by Jaime Marks
Byryn smiled as he watched her. She had grown so much in the last few weeks. A month ago she likely would’ve lost it. He kissed the side of her head softly. She was amazing. She wasn’t about to let Cymeryn off easy, but she would at least give him a chance.
Star hesitantly glanced over his Grandsire as she rose slowly walking a few steps from them. “Besides I…I think I need your help, Cymeryn.”
They both studied her cautiously. Cymeryn looked to Marcus and Byryn was pretty sure that they were communicating in some way through their minds. It was just something in the looks they exchanged.
“What is it, Staryana? I will help you in any way I can,” Cymeryn offered leaving the door open for her to talk.
She took a deep breath and looked to Byryn as he nodded in reassurance. “I can help you, Brightness, but you’re right. Cymeryn will be able to teach you much more in that respect. He’s made an art of it and he can defend against it better than any other.”
He saw that stubborn resolve he admired so much in her surge forth as she nodded. He leaned over and grabbed her hand, pulling her back to him. “You can do this, baby. I’m right here with you and I’m so proud of you for having the courage to tell them.”
She sank beside him and ran her hands roughly through her hair a moment before looking up to them. “When I was younger…Marcus, do you remember the nightmares I had?”
“I do. I used to sit with you until you could get back to sleep when I was able,” He replied.
She nodded, “There’s a Shade, he comes to me when I sleep. When I was young he used to show me images of these horrible things I did; violent, angry things. It used to scare the hell out of me, but when I got older they changed. They became…seductive. Then they became violent but…”
“It is alright, Staryana. I understand. I could sense Alayne’s influence in you earlier,” Cymeryn replied softly.
She nodded looking to the ground, “If I hadn’t let him overwhelm me, if I wasn’t so out of control, none of this would’ve happened. You wouldn’t have all been busy trying to save me from myself and Byryn and my Mother wouldn’t have been taken.”
She raised her hand as they all tried to tell her it wasn’t her fault. “I know ultimately it wasn’t my fault. I know that, but it doesn’t change the fact that if I had told someone, if I had asked for help, that it might’ve been prevented.” She looked up to Cymeryn and Byryn could sense the fear in her. “He terrifies me, Cymeryn. He makes afraid of myself. Can you help me learn how to fight back?”
Cymeryn grabbed her hand and gently pulled her up as he met her in the eye. “I will teach you, Staryana, but I need you to hear me, to hear us. No matter what he does, it is not your fault. We will never blame you for it, but I can only help you if you are honest with me. If you prefer Byryn there when we talk about this I am fine with that but it is not an easy thing to fight after so many years of conditioning. You must admit the hold he has on you and acknowledge the wrongs he does to you in order to be able to fight it. You must be able to relinquish the blame and guilt that I see in you in order to place the blame where it rightfully belongs. It will take time, child, but we will all protect you. You are my bonded daughter, Marcus’ bonded daughter and though you have not yet completed the rituals and such, it is clear you are Byryn’s bonded mate. None of us will ever allow harm to come to you, Staryana, if it is within our power but we need you to be honest with us and help us to help you.”
She looked to him and Byryn saw the tears beginning to brim in her eyes. She lunged forward wrapping her arms around Cymeryn as he stood shocked but slowly returned her embrace. Byryn nodded as he looked to him in confusion and Marcus rested his hand on his twin’s shoulder. Grifyn had been right. You didn’t always understand the reasons that people came into your life, but they were there for a reason and sometimes you just needed to accept it and give them a chance.
Mythos scooped some farion jelly onto a slice of bread and held it out to her. “Try this, Stephanie.”
She smiled mischievously at him and leaned forward eating the bread from his hand. The soft moan of enjoyment that escaped her as she delighted in the flavor of it was almost sexual. He inhaled deeply trying to restrain the need within him that surged forth. He wondered if she knew exactly the effect she had on him, how badly he wanted her.
The knock that he heard at the door shook him back to reality and he chastised himself for getting so lost to her. Setting the bread down on her plate he noticed the small smudge of jelly on the crest of her lip. He resisted the urge to lick it from her mouth but reached up and gently caressed it from her lip. Her passion surged at the sensation and she watched as he brought the jelly to his mouth sucking it off his thumb.
Stephanie’s eyes glowed brightly a moment as they stared at each other. “You should answer them,” she whispered softly and he smiled at the effort he saw it took for her to pull away and break their stare. “Ya know, before they break down the door or something.”
He cleared his throat. “Come.”
Kato entered first glancing between the two of them with an amused smirk. He knew it rarely took Mythos so long to answer the door, especially when there were issues that needed his attention. He took a seat in the arm chair he favored by the fire place and pulled Demytria into his lap still studying the two of them as Grifyn sat in the arm chair beside them with Trina.
“Marcus and Cymeryn would like to talk to us,” Grifyn offered. “They asked us to meet here. They should be along with Byryn and Star soon.”
“How are they both, Byryn and Staryana?” He inquired concerned for them and sensing Stephanie’s curiosity.
“Star woke up a while ago and came right for Byryn, she sensed him. She was much calmer once she realized he would be alright. He sustained some burns on his shoulder and arm but really aside from that and some minor bruising and cuts from his bindings he thankfully made it out safely. In truth he would have likely been awake before Star but the Healer gave him some medication that she said would help him to remain resting while he healed.”
“Good, I am glad your son was returned safely, Grifyn.” Mythos nodded.
Stephanie studied him in confusion and Mythos noticed a slight gold glow flash over her eyes. “You’re Byryn’s Father?”
“Yes, Steph, I Claimed Byryn as my own. I suppose it would be similar to what humans call an adoption, but it’s much stronger. The ceremonies create a binding of the blood as if he were mine by birth,” Grifyn explained offering her a small smile.
She nodded, “Thanks for explaining it.”
Mythos watched as he smiled warmly wondering if Kato had taken the opportunity to discuss her lineage with Grifyn yet. In a sense he supposed that she would be the male’s ward. “Anytime. It can be difficult to adjust to all the differences between Earth and our world. Never be afraid to ask,” he offered.
There was another knock at the door and Mythos replied promptly. “Come.”
He watched cautiously as Marcus and Cymeryn entered with Byryn and Staryana behind them. Byryn sat on the lounge besides Stephanie and pulled Staryana into his lap. It caused her to press lightly against him and he could not help the small amount of satisfaction that ran through him. She looked up to him in concern but he only smiled. Allowing his essence to reach out to her, he felt her ease. It felt right to have her so close and he watched as Star pulled her into a hug as they smiled to each other.
“Steph, we need to discuss some family business, would you mind waiting down in your quarters until we’ve finished?” Marcus requested from where he and Cymeryn stood by the fireplace.
“That will not be necessary, Marcus.” Mythos interjected not feeling near ready to be separated from her yet. “Stephanie is the blooded daughter of Ceryn a Cerulyion, she has as much right to be here as any.”
“Indeed,” Kato gave him an amused smile but simply clarified. “She is the blooded daughter born of the union of the dormant Fae Madelyna Grifyion and Ceryn a Cerulyion.”
“
Somehow, that does not surprise me at all. In fact it explains much,” Cymeryn smiled coyly, but everyfae else stared at her in amazement.
Grifyn seemed to fixate on the girl. A strain suddenly evident in his visage that had not been there before, but the Fae masked it quickly.
Marcus studied her, “I thought you had said the Cerulyions fell, Kato?”
“Unfortunately, they did. I do not have all the answers, Marcus, but I am certain. She is their blooded daughter. The essence of both lines runs through her strongly; especially the Cerulyion Line and her Light is the purest I have ever felt.” Kato explained. “As far as she is aware both her parents died in a car accident on Earth when she was six, but that was six cycles beyond the raids. I do not know if her memories are genuine.”
“Ceryn was alive thirteen human years ago,” Cymeryn offered with a shrug. “And he most certainly had a daughter who was roughly three cycles in age. What became of them after that or where her Mother was, I do not know.”
They all turned to him in question. “We had an…encounter. He was alive when I left him,” he added when they remained staring at him.
Demytria’s brow rose. “I don’t remember you having mentioned that, Cymeryn.”
“I did not tell you everything, Demytria. I had my own secrets,” he smirked. “There were things not even my favored progeny were privy to.”
Marcus studied him the shock evident on his face. “You spared him…and the child? You couldn’t bring yourself to harm them,” his voice was a whisper.
Cymeryn sighed and stared up at the ceiling. “If we sit here debating how much of a monster I was or was not we will be here for hours and not accomplish our intentions, Marcus.” He turned and met his eyes. “And I would prefer the information you deign from the privacy of my mind through our connection remain silent lest you wish me to begin sharing all your thoughts.”
“I…apologize, brother. It simply caught me off guard,” Marcus inclined his head.
Mythos watched Stephanie as she studied Cymeryn as if looking through him and a soft golden glow emerged on her skin as her eyes shone brighter than he had experienced all eve. She looked confused but began speaking softly. “We were hiding in a warehouse from the Shade that were outside in the woods. They were searching for someone, but he didn’t think it was us. He was your friend once and he trusted you despite what you became. He was sure you could be saved.” Her eyes swirled with gold essence as she spoke. Mythos sensed her, but she was lost in her mind somehow. Glancing up he found Cymeryn studying her shrewdly as she continued. “You threatened to turn him but he called you on the Light in your heart. He knew you loved her, but wouldn’t dare call you on it. She was the reason you turned. He challenged you to kill him, but you couldn’t. Instead you helped him escape, helped us, but you told him to never call on you. If your paths crossed again you would kill him. You would have no choice. The Shade do not protect, they destroy.”
She sat silently staring at him. The gold essence almost completely encompassed her eyes now. “Stephanie?” Mythos prompted but she did not respond. He was uncertain if she were even truly conscious.
Cymeryn walked around the table and reached out to her but Mythos grabbed his hand.
“Relax, Mythos, I will not harm her. She is lost within her mind. Sense her yourself. I only mean to help her.” Cymeryn met his eyes. “The memory she spoke was not her own. She was too young to have recalled it but it is what happened.”
Mythos spoke through gritted teeth unable to curb the venom from his voice. “If you harm her, Cymeryn…I will kill you.”
He studied him a moment with a knowing gaze. “I will not harm her, your majesty.”
Mythos released him almost more out of shock that he had shown him respect. Cymeryn knelt before her sliding the table back. He pulled up her eye lids, examining her and then released her speaking softly, “Steph, I know you can hear me. There is no chaos in you only confusion. Follow my voice. The memories you are in are the past. We will help you reason them out, but you need to come back to us, here, in the present.”
Mythos could see his essence flowing between them. He pulled back a moment in surprise and met Mythos’ gaze with an odd expression. “I believe, my lord, you should perhaps talk to her.”
Mythos’ brow rose a moment but he cleared his throat and spoke softly as he took her hand. “Stephanie, will you come back to me, please. I will help you through this, we all will.”
“Your essence, Mythos, use it to guide her. She will be drawn to it. She is not so much lost as confused. Her memories are contradicting and she cannot reason it out.”
He reached out reassuring her as he caressed her hand allowing his essence to flow through her as Cymeryn instructed. “Stephanie my dear, I know you are uncertain of us, of yourself, but we will help you find the truth.” He reached out and gently ran a hand through her hair. “We will find the truth of this, together.”
He felt her essence reaching out to him. It was a warm flutter along his skin, so untamed. She shifted suddenly. Her eyes were almost topaz once more and her lids fluttered as he felt her squeeze his hand. Cymeryn nodded to him as he rose and returned to Marcus’ side.
She shook her head slightly, “I...I’m sorry. I don’t really know where all that came from.”
“Are you alright, Steph?” Grifyn studied her with concern. He looked between them in confusion but graciously did not press the issue.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I just…I don’t know. Sometimes I see these flashes of things.” She shook her head, “There are things I shouldn’t be able to see but I catch glimpses of them. It’s how I recognized Marcus and knew I could trust Cymeryn even after the thing with Alayne. It’s just never been so strong.” She glanced up and met his eyes a moment but looked back to the floor.
Mythos squeezed her hand again. “If you would rather rest, Stephanie?”
She shook her head, “No, I’m fine. Really. I’d just rather not discuss it anymore right now.” She gave him an apologetic smile. “Besides, you guys really didn’t come together to discuss me. There are other things you need to deal with, so deal with them. I’m good, really.”
“If you’re certain, Steph,” Marcus began studying her cautiously. He looked to Staryana, but she simply shrugged. “There may be some information we discuss that you don’t understand.”
She nodded and relaxed beside Mythos, taking in everything around her. “Seriously Marcus, I’m good. If I wasn’t I’d say so. As long as we’re done with my past for now, I’ll be fine.”
Mythos let his essence flow over her to comfort her but in truth it was as much to reassure himself that she was alright. If it was Staryana or Byryn, perhaps even Reyana he would all but insist they go rest, but in truth he did not wish to be without her by his side. He needed to see her, to sense her, to assure himself she was alright and her presence had a calming effect on him. It was something he could not reason out in this moment, instead he looked up and met Marcus’ gaze and nodded for him to proceed.
Chapter 8
Marcus took a deep breath and looked to Cymeryn. When he nodded he met everyfae’s eyes in turn and began. “I know there have been too many secrets and I apologize for the harm it has caused between us, but in many respects I didn’t have all the answers I needed to address certain situations. Some of it I swear to you I didn’t even know until last eve.” He glanced to Cymeryn, “but we agree that the secrets can’t continue.”
Mythos watched them. They seemed completely in tune with one another; more so than even when they were close at the fronts. It was an odd thing to witness. Cymeryn had been their enemy for so long and Marcus had just really begun to fall back into rhythm with them. The ease at which they ebbed and flowed with one another was far more profound than Marcus had developed with any of them. For them both to be here, before them in this way, it was difficult to trust. If you had asked him only a day ago he would have been certain that the strongest risk to his sister would have been Cymeryn himself.
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Mythos studied them both cautiously. “How is Reyana, Marcus?”
“She is well, Mythos. Her injuries were minimal. She is with a Healer ensuring her health has been addressed,” he replied meeting his eyes as he took a deep breath. “Reyana is with young. We felt it would be best if she was seen to address the…unique issues that may arise with her pregnancy.”
“We?” he demanded. His irritation growing. Why ever would he feel Cymeryn should have a say in her health?
“My lord,” Cymeryn glanced to Marcus before meeting Mythos steadily in the eye, “Reyana carries twins…one of Light, and one of Night.”
His anger surged forth. “What exactly are the two of you telling me you have done to mine blooded sister?” he demanded the violent edge in his voice obvious.
“We love her, Mythos. I realize it doesn’t make sense, we didn’t even understand it ourselves, but we are both bound to her and she to us. It’s something that was preordained before she was even born, before we were,” Marcus pleaded with him, attempting to justify the matter.
It was Cymeryn who met his stare and spoke plainly. “Your sister is pregnant with both of our young, my lord.”
Mythos was on his feet in the work of a moment. Grifyn and Kato rose as their mates moved from their way. “How dare either of you? You, I am not in the least surprised.” He pointed to Cymeryn before turning to Marcus, “But you? How could you do this to her, harm her in this way? How could you allow him to with all he has done to her?”
