by Jaime Marks
“Are you still in pain, caria?” He asked leaning down to kiss her head.
“I’m achy, but compared to before this is nothing.” She moved so that she was straddling him and he had to bite back his desire as she settled against his chest. “I’m sorry.”
“Whatever for?” Mythos caressed her back enjoying the feel of her being this close. He would give anything to soothe her.
“I caused so much trouble and there really isn’t anyway to hide it now. I know how much shit John is going to stir up.” She shook her head in frustration.
He huffed, “If he means to stir up trouble I will not allow him to stay, Stephynia. After what I saw in your mind and what occurred upon his arrival I plan on making it very difficult for him to breathe, let alone cause issue.”
“How is he even here in the first place? I don’t understand.”
Essence surged through her and he drew it out, balancing her as best as he was able. She was still volatile and unstable. “Shh, caria. I will explain it all later. Right now you need rest, love. The entire incident has drained you and your essence has yet to completely stabilize. Rest so that if the awakening comes you are better able to endure it.”
“Does it hurt?” She whispered sounding so uncertain. She still knew so little of who she was.
He tried to figure out how to explain something he had never felt. When a full blooded Fae awakened to their body of Light it was a far easier transition. If it was assisted there was little to no pain at all and even unassisted it was still nothing compared to what he had seen both Reyana and Byryn endure. What he had experienced in his own awakening had been more of a spiritual, metaphysical growth, the Fae physical form already having existed since his birth. For a human, awakening to Fae was a powerful physical and metaphysical change that altered their form and being. The sharing of essence seemed to keep some of that pain from overwhelming them, but only if it was balanced. If it was balanced it could actually end up being a very intimate and pleasurable experience.
“It can, and at first it will, but once the energy balances between us it will not be so bad.” He ran his fingers lightly through her hair. “That is, if it is your wish that I awaken you.”
“You’re the only one I would want, Mythos.”
Her words soothed his fears that she would pull away again, denying him such privilege. There was nothing he wanted more than to share that bond with her. He wanted to tell her he would take her during her awakening, that he would make her his, but he was uncertain if she was ready to hear such things just yet. Even the idea of their mating as she awakened stirred his desire and he felt his sex kick between them. He cursed himself silently, the last thing he wanted was to make her uncomfortable.
Her essence caressed along his skin as she ran her hand over his chest. Her voice was a seductive whisper as she spoke, “What are you thinking about, Mythos?”
He cleared his throat trying to compose himself, “Your awakening.”
“Hmmm, and what about my awakening would provoke that reaction in you, my king?” She murmured kissing his chest.
He swallowed hard, fighting the desire to show her exactly what had been on his mind. “The awakening is a very…intimate interaction for those betrothed.”
She looked up to him, her topaz eyes sparkling with gold flecks. “Am I awakening now?”
The low growl of his voice gave him pause, he had to rein himself in. “I am not certain yet, caria. The ancestral essence is still flowing strongly within you but I do not know that this is your awakening.”
She rose up and he met her half way sensing her desire. Light flowed over them as their lips met. The soft caress of her kiss drove his hunger and he rolled her onto her back, his body pressing into hers. Her hands travelled the planes of his chest, her nails lightly grazing his skin. He groaned into the kiss, the need to take her so strong it nearly broke him. Essence pulsed through them and he kept it balanced but it was not enough for him to let this continue. The Light was ebbing off, not increasing.
He forced himself to pull back, his head resting against hers. “We should stop, caria. I do not know that you are awakening and I will not risk dishonoring you or our love.”
Struggling to catch her breath she sighed. “I know, I just need to feel this close to you right now.”
He smiled down at her and rolled onto his side cradling her to him. “I will gladly keep you this close caria, but we must wait.”
“I’d wait my entire life if it meant that I get to spend it with you,” she whispered and kissing him again. “I feel whole when I’m with you, Mythos. I feel safe.”
He brushed the hair from her eyes. “I love you, Stephynia. I am yours for as long as you will have me. There is something that I must tell you, however. I can only hope that it does not upset you.”
“What is it?” She studied him closely, “I doubt there’s anything that you could do that would upset me.”
He drew a breathe hoping that at least in this instance that were true. “When I could not reach you, I knew that I would have to get close to you to break through that protection of yours to do so but we were on the plateau and there were so many there to witness our interactions. I made the declaration, Stephynia. I know how you feel about others making your choices for you, and I am sorry. I had to reach you but there was no way to hide what happened between us.”
She looked into his eyes and he could feel her essence wash over them. “How did Grifyn take it?”
Mythos raised a brow that she was even interested in Grifyn’s opinion after their recent disagreements, but then she was amazing in that way. He had seen firsthand her propensity for love and forgiveness, even if she fought against it. She held her walls in place always, but behind them was her love.
“Actually, caria, he asked me if I was certain because he was concerned with what you would feel about it. He reminded me that you had just said last eve that you were not yet ready. He does care for you a great deal, even if he goes about it the wrong way at times. The declaration was accepted and witnessed, Stephynia.”
She stared at him quietly but did not pull away. After a while she reached up caressing his cheek. “I love you, Mythos. It’s way too fast and I’m probably crazy but I do.”
“I love you too, Stephynia,” he murmured in relief.
“It’s ok, I understand the reasons.”
“I am glad you understand, but I am still sorry that I went against your wishes.”
“Then ask me now. Anything you want of me, ask, and I’ll tell you where my heart’s at.”
He smiled coyly at her, “Stephynia, I would very much like to court you; to show you how much you mean to me and I do not wish to hide it. I want everyfae to know that you own my heart and that you are mine and only mine. Will you allow me to do so?”
She leaned over and kissed him softly as she breathed out enticingly, “Yes.”
He pulled her closer. “I wish to awaken you; to share that closeness, that bond with you so I can seal all those doubts you allow to fill your mind. Will you allow me that right?”
She kissed him deeply, their bodies entwining as she pulled him to her. “Yes.”
He groaned in pleasure as her body pressed against his, “You have no idea what you do to me, caria, how badly I want to take you as my own.”
She gasped as he pressed his length into her and rolled her onto her back. Kissing her with a hunger he could not sate, he trailed over her neck and she moaned as her body arched. A low growl escaped his throat as his hunger for her grew. He knew he had to stop this, his control was slipping and he wanted nothing more than to give into this almost animalist drive that ruled him.
Her hands came between them and she panted trying to catch her breath as she struggled for her own composure. “I might have a clue.” She shook her head, “The things you make me feel, I’ve never felt anything like it before. I love you, Mythos.”
He could not help the seductive smile that spread across his lips knowing that he
affected her every bit as much as she affected him. “Is that so, Stephynia?” His hand trailed down her side and he pulled her into him. The moan that escaped her lips was an incredible enticement. “I cannot wait until I can drive that desire of yours ever higher,” he whispered forcing himself to pull away from her.
He turned her back to him and wrapped his arms around her. “Now try to rest my beautiful caria. I can sense your exhaustion. I will be here when you wake, if not by your side, here in the Palace. You should be able to reach me easily now after the time we spent together in your mind.”
“Mmhmm, I can sense you clearly, but I’ve been able to sense you like this since the moment I met you.” She caressed his arms holding them around her waist. “I do know how to reach you though,” she yawned out. It was cute and endearing.
“Good.” He hesitated a moment, “Are you sure you are alright with all this, Stephynia? I feel like I am rushing you and that is something I promised you I would never do.”
She turned back to him, “Mythos, you know everything that held me back before, every hesitation, every secret…” She paused, “Actually, there is one more thing you should know.”
“What is it? You can tell me anything, Stephynia. It will not change how I feel.” He searched her eyes wanting nothing more than to soothe whatever concern or fear still plagued her.
“John and Kyle have a friend named Matt. He was…he was there the night they…” She drew a deep breath and he almost wanted to stop her and tell her that he already knew. This was something he realized she had to do, however, and he had to let her work through it until she forced out the words, “…raped me.”
He stroked her hair as her eyes squeezed shut trying to ease her in some way. He was unsure if she had ever actually admitted what they had done to her out loud since the eve it had occurred. Pain and anguish laced through her a moment but she reined it in and the surge of essence that ran through her was only a short pulse. She was gaining control of it.
“Matt took an interest in Star the first day he saw her. I kept them from talking for a while, but I wasn’t by her side all the time. They ended up dating, but Reyn, um, I mean Reyana. She was always pretty strict about where she went, what time she had to be home and that. Star never went against it so I doubt anything ever happened. He tried to pressure her into going to one of their parties though, and she actually thought about sneaking out to see him.” She trailed off a moment looking around his room. When she turned back to him there were tears glistening in her eyes and he held her tightly as she talked. “I should have told her. I just couldn’t bring myself to even say it, but I also wasn’t about to sit back and let them do to her what they did to me. I went to that party that night. My Dad had left a gun in the study at my Grandmother’s, or at least that’s where she said it came from, now I’m not really sure…Everything in that study is mine anyway, so I took the gun and I went to Matt’s house. That’s where the parties always were because his house was so big. No one knew where they were so I checked upstairs first, thinking that…”
She hesitated again but did not look away. A single tear rolled down her cheek and he kissed it away in reassurance. “I looked out the window and saw they were all outback talking to Byryn. At first I thought he might have been one of them, but by the time I made it to the yard he was already beating the shit out of them. I was going to kill them, Mythos. There weren’t any second thoughts or doubts as to whether or not I could do it. They haunted my dreams every night and I wasn’t about to let them hurt Star like that. When Byryn met my eyes though, I don’t know, it was like he saw right through me. I knew he knew and I knew he was there for the same reason I was. When I moved to come closer he shook his head at me so I just stayed there watching him. He destroyed them. Five of them were taken to the hospital. Most of them had broken bones. John and Kyle took the worst of it, though. I actually thought he killed them. When I left I think Byryn even followed me home, but he never said anything about.” She took a deep breathe. “If Byryn wasn’t there I would have killed them. Not just that night either, but earlier when I saw them.”
He kissed her softly. “It is alright, Stephynia. Staryana was in danger and you wanted to protect her. If it had only been vengeance you desired than you would have taken it. You have had multiple opportunities if that was your wish, and Byryn’s presence would not have deterred you. The only reason it gave you pause was because you knew that he would protect, Staryana. It is in your blood. You were born of the race’s finest warriors. The entirety of your line were warriors whose sole focus was the protection of our race, especially the Lucerna Lines.”
“But this morning…”
He rested a finger against her lips. “This morn, your abilities went into overdrive. Your ancestral knowledge and this strength you have been gifted are there to protect you. You have not yet learnt to control your abilities and you felt threatened, caria. You were caught off guard and your instincts took over. It was not your fault. Measures should have been taken to prepare you and ensure you were safe.”
“Don’t blame them, there was some sort of emergency. I think Cymeryn was wounded in the raid. Besides it’s not like anyone aside from Byryn would have known anyway and from what I saw he was about ready to beat the hell out of Kyle for just looking at me.”
“You need not worry. I understand what occurred. I simply mean to ensure there are no more issues.” He kissed her head and chuckled, “Your eyes are closing, my love. No more talk for now, just rest.”
He held her in his arms and stroked her hair as he watched her drift slowly to sleep. As much as he hated what she had been through this morn and despised the fact that those boys were even here, close enough to reach her, he could not deny that it had broken the barriers between them. Being this close to her, knowing the truth of her heart and having her know the truth of his, it was incredible. She was the most precious gift and he would protect her with all that he had.
Marcus lay Reyana on the bed in Cymeryn’s arms, though he caught the slight grimace that crossed her features. He knew she was cross at his twin but that would have to wait. They both needed tending to and this was the best way. Perhaps the closeness would serve to soothe her anger some.
He clasped both of Cymeryn’s hands cradling her between them and white Light spread over the three of them. It was so much stronger, so soothing when all three of them were together. She eased against him but did not look to Cymeryn. He smirked when he realized she was discreetly sensing him through the energy that permeated them. She might be angry, but she still needed to make sure her mate was safe and well.
“Rey, will you look at me, please love?” Cymeryn whispered.
Marcus met his gaze when she did not respond. The pain in his eyes was immense. After coming so close to death, he needed more than anything to feel her touch, to hold her in his arms, and she had denied him that luxury.
“Reya…” He could tell by the look in her eyes when she met his gaze that his tone had conveyed everything he needed to but she wouldn’t let this go. This had wounded her in some way and it was something only Cymeryn could fix. It had opened some hidden fear in her heart that he needed to address and ease for her before things would be right once more.
He sensed Cymeryn, the pain in him was ebbing, the internal wounds reknitting once more. When they had misted to the plateau before he could be fully healed the injury had torn open and there was also the damage he had done first by restraining Steph and then by supporting Reyana as he had. In truth, if not for Kato’s assistance he would have collapsed at one point. Then again, if not for Kato and the others he might not have made it back alive. They would deal with that, but not until they were alone and able to prevent upsetting Reyana further.
“I will allow you your space at the moment, Reyana, but we will deal with this distance between us.” It was hard to tell what pain was tearing his twin apart more at the moment, his wounds, or the anger and distance he felt in their mate.
She moved
closer to Marcus, curling up against his chest and Cymeryn cursed under his breath. He offered his brother an apologetic look, but decided it was best not to speak, out loud anyway.
He reached across their link as twins. “Give her time, Cymeryn. You have no idea the fear that shot through her when we felt your pain. She loves you. She is just protecting her heart at the moment.”
“Therein lies the issue, my brother. She is protecting her heart from me. Something I swore I would never give her reason for again. It hurts in ways more than any wound I have ever bore.”
Marcus grimaced thinking back to some of the damage he had seen inflicted upon his brother in his memories. It was not something he liked to think about. Nothing could have prevented it really, and they all had memories that were best left in the past, but it was still a difficult truth to bear.
Instead he turned his attention back to the present. “You know her stubborn will. She won’t simply let it go. You’ll need to somehow make it right, but for now, you simply need to heal. I’m not entirely pleased with you at the moment either. You should have called me to you if things were that out of control.”
“They were fine, Marcus. It was simply the same risk all of us take whenever we enter the battlefield. It could not have been prevented or helped. Michael misted in behind me as I took Crytos down. Speaking of, is he secured, and those boys? I believe Wycelion is bound to the girl Perylia and will put the safety this realm so obviously provides for her first, but the other two…there is something off. It was almost as if we were meant to succeed.”
“How so? You were mortally wounded. Grifyn sustained some wounds. What about that says meant to succeed?” Marcus scoffed. “Though I wouldn’t trust those boys in the least after what occurred on the plateau and the way Byryn reacted to their presence.”
“Trust me, Marcus, something is off. The Shade sent in to reinforce their defenses were notoriously expendable and dispatched easily and it goes without saying that Crytos and Michael could easily have called in the Brood at any point. There are at least twenty of Trevyn’s sons left out there that I am aware of, likely more if I am sensing correctly. Why were none called in? Malykus fell, Wycelion betrayed, and none of their brothers save Michael were brought in? At the least they would have tried to reclaim Wycelion before he was truly lost. That boy is gifted with essence, he is nearly as gifted with a blade as Byryn, and was easily controlled. He would not have accepted Redemption for any save me or Byryn. I saw it clear in his eyes. He is not an asset I would have easily relinquished were I Michael or Syneous.”
