by Jaime Marks
Marcus sat on the arm of the chair and lightly caressed her back despite the fact that she cringed at his touch. He couldn’t bear the pain she was in and there was nothing he could do to ease it. This whole forsaken situation was tearing him apart. He loved Star like his own young. She was of his blood now that he had Claimed her and he could sense the fear and pain that she was enduring. Luckily at this point it was more fear than pain, but he knew it was only a matter of time. It seemed better since Byryn had arrived, but not much, and he hoped the boy would be able to free her. Time was almost up.
He looked to his brother, his twin. Cymeryn was the other half of his soul. They were bonded in ways no Fae aside from Reyana could ever understand. She carried both of their young in her womb and had bonded to them both. The three of them all but shared a mind. His brother was a part of both Marcus and Reyana and without him they would never again be complete. The very idea of his death caused an emptiness in his soul. There had to be another way.
He stood, walked to the door, and opened it glancing into the sitting room. Kato stood awaiting his orders. They had held meeting after meeting to discuss strategies and find some way to ease the fear that had gripped the Kingdoms. There was nothing, no course of action they could reason out aside from allowing Cymeryn to follow their young. Grifyn had taken to quarters with Trina to tend to Kylion and Devyn was seeing to Felycia. Kato however had been standing sentry since they had retired to their quarters earlier, waiting to aid them in any way he could.
“High Councilman Kato, we’re leaving the realm. We must seek guidance in this and I do not know when we will return. Will you inform King Mythos?” Marcus stated glancing around at the other Guardians standing watch. Gavyn, Ryo, and Iyrus were on duty and at the ready. All were fond of Staryana and highly respected Byryn. Gavyn was even close to the boy’s brothers. They would lay their lives down if they thought they could free them, but there nothing any of the Fae themselves could manage.
Kato studied him shrewdly. “You mean to seek the Divine Being.” It wasn’t a question.
Marcus nodded. “It is the only other chance I can see. He may be able to afford us opportunities that we cannot see.”
“The Council is in place and Alysse is overseeing the Realm of Light. I will ensure that Mythos is aware and keeps things running in your stead. The Queen, my lord?” Kato raised a brow knowing that Marcus meant to go directly into battle should the option present itself.
“Will be protected by the highest order. Her father.”
Kato nodded as Marcus closed the door. Cymeryn studied him but Reyana merely looked off into space. He needed to get through to her. There was no other option.
“What are you up to, brother? You know we cannot reach the Divine Being until we rebalance our essences. We have already tried. Both Alysse and Shala have explained why we cannot reach the Divine.”
Marcus watched Reyana closely as he spoke. “That is why we are going to complete the bond.”
Her head snapped up as her eyes narrowed. “I told you, Marcus. I am not completing the bond until our young are home.”
He breathed deeply, bracing himself for the argument. It was not as if he didn’t agree with her, but this was necessary on so many levels. The energy building between them was intense and he was uncertain of its effect on the twins. Aside from that, he could see no other way.
He had allowed her to put this off as long as possible, hoping she would seek comfort in them so they would be able to progress out of her natural need and the desires brought on by the rituals. At every turn she avoided their touch, refused to seek comfort. It was clear she needed time. Unfortunately he could no longer put off what he knew needed to occur.
“That’s just it, Reyana. I don’t believe we can bring them home without the aid of your Father and we can’t reach your Father until the bond is complete. Even if Cymeryn goes there is very little chance he can succeed on his own. It took both of us to match Alayne, both of us. We all know Lazurys is far stronger, not to mention he may well have Alayne and Syneous at his side.”
She lowered her head in her hands. “It shouldn’t be like this. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.”
No it shouldn’t. His heart ached for her, for all of them, but she needed this perhaps as much as they did. They needed to feel that connection and comfort they found so easily in one another so that they could ease each other’s pain.
Cymeryn went to her and wrapped her in his arms as she sobbed. His brother just held her tightly. He sat silently staring at Marcus not disputing the truths they both knew. They were so broken, yet he knew Cymeryn would go to the Dark Lord’s realm regardless. He understood how they felt and why.
Cymeryn was dealing with not only the loss of the boy he had Claimed as his son, but also of Reyana and his unborn young. He did not expect to return. They both knew Lazurys would not risk attempting to turn him. He had already proven that the Dark Lord couldn’t control him. It was tearing him apart and he needed to snap him out of it.
“Enough, the both of you,” Marcus commanded and they both looked up at him in shock. “I, better than any, know how you are feeling. It echoes through my soul. I fear for them and ache for what is to come just as strongly, but you both need to wake up! They are not dead and I refuse to send mine twin to his grave. We need to finish this, seal the bond, and seek out the Divine Being, the three of us; and we need to do so before it is too late.”
He walked over without giving them a chance to respond and grabbed each them by the arm misting to the lake; Reyana and Cymeryn’s lake. It was the place the three of them were first together as one. It was the only place he could think of that would evoke enough of an emotional reaction that he could hopefully get them to give into the love and need he felt pulsing through the three of them.
Holding them closely he attempted to get them to hear him, “We need each other right now. For the sake of our young, all of our young…” He let his hand slide down to her womb. “We need to complete the bond.”
He kissed her deeply, forcing his tongue into her mouth. She resisted him a moment but he wasn’t about to let her go. He could feel her need churning within her. She needed to feel him, to give herself over to this, to them. Satisfaction coursed through his being as she slowly melted into him.
Cymeryn went to step back but he slid his arm around his waist holding him in place mainly out of shock. Then he released Reyana, using his body to turn her into his twin as he guided his face to hers. He flooded his twin’s mind with images of the three of them together. Cymeryn held back all of a second before his resistance snapped and he gave into his desire taking her mouth with a desperate passion.
Marcus breathed a sigh of relief as he tore the gown from Reyana, unwilling to give her time to think about what she was doing. They needed this. He kissed her neck and shoulders as he shed his clothing then spun her into him so Cymeryn could remove his. They were frantic, lost in the passion of the moment. They needed to feel something, anything but the pain they felt. He kissed her deeply pulling her body tight against him, causing her to moan as his sex pulsed against her.
He kissed his way down to her breasts sucking and nipping them hungrily before tasting his way down to her core. Cymeryn stepped behind her sliding his arm around her waist and pulling her mouth to his. Marcus knelt sliding one of her legs over his shoulder and delved his tongue into her core, lapping and sucking her sweet honey into his mouth. He needed her in him, needed to be in her. He worked her mercilessly with his lips, teeth and tongue; teasing her delicate folds, nipping and flicking at her clit, and diving into her honey until she cried out in ecstasy as the orgasm shook through her body.
Cymeryn ground against her as he massaged her breasts, pinching her nipples. Their kiss was driven by need and hunger. They were so starved for each other. Fighting the drive to complete the bond was exhausting and painful, but giving into it was like drowning in a well after a drought. It was all consuming.
He slid a hand down,
dipping his fingers into her core and pulled her slick dew back to her rosebud before driving two fingers into her. She groaned, bucking against his hand. When she screamed out her orgasm his cock twitched, dying to drive inside of her.
“Tell us Rey,” he demanded breathlessly. “Tell us what you need.”
“You. Now…” She gasped.
“How Reya? How do you want us?” Marcus groaned, now kissing his way up her body.
Cymeryn slid his thumb into her core as he drove a third finger into her ass, working hard as he drove her desire.
“Inside me…Now!” She demanded on a moan.
He removed his hand and they slid into her as one; Marcus in her core as he took her from behind. Cymeryn locked eyes with Marcus as he cut his neck with a dagger that Cymeryn had no idea he had on him. He pulled Reyana’s head down until she latched onto his neck and wrapped his arm around her head wrist up before slicing it open. Cymeryn held his gaze as he latched onto his arm, drinking his twin’s essence as he closed the circuit and strengthened the bonds between them all.
His thrusts became frenzied as he lost himself in their passion, their love. He felt the way she spasmed around him, the way her body trembled before she released Marcus and cried out. It drove him over and he groaned as he found his release. His body wasn’t near ready to be done. He hardened within her almost immediately and had to force himself to pull from her.
Marcus spun her around and Cymeryn kissed her hard, capturing her moan as he drove his throbbing cock deep into her core. He felt his twin thrust into her through the thin walls inside her. Marcus handed him the dagger and he cut his throat allowing her to drink as he offered his wrist to his twin, once again joining them as one. They drove her relentlessly until they all spilled over, still pumping into her. He carefully cut both sides of her throat and they latched on, drinking from her taking her until an intense pleasure he’d never know flowed through the three of them as their essences merged and balanced as one.
White Light erupted around them. Cymeryn could feel power and strength filling his being far greater than he ever had before. He could feel the bonds between them solidify.
Suddenly it felt as if he were floating and everything drifted away. When his vision cleared he was astonished to find he was fully robed standing amidst clouds and swirls of white Light with Marcus and Reyana looking as confused as he was.
Reyana looked around in a panic until she realized she was fully robed and took a deep breath. It didn’t matter that she was a grown woman with young or that her Father was omnipotent and omniscient. The last thing she wanted was to face him in the nude.
She stood patiently waiting with Marcus and Cymeryn standing on either side of her. Truthfully she was surprised that she was standing at all. Her legs were still trembling and she still felt lightheaded from the sheer ecstasy of their passion. It was always intense between them but it had never been that all-consuming and never so frenzied.
A glass of water appeared in front of her and a warmth spread through her as what she could only describe as pure, unconditional love enveloped them. The voice of the Divine Being emanated from all around them and drifted through their minds. “Drink Lunya. You must take care. You should not have taxed your body so by putting the bond off for so long.”
Reyana sighed taking the glass and began drinking as her mates dropped to their knees at her sides. She knew what her Father said was true but she couldn’t help what she felt.
“Arise Kings of Balance. I have heard your pleas. Your strengthened bond will afford you renewed power and further your abilities. It will also grant you access to all realms and domains of this world. The essence of Lunya flows strongly through both of you, my sons.”
She saw Cymeryn and Marcus exchange confused glances and couldn’t help but smirk as she shook her head. “You’re my mates, the Fathers of my young. Part of me exists in you and the Divine Being is your in-law now,” she shrugged taking another sip of water as shock and realization spread across their faces. “You may as well be Gods.”
A soft chuckle floated in the air. “I see you have never fully considered the implications, my sons, much as you enjoyed teasing young Byryn and Kyle for similar confusion. While it is true that all creation are my children, the Sacred Borne of Lunya hold a special place in my heart as you are all of my direct essence. As such, it is time I bestow upon you your bonding gifts.
“Lunya, my child, I open the doors to the power in your mind. It has always been there, hidden, but now you will be able to unlock your abilities. It will take time and practice, my child. You must have patience, but you will be ready when you need them.”
Reyana felt a warm glow flow through her and a clarity surged through her mind that she hadn’t felt in this lifetime.
“Marcus a Cymarcion, King of Light. I grant you the full power of the sun. You now have the ability illuminate the Darkest of the Darkness and bring luminance to the Darkest of souls.”
Reyana watch as a bright golden glow enshrouded Marcus seeping into him.
“Cymeryn a Cymarcion, King of Night. I grant you the full power of the moon. The ability to cloak anyone and anything in Night’s unlit shroud and grant the stealth of silence. The strength of your seals can protect you from even Lazurys’ detection.”
A deep blue almost blackened cloud swirled around Cymeryn seeping into his skin.
“Through your bond to Lunya you have both been granted the ability of deflection. It will protect you from the powers of others. It will not make you immune to Lazurys’ strength but it will grant you resistance. It will cause him to use and expend more of his power to act against you, making him more vulnerable to your attack. It will also keep you free of his will and influence.”
“Thank you for your graciousness, Divine Being,” Cymeryn and Marcus spoke as one.
“Do not thank me yet, my sons. Lazurys is poisoning Staryana and Byryn against you. Their own abilities through their bond have grown in addition to this. He has bonded them to him and granted them his strength. I do not yet know what the result of this will be. They have the ability to fight his thrall, but it is something they alone can do.”
They drew in harsh breaths and Reyana would have collapsed to her knees if they hadn’t caught her.
“All is not lost but time is of the essence. They have the power to break free of him if they fight to retain their free will and can gain some clarity of mind. It is possible that the bond to Kyle may have granted them such but they must still play to his whims in order to gain his trust. You will not know until you face them. You must exercise extreme caution and the pain of their freedom will be extreme, but they must be freed from his grasp. You will know what to do when the time comes.”
“Forgive me, but I must ask. Does Kyle still live?” Cymeryn choked.
“Indeed, my son. His reprieve is that Lazurys’ focus remains on ensuring his hold on Byryn and Staryana. He believes them to be the boy’s main weaknesses and is using them to cultivate the Darkness in him but it is not enough. Once he turns his attention to the boy, however, he will find another. Your son has found his mate, though he is in denial of the truth. She must be protected. If Lazurys obtains her, corrupts the bond between them before it is complete, Kyle will be lost. This must not happen. The bonds and blood link that the boy possesses would make him a liability to you all. Your trust in him was not misplaced, Cymeryn, he does belong to you in ways that have yet to be revealed and he holds a strength that has been previously overlooked. His importance should never be discounted, but he must not be used against the two of you or Byryn and his destiny must not be altered.”
“Do you believe it could be the girl from the ball?” Marcus inquired turning to Cymeryn.
He nodded. “The only possibility would be Astryn a Alyric. There were no other females that he came across and I watched them together. There was something more than a mere dance. The pain in his eyes when he turned from her, he did not wish to leave her. It was the only thing that gave hi
m pause in this course.
“Aside from that I believe she knows. She approached me in the corridor last eve with her concerns for Kyle. She was attempting to gather any information she could deign regarding his return. I believe there was something else she wished to tell me as well, something regarding that male that was bothering her, but her Father overheard us and intervened before I could really speak to her. They left this morn to return to the Realm of Light.”
“I will take my leave of you now so that you may strategize in peace. Remember to be of caution. Utilize the strength of those you trust. You have the ability to come and go as you wish but do not abuse the privilege. There will be times there is no aide I may offer and no answers I may give, but you are free to seek an audience whenever you feel the need. Always remember time does not stand still. Even as you stand here now there are things in motion, events occurring that will change the landscape of your world. Be safe, Lunya, my child. Be strong my sons.”
The presence of her Father receded leaving her feeling renewed, but still missing him. She knew he was always with her, but at times it was nice to just be enveloped in his love.
Turning to her mates with renewed vigor and determination she met them each in the eye. “So…How are we going to use all this to get back our young?”
Chapter 3
Steph cringed trying to absorb the pain that rolled through her body as she struggled to maintain focus through the Luxyndi Forms. It was getting worse and she had no idea what to make of it. Above and beyond that, she was going out of her mind, so this attempt at moving meditation was virtually futile. Between the pain and being pissed off that Lazurys had taken Star and now also had Byryn she was failing miserably at any and all attempts to clear her mind.
