Protectors and Kings (Mists of the Fae Book 4)

by Jaime Marks

  “King Mythos a Mythion has been tasked with providing for the Lady Stephynia a Ceryn’s protection and needs until such time that her knowledge catches up to her essence and she is able to do so for herself.” Kato replied turning back to Grifyn. “The proclamations of Lucerna surpass even the rights of the blood.”

  Mythos let out the breath he had been holding and looked to Grifyn for his reaction. The Fae lowered his head in supplication. “Forgive me, my lord.” Some of the tension bled from him, but it was clear that things were far from well between them.

  “I would never fault you for caring for her, Grifyn. Despite how I may feel about your actions, I understand that they were well intended,” Mythos conceded.

  Stephynia remained silent as she studied him, but ultimately turned away. Mythos knew that it did not matter to her that he had apologized, it had only been because of the formal declaration. She still very much felt that he had betrayed her trust. Perhaps in time, as she better understood their customs, she would be able to forgive his insensitive behavior.

  “Marcus?” Mythos requested turning back to the Fae.

  “I do so witness.” Marcus bowed his head. “If there is anything you need Steph, please feel free to come to me. It doesn’t matter how small of a request I will always make the time.”

  “Thanks, Marcus.” She spoke quietly and turned back to him. “You didn’t have to do all that.”

  He took her hand and guided her gently back to the couch. “I did not do it because I had to Stephynia, nor because of some decree. I did it because I wanted to. It is important to me that you are comfortable here, that you have anything you may need. Never doubt how important you are to me, Caria.”

  She blushed slightly as her voice took on the softer tones he so enjoyed. “Thank you, Mythos. You’re too good to me. I don’t even know why you’re doing all this I mean you only just met me.”

  He wished he could remain at her side all eve, but time was already growing short. Unable to fight the urge any longer he leaned in and gently took her mouth, kissing her softly. He struggled to restrain himself in an attempt to refrain from crossing the line further than he already had.

  Forcing himself to pull back far too soon he kissed her head, their essence flowing freely between them. “Give it time, Caria, please? I promise in time all of this will make more sense to you,” he whispered resting his head gently against hers. When she nodded, he kissed her again more chastely. “If you need me Stephynia, will you send for me?”

  She grinned playfully a moment and he had to smile knowing her mind had taken a far more inappropriate course than he intended. He could feel her desire, her needs that they both knew were far beyond where they were able to go. After a moment she grew serious. “You have a Kingdom to run, Mythos. You can’t be at my beckon call. Besides, I’m more than capable of taking care of myself.”

  He took her hand staring into her eyes, those lovely topaz eyes. “I have no doubt that you are capable, Stephynia. I know how strong you are. Even when you question it, I do not. At the same time, I want you to know that I am ever here for you. I know well my duties and I cannot forsake them, but if you need me I will find the time to be here for you. Always.”

  “Mythos, I…” Her eyes glistened, but there was no despair in her. Her essence flowed through him and he could feel her love, knew the words that were caught in her throat. A declaration she was not yet ready to make.

  He kissed her again, unable to stop himself. “Shh, Stephynia, I know your heart. You are my Caria.” He embraced her a moment before forcing himself to rise. “I will see you Thursday.”

  She was in his arms so quickly that it took him off guard, but he held her to him. “I’m gonna miss you, Mythos.”

  “And I you, Caria.” He ran his hand through her hair. Kissing her once more he was well aware he was pushing his limits. Slowly she pulled away and he turned to Cymeryn before his resolve cracked. “I need to return to the Palace of Light. It is too late now to put off my meeting with Uricyn.”

  “As you wish my lord.” Cymeryn bowed and approached offering him his hand.

  He turned and met her gaze one last time, unable to look away from her. It was only the second time he had to leave her and it was taking everything he had to force himself to go. It had not even been a day, but it felt like it had been a lifetime that they were apart. As he misted from the realm he held onto that intense stare of hers. He loved her. Every part of him belonged to her and he knew she loved him. He had felt it. She just needed time to come to terms with this world and find her way in it. It did not matter how difficult it was, he would be sure she had what she needed.

  Chapter 23

  Byryn looked her over. At least she seemed far calmer than she had been when they got here. He had been surprised with the level of restraint that she had bothered to employ. Generally she would have just let rip and told every one of them where to go. He’d been afraid that was exactly what she was going to do. Instead she pretty much just told his Dad where to go. He shook his head.

  “I’m going to my quarters unless any of you have an issue with it.” She glared at Grifyn in challenge but he remained silent.

  “Would you like me to walk you Steph?” He offered.

  “No, Byryn, I’m good. It’s just across the hall anyway.” She shrugged, “Besides I kind of want some quiet for a while.”

  “Would you like me to bring by the materials you requested this eve, my lady?” Kato requested.

  “It can wait ‘til morning. I’m probably just going to sketch tonight.” She rose carefully holding her sketch book, chalks and the paper they had been wrapped in and Kato, Grifyn and Marcus bowed momentarily. She hesitated and met his eyes.

  Byryn had refrained purposefully, knowing she was already unsettled. He realized exactly why they bowed to her of course. Despite Mythos’ intentions, and the lack of a formal Declaration of Courting, they viewed his decrees as proof of just that. It would remain in house so to speak. No one else needed to know what was happening between them yet, but the entire family would now know.

  It was just as well, but they needed to lay off and stop adding more pressure on her. There was enough already. She moved to the door silently, but he hooked her arm as she passed him, preventing her escape.

  “You’re still joining us for dinner this eve, right sprite?”

  She glared up at him a moment but just sighed. “I don’t think so, Byryn. I’m just gonna snack and turn in.”

  He shook his head, “No way. First, you’re still in training and it just got more intensive by your own request. Second, Staryana will have a fit and you know it.”

  “As will Cymeryn,” Marcus smirked. “He won’t stand for you not taking proper care of yourself while under his tutelage, Steph.”

  She grit her teeth. “Fine. When’s dinner?”

  He smiled coyly as he released her. “I’ll find you. Probably in an hour but there are some things we need to address beforehand so it might be a little longer.”

  She nodded and walked out without another word.

  When the door was closed and he was sure that she had enough time to be out of ear shot, he turned to face his Father. “What the hell has gotten into you, Dad?”

  “I just want to protect her, Byryn.” He sighed as he went to sit on the lounge. “I guess in a respect I just made a mess of things, but it wasn’t my intention.”

  “You can’t push her like you’re doing. She’s just going to shut you out now.” Byryn shook his head crossing his arms. “She originally asked me to bring her here to try to make things right between the two of you. I have no idea what’s going on, but this isn’t like you.”

  Marcus walked over to the couch and sat. “Byryn’s right Grifyn, you’re not thinking clearly for some reason and before this situation escalates any further I think you had better discuss it with us.”

  Byryn watched him as he put his head in his hands. His Dad was stressed in a way that he’d never seen him. “It’s my
fault.” He shook his head and an air of guilt permeated through him.

  “What is your fault, Grifyn?” Kato requested. “Whatever it is that you are holding in your heart is causing great harm to your relationships. Do not carry it alone.”

  He nodded but didn’t look up from his hands to face them. “I knew that Madelyna was with young. Ceryn had told me only days before the raids that she was expecting any day. He did not want the announcement made public because Madelyna had been struggling with the pregnancy and he was worried that neither she nor the young would survive.”

  Byryn looked to Kato and Marcus. Their shock was evident. Neither had been aware that Ceryn and Madelyn had conceived before the discovery of Steph’s lineage.

  “Why ever did you not say anything, Grifyn? After the raids a full scale search should have been launched to find them,” Kato demanded. “We went to their home on Earth but had we known we would have looked further, searched the hospitals; exhausted all options before relenting.”

  He looked up to them a moment but his head rolled forward. “I went to their home myself. It was torn apart and there were signs of a struggle. I assumed Madelyna had been taken. We already knew that all the mates and young of the line who had been captured were killed. I never considered she may have gotten away or even that she was in the process of giving birth and out of their reach.” He shook his head again. “It’s my fault that she was lost to the human realm. She struggled on her own all those years. Had I followed through I may have found them. We could have protected her and she would never have had to grow up on her own.”

  Cymeryn had reappeared while he spoke. He watched him closely. “She was not on her own in the beginning, Grifyn. Ceryn was very protective of the girl when I encountered him and the love between them was fierce. Whatever occurred to bring them to that point, regardless of what her memories provide, they loved each other in such a way that he had most certainly been by her side since birth.”

  Kato came around and sat on the couch. “There is no way to know what occurred. It is very possible that you were not meant to find her then, Grifyn. Consider where she was, so close to Reyana and Star. It was inevitable that she would be found, it was only a matter of time. If you had been meant to find her at the time Lucerna most certainly would have revealed her to you.”

  “It’s also entirely possible Grifyn, that your error is what saved her life,” Marcus offered. “If the Kyndra had known she existed, I doubt they would’ve stopped until they had obtained her. They were quite thorough in their attacks. None of the young that were known survived, none. I went over the reports myself when I reclaimed my post. They were ruthless and the level of preparation and research they had put into the planning of it was intense. If she had been revealed they would not have relented until they obtained her.”

  “Their goal was indeed to wipe out all future generations of the Cerulyion Line, they would not have allowed her to live,” Cymeryn shook his head. “In truth, Grifyn, consider how many of us looked right over her last month. I do not believe she would have been found until she was meant to be.”

  Byryn met his Father’s eyes. “I was with her and never even saw it. I sensed her myself but when my first sensure missed anything of note I never gave it a second thought. I mean look at her? What about her doesn’t scream Fae? I sat next to her in two of my classes and missed it every day for two years, Dad and I was looking for it. It was my main reason to be in a human school. It allowed me to keep an eye on all the unawakened in the area at once. It’s obvious she wasn’t meant to be found any sooner.”

  “There will never be any way to know what the outcome would have been, Grifyn. You cannot allow it to tear you apart as thus.” Kato spoke frankly. “If you continue to push as you do, you are going to not only irreparably damage the relationship between you and the Lady Stephynia, but also between yourself and his majesty.”

  “He loves her Grifyn, can you not see that? That they have very obviously bound?” Cymeryn asked gently. “Can you not see the ease they bring one another with just a simple look? The pain in their eyes when they are apart?”

  “I, I know.” He breathed deeply. “I just don’t want there to be anyway for any to judge her harshly. I only wish to save her from the scrutiny and pain that we all know would befall her.”

  “In any regards, Grifyn, the King’s decrees have protected her from such allegations.” Marcus replied more sternly. “Provided they remain chaste in public which is easily enough ensured, you no longer have cause to question it. I will talk to Mythos when he returns about the issue with the seamstress and avoiding further risk, but I don’t believe there will be an issue.”

  He nodded. “I don’t even know where to begin to repair things with her.”

  Byryn sighed in exasperation. Steph was stubborn and defensive. Once her guard was up it was almost impossible to break through it. He was only able to do so because she felt in a way that his actions not only defended Staryana but avenged her. Even with that if he and Staryana weren’t together he doubted that there would be any chance they would be developing the relationship they were.

  “You need to give her space for now, Dad. I’m not saying avoid her, but show her that you’re going to respect her decisions and give her the room to make them.” He shook his head not even willing to think of how much of a pain in the ass this was going to be. “I’ll talk to her, but she needs to cool off first.”

  “Thank you, Byryn.” Grifyn forced a smile. “It’s good to see that the two of you are getting along at least.”

  Nodding he remained silent. The truth was, the closer he got to Steph the more his heart ached and filled with guilt for what he had done to Felycia. He cared about Steph, she was very much becoming family to him, but Felycia was his family by blood. He may have renounced his lines, but he still felt a need to reconnect with her in some way.

  Cymeryn turned studying him with that shrewd calculating gaze of his. Even as Fae the former Supryn was intensely intimidating at times. “Byryn, there is something you have been avoiding asking me, something that troubles you and Steph’s presence is causing it to fester within you.”

  He turned from the intense scrutiny and debated if now was even the time for such things. There was a raid in the morning. Staryana was on the verge of awakening. Steph hadn’t even adapted to this world in the slightest yet. The Queen was with young. There had been so many changes in the last two or three days that it seemed the world was spinning on its head…again.

  He could feel Marcus’ approach so it wasn’t really a surprise to feel the Praetor’s hand on his shoulder. “Byryn, you have taken on the full weight of this family, keeping its secrets when requested, protecting the Queen, Star and now Steph, and putting yourself in the line of fire to save it. You’ve become an integral part of our lives and are ever there for us. Allow us to return the favor. Let us help you. We all see there is a weight you carry.”

  “Son, I know what’s on your mind and the guilt it causes you. It’s been weighing heavily on you for some time. It’s time to deal with it, Byryn.” Grifyn’s voice was pained. It was clear he was trying to get him to see that it was his own guilt that had caused so much damage.

  He didn’t really want them to know what had occurred with Felycia. They already knew more than he wanted them to and in all reality Cymeryn likely knew more about it than Byryn thought. Trevyn and his sire had always been close and with the amount of rage that had consumed the Shade that eve, there was no way it hadn’t drawn Cymeryn’s attention. He wouldn’t be surprised to find that he had even witnessed a portion of the events.

  If Cymeryn knew, Marcus did as well. It was almost as if the two of them shared one mind anymore. It had only been a day, but they often finished one another’s thoughts and answered for each other. It was odd, but it was the new reality. If Grifyn, Marcus and Cymeryn knew what was the point of trying to hide it any longer? It was only a matter of time before Kato and Mythos discovered the truth.

  M
aybe it was better if they knew who he really was before he mated Staryana. If what they had told him about the bonding was true, she would know every horrible secret soon enough. What if she couldn’t accept it? What if the full details of his past destroyed the love they shared? Once the bonds were complete there was no turning back. She would be trapped in this relationship with him, knowing the monster he was. If he were a stronger Fae, a better man, he would walk away from her. He would save her from the pain he was about to cause her.

  His voice cracked, barely a whisper, “I don’t deserve her, and Steph, if she ever knew the truth of what I am…” He shook his head thinking of her face the night she had come to confront her attackers. The night she had meant to put an end to them all. “She’d never trust me, never allow me to get so close.”

  “Byryn, are you not the same Fae just this morn who told me to look forward?” Cymeryn approached stopping only a few inches from his face, forcing him to meet his eyes. “If there is something that has you so torn, something I have the means to help you face, then speak it.”

  He couldn’t help but swallow hard. It wasn’t the first time he had seen Cymeryn this demanding. It was a tactic he used when his patience had worn thin and the results were usually destructive. “I…”

  Cymeryn smirked as if he knew his mind. “Do not try my patience, boy. You know well my temperament.”

  He took half a step back but Marcus was still behind him. Their combined presence was overwhelming and he couldn’t break Cymeryn’s stare as he stepped into him. Logic deserted him and he was suddenly sucked into the boy he had once been, the boy who knew well the consequences of denying the Supryn, his Grandsire.

  “Tell me, Byryn, what is it that causes this weakness in you? I will not tolerate it. My patience wears thin with you, boy. Speak or feel the consequences of your defiance,” Cymeryn spat.

  He tried to find his strength, the anger and hatred that he once used to guard himself against what he now faced but it deserted him. Tears streamed down his face but he couldn’t stop them and Byryn broke in a way that he hadn’t done since his youth. The walls and reserves he had carefully built shattered around him.