link.
Cymeryn and Marcus studied them before speaking in unison. “You two need to stay here.”
That got his attention. “You don’t get to make that call. She’s my mate!”
Kyle stepped between them. “Father, Sire. I have the utmost respect for you both, but you damned well know there is nothing you can do. You can’t enter Lazurys’ realm unless he wants you to and the only way he’s gonna allow that is with every intention of killing you.”
“And how is it you think you will fare better, Kyle!” Cymeryn demanded. “How is it you think he will let you live after betraying and disowning your lines!”
“Because they already want to reclaim both me and Byryn. I’m to join my sister in the Dark Domain and bring Byryn with me. I felt the Command clearly just before Star disappeared. If I show up with Byryn and play it off that I had to gain your trust to get close, my betrayal will be overlooked as strategy and even if it’s not it will look like I obeyed the Dark Lord and accepted his rule. Besides Alayne won’t stand for my death. He has a purpose for each member of his line and it’s not my time yet. You know that. You saw my memories. I can use it Father,” Kyle insisted.
“What do you mean he wants me?” Byryn demanded.
“Alayne only wants Star, but Lazurys wants you both,” he explained. “He says you’re stronger together than you will ever be apart. She is the source of your Light and he believes that once he controls Star he can control you. Don’t ask me what the hell he wants with me but he was clear about his demand and he sure as hell doesn’t need me to get you there if he has Star.”
Byryn could imagine a few things the Dark Lord wanted him for. Kyle was strong, maybe even stronger than Alayne and now that they were blood bound that power he sensed in him would only grow. He had no idea that he was probably every bit as strong as his sister and that made him just as valuable to Lazurys. What he said made sense, especially if the Dark Lord had picked up on their bonds.
“How do I not know this, Kyle?” Cymeryn demanded. “How was this not revealed to me in your memories?”
“Just as you couldn’t see what was happening to us until you read it in my mind it was masked from you,” Kyle explained. “Lazurys has been pumping her full of his essence through Alayne for weeks. They only recently began to do so with me because of my betrayal. They hadn’t gained control of either of us, not completely, and I thought that the Claimings earlier had freed us but apparently I was wrong. Instead of targeting us both they left me go until they had her. She couldn’t warn us. They could prevent us from communicating it to you. I have no idea why I can talk about it now.” He looked away and turned to Byryn grabbing him by the arm. “You have to listen to me, Byryn. We have to try. I have no idea what Lazurys will do to her but I can damned well be sure of what Alayne will if he gets chance and we can’t leave her to that. If the Dark Lord doesn’t get what he wants he’ll toss her aside and you can damned sure be clear who will claim her. Are you with me?”
Byryn studied him in disbelief. It was a huge risk and really with their past he shouldn’t trust Kyle but with the bond between them growing he could feel it all clearly in him. He was telling him the truth and he’d lay down his life if it meant freeing his sister. “I’ll do anything to get her back.”
“Then you have to listen to me because if you go in there blind you will both lose yourselves and if Alayne has anything to do with it you’ll lose her forever. There isn’t much time so pay attention.” Kyle’s eyes bore into his and he nodded hardening his resolve. “All of that rage you keep pent up inside, Byryn, you need to let it surface. Use it. They need to believe you’re already shifting. If they don’t, they will force the shift and you won’t be able to resist. Lazurys will take you. This is what he wants and if you go to him, if you enter his realm of your own free will you won’t be able to deny him…but I believe even under the influence of his essence if you haven’t fully shifted you should be able to regain control. It’s how Star holds on and I’m guessing you’re built the same in some way.”
“We are,” Byryn considered his words letting all the walls inside him crumble. He pictured Kylion after Dracyn beat his son and again after he’d been abducted by John and the others. He pictured everything he’d seen in Staryana’s mind, everything Alayne had tormented her with for years. He saw what he’d had the Kyndra do to Reyana and what John had done to Steph. He let it fuel his rage and held it, wielding it like a weapon.
Cymeryn ground his teeth in frustration as he watched him sensing the shifts in him. “This is insane, Byryn. Neither of you have any idea what you are getting yourselves into. Lazurys’ pull is intensely strong. You may retain some control but it will take you years before you can manage to use it and the things he will make you do in the meantime will eat away at your soul. You cannot do this. We will find another way,” he reasoned attempting to change his mind.
“What other way brother?” Marcus spoke in quiet defeat. “How long can we wait before she succumbs? What horrors will she endure until then? If there is another way tell me
because since they took Tatyna we have discussed it at length and we haven’t found one. If they can get in and hold on, help her…”
His twin cut him off in frustration. “We will lose them all, Marcus, search my mind and tell me I am wrong! I have lived this hell. None of you can imagine! I know him. I know what he is capable of and I am telling you if Byryn surrenders to him and he already has Staryana we will never see them again! Even if we can manage to get them back if they are both lost it may be impossible to get through to them. They are Sacred Borne. This is not as simple as Redemption! He will find a way to make them give themselves willingly and that is a bond that is almost impossible to break.”
“We were able to bring you back, Cymeryn. We saved you, brother.”
“No! Reyana’s love saved me. Her…alive…our young saved me. Without our young it is likely I would still be Shade, be Dark, because I could never have foreseen a way for us to be together, for the three of us to bond. I may have been Gray but make no mistake I was still very much ruled by Lazurys’ influence. I told you even that eve that I had come for her. I meant to take her directly to him. Only our young broke through it. Only my ultimate desire to protect her and our young at all costs saved me. If you take away Staryana’s reason to fight or if he goes to Lazurys and joins her there I am telling you there will be no return from that. If Reyana had stayed, if she had not tried to save me in that safehold and left with you, do you really believe either of us would be here now? If the two of you had turned that eve instead of me, can you honestly tell me there would have been anything to bring any of us out of that abyss? Remember the feel of it, Marcus, and then amplify it by a thousand fold and that is what you are allowing them to enter.”
Marcus grimaced and shook his head. “He’s right. If we had all been turned there wouldn’t have been anything to bring us around.”
Reyana stood quietly shaking her head as her knees gave out. Cymeryn flashed to her side catching her before she hit the floor. “I can’t lose her. What kind of a life have I condemned her to? What kind of life am I condemning the twins to?”
“Shh Rey, I will find a way to fix this.” He met Byryn’s eyes. “This is not your battle Byryn, as much as you wish it to be. It has always been mine.”
Byryn ground his teeth the reality of the situation resonated through him in clear certainty and for the first time he understood. He knew with all clarity the truth of his lineage and birth. The power he had, the Darkness he knew he could harness, everything in his life had prepared him for this. Now he understood why the Divine had allowed him to suffer, because they knew what he’d have to face and there was no other way to prepare him.
For the first time in his life he didn’t question if he was worthy of her or his station. His past may be horrendous and he might have done despicable things, lived through horrors that he’d never wish on his worst enemy, but it had trained him, honed him into the Warrior he was and without it he didn’t think he’d make it through what was to come. He didn’t stand there trying to figure out if he had the power or how to get it, he already had it. He finally understood and it had never been more clear to him what he was meant to do.
His head lowered as he spoke. “No, Cymeryn. You’re taking this personally because of the mistakes of your past and because you feel like you should’ve been able to prevent this but you’re not seeing it clearly. This is what I was born for. I was created to save her. I grew up in this Darkness and I managed to not only survive and thrive in it but to overcome it even before Staryana entered my life. Her Light exists in my heart. It’s always been there and it always will be. She gave me her love and her power. Now I have to take it back to her. This is my destiny and it’s time I stop denying who and what I am. I am Sacred Borne. I am the son of a Shade and dormant Fae who was gifted the strength and power to not only love but protect her. I was born into Darkness to learn not only how to exist in it but also how to fight it and I’m the only one who has any hope of reaching her without losing myself completely. I’m the only one who can bring her back.”
There was nothing else to say and he knew the truth of his words had reached the twins. They were created to protect and love Reyana. It had always been that way even before they understood it. Everything that had happened to them in their lives prepared them for their place at her side. Even Cymeryn’s years as Shade played a part in grooming him for that role. They all knew if the situations were reversed both the twin’s would already be there with her and there would’ve been no debate.
He walked over to his Dad where he held Kylion and took him into his arms. “Hey, little one.”
“Daddy? Where’s Mama?” He looked up at him with teary eyes.
The boy had been through so much lately and he was still struggling. Byryn hated that he had to leave him like this but if there was any hope of reaching Staryana, of her not losing herself entirely, he had to go to her.
“She went to visit some of her family, spider monkey. I’m not going to lie to you, she didn’t want to go. I’m going to go bring your Mom home, Kylion, ok? But I have to go away for a while to get her.”
The boy nodded up at him, tears now streaming down his face. “Will you come back?”
“As soon as I can. I promise you, Kylion, neither of us want to be away from you any longer than necessary.” He wiped the tears from his cheek and embraced him tightly. “I need you to be good for your Grandpa Grifyn and Grandma Trina while I’m gone, alright?”
He nodded against him. “I love you, Daddy.”
Byryn’s heart almost broke as he hoarsely managed out the words, “I love you too, son.”
He handed him back to Grifyn whose eyes were filled with resignation and pain. “We’ll take good care of him. Be careful, son.” He pulled him into a strong embrace with Kylion cuddled tightly between them. “We’ll be here when you get back and you will be back, Byryn.”
He simply nodded to his Dad. They both knew the risks and that there was nothing left to say. “I love you Dad, Mom,” he choked pulling Trina in with them. After a long while he released them and turned to go to Kyle.
As he was walking forward a small frame slammed into his side and delicate arms tightened around him. Sobs shook her form. “Felycia,” he sighed hugging her tightly. He never thought that she’d grow to care for him. After what he’d done to her he never thought she’d be able to. He bit back his own tears and pulled her back so he could look at her. “It’ll be alright, Felycia.”
“I can’t lose you, Byryn,” she cried as her body shook and her fear permeated her essence. “There are things you don’t know. You don’t understand…”
“Listen to me, Felycia. You aren’t alone anymore. You will…”
“I’ve never been alone, Byryn. You’ve always been there taking care of me, making sure I was safe. I always knew but I couldn’t let myself forgive you.” She shook her head. “I’m so scared to lose you.”
He forced a smile for her. “Come on now, lil’ sis. You’re not that scared little girl anymore. Not to mention you made looking out for you pretty easy. You’re stronger than you think.” He brushed a strand of hair from her face and kissed her forehead as he slowly guided her towards Devyn, meeting his gaze. “You have so much more than me now, Felycia. You have Mom and Dad, the entirety of the Lucerna Lines, and Trycen and Wycelion to look out for you.” He sighed again, “And more than that you have, Devyn.”
Tears streamed her face. “I forgive you, Byryn. I love you, brother.”
The tears that he had barely restrained now flowed freely. He never thought she would ever say any of that to him. It freed him and gave him strength in a way that he desperately needed right now. He cleared his throat. “Thank you, Felycia.” He turned her to Devyn. “Kings of Balance, Lord Mythos. I have a decree.”
Mythos cleared his throat but his voice was hoarse with pain. “You may speak, Prince Byryn.”
“Devyn a Devyion, of the Lucerna Lines, I, Byryn a Grifyn of the Grifyion Line of Lucerna, Pr
ince of Night, do grant my permission upon such time that you request it to ask the Lady Felycia a Grifyn, my ward and blooded sister, for her bonded rights. I grant them fully to her to decide with her own will. You will have to win her heart, but should she grant them, you before all others have my blessing,” Byryn finished wiping his eyes.
Devyn placed his fist over his heart and bowed to him. “I will forever honor and cherish the Lady Felycia and will see to her safety and wellbeing always, whether she should choose to accept me…or not. In your absence she will ever be provided for.”
“Thank you. I accept your offer,” he nodded.
“I, Marcus a Cymarcion, King of Light do so witness these decrees,” the male who had become one of his closest friends, his mentor and now Fae in law choked out.
Mythos cleared his throat again. “The decrees are accepted, Prince Byryn, Lord Devyn and further the entirety of the Lucerna Lines are thus pledged to the welfare of your ward, your young, and your brothers. If there is a way to help you, Byryn, we will find it.”
Byryn nodded, unable to talk further, his face still wet with tears as he gently handed Felycia off to Devyn and watched as she all but collapsed into his arms. Steph jumped into his arms then and he held her briefly ‘til she pulled away.
“Hurry back, Byryn. I still need to kick your ass,” she teased but her tone was soft and tears shimmered in her eyes. “Bring her home and come back to us.”
He nodded and went to walk away but Cymeryn stepped into his path. “I understand why you are doing this, Byryn, and I know you are right, but I will not allow this indefinitely. You are the blood of my progeny, she is my bonded daughter, and Kyle is now my young.” He regarded them both, “You have two days. If you have not returned by then I am coming to get you myself.”
