Connections (Mists of the Fae Book 5)

by Jaime Marks

  Kato nodded, “We had never considered it that way. I had always wondered at how Lucerna would allow the entirety of her lines to be wiped out but in fact she never has. The Cerulyions were always present in all of you. The Verthyrions were present in the Grifyion Line and the Terisyions have been present in the Mythion and Devyion Lines.”

  Byryn listened as they talked over Alysse’s revelations. He had never put much stock in the old religions. He was well aware that Lazurys existed and most likely Lucerna but he had never really imagined any of it impacted him. No one had ever come to his rescue before Grifyn and there was no Light in his life before Staryana. He had simply figured that if there was a benevolent deity out there they had forsaken him but he’d seen things in the last few weeks that had made him reconsider his stance. Now more than ever he knew there had been some higher purpose to it all. He just wasn’t sure if that was reassuring or if it made it all somehow harder to bear.

  Chapter 17

  Cymeryn stared at Byryn oddly, as if he were trying to gage some reaction from him. Meeting his eyes he waited for whatever the male was about to ask but he simply turned to Reyana and Marcus. The Queen shifted uncomfortably a moment but nodded and looked to Staryana. Cymeryn however remained strangely focused on him as the Queen began speaking. It set him on edge for some reason.

  “While we are discussing our lineage and family, there is something to do with your Father that we need to discuss, Starshine. It might be somewhat upsetting to you and Byryn however, and if you’d rather wait, I’m more than happy to let you,” Reyana offered quietly. Whatever it was weighed heavily on her and Byryn could see Marcus and Cymeryn comforting her as the essence flowed freely between the three of them.

  She met his gaze asking permission and he nodded watching her as she met her Mother’s gaze. It was an unnecessary request, he’d never made him ask his permission for anything really but it soothed something in him to know that she trusted him enough to allow him to guide her.

  “If there’s something I need to know, Mom, I’d rather not wait.”

  Reyana nodded reluctantly. “Your Father…well he,” she hesitated trying to find the words to discuss whatever it was that had her in such a state. “You’re not your Father’s only child, Star. You have three brothers that we know of.”

  Byryn could feel a knot growing in his stomach. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know but he felt the curiosity and desperate need in her to have some connection to her Father, even if it was impossible to have directly. She knew by now that her Father would never accept Redemption and she couldn’t have a relationship with him. Staryana had given up on the idea of saving him as his mental assaults became more extreme and she couldn’t handle the fact that he was willing to turn her over to the fate Alayne had in store for her. Marcus helped to fill the hole it had left in her heart but it wasn’t enough or even something she understood.

  “Do I know any of them?” She asked hesitantly.

  Marcus nodded reluctantly glancing to Cymeryn. Their eyes met before Cymeryn turned to face her. “Staryana, the unawakened Shade, Kyle, is your brother. He opened himself and I sensed the truth in him. I can have Kato or Trina verify it for you if you like, but I have no doubts they will confirm it to be true.”

  Byryn’s hold on her tightened and his anger grew as he met Cymeryn’s gaze in challenge. “You sure about that? You realize what he had planned to do to her? What he did to Steph?”

  “No Byryn, I realize how it appeared. I will not deny the pain he has caused Steph and I am not absolving him of it any more than I absolve myself of the sins I have committed.” He glanced inadvertently towards Demytria but it went unnoticed. “When it comes to Staryana, however, his goals and yours were in reality aligned. You just handled it differently. If he had allowed that course of events to occur Alayne would have inflicted the full force of his wrath on the boy. Trust me when I say he is far more afraid of Alayne than even me. He was not exactly happy to have gained my attention considering his lineage,” Cymeryn explained.

  “I don’t trust him. If he was there to protect her why not turn on them himself? Why endure my beatings?” Byryn challenged.

  Marcus met his gaze. “Because he was also trying to protect Star from you. He just wasn’t as strong as you and John had also already asserted his dominance over the boy. In his eyes it was better to be more covert in his efforts. He even used your obsession with her to keep her safe, ensuring when there was something he couldn’t protect her from that you were somehow made aware. He knew full well you would handle it because in your mind she was already yours. He has been searching for a way to protect her from their Grandfather, you, and the world of your birth. In all honesty it was the only reason he took on this mission. He was prepared to take her and run, knowing it would cost him his life.”

  Cymeryn nodded with a sigh. “He does not trust you either, Byryn. He asked to speak to Staryana. It was his feeling that she had a right to know who you really were before she made the decision to mate you, however Kyle has also stated that if she still wished to be involved with you after she knew the secrets of your past he would step aside. I assured him this was something you had done yourself and while he still does not trust you with her, it appeased him somewhat.” He hesitated as he studied Byryn again, “He has lain his life at my feet. He would rather die than face Alayne and he is sickened by what…his intentions are.”

  Byryn rose a brow trying to wrap his head around this. Kyle had always been standoffish, smug, and arrogant with him, but then he had never really interacted with the boy before Staryana came into his life. She may not have been by his side but he had made it clear to every Shade in that school that she was his and those who chose to disregard that warning he had dealt with harshly. “Even if you’re right, even if by some strange twist of fate he’s telling the truth, it doesn’t change what he did to Steph or the fact that she can’t handle being around him. I doubt John’s actions helped in that regard.”

  “Of that we are aware. Even if you were to decide to trust him he would remain on restriction for these reasons alone. I am not suggesting that we allow him to roam free, nor am I claiming him in any respect as of yet…though I have vowed to protect him if he continues to prove himself. I will say this, he has gained my attention. There is something about him that I cannot ignore and I will personally be monitoring his situation, but I value your insight, Byryn. Despite the renouncing of your lines I still consider myself to be your Grandsire and I am now your Fae in law. I will not act hastily with anything that would have such an effect on you, but I am asking you to keep an open mind. If Marcus and Grifyn reacted simply off of appearances, you would not be here either, son.”

  Cymeryn’s candor and caution eased him somewhat. It also gave him pause. For him to have taken such an interest in the male there had to be a reason. He would have to talk to Kyle alone and determine his true intentions.

  “We told him that the decision as to whether you would see him, Starshine, would belong to both you and Byryn,” Marcus explained. “And I mean it…”

  “We,” Cymeryn interjected in annoyance.

  Marcus rolled his eyes. “We mean it. If Byryn is uncomfortable with you going to see him we don’t want you near him because the only way we’ll allow it is if he goes with you.”

  She nodded and turned kissing him in reassurance. He couldn’t help but smile. The connection between them was so strong he knew her words before they were even spoken and he thoroughly enjoyed the feel of the closeness that existed between them now. “I can understand that and I wouldn’t go against his wishes anyway, but you said I have three brothers?”

  Cymeryn nodded. “Phillip was a freshman at your school this year, he is fourteen and last your brother checked he was still living at home with his Mother…but he admitted that could have changed as your Father made mention of reclaiming him. Calvin is seven. Kyle says he is in one of the group homes as his Mother is dead.”

  “I know Phillip. He keeps to hi
mself, quiet. His Mother’s still alive, I only know because I’ve seen them together. He doesn’t know he’s Shade, or didn’t last I saw him,” Byryn offered. “I’ve talked to him before. He’s a good kid. He won’t take to that world easily. We should probably figure out if his Mother knows what he is before approaching him.”

  “Do we know where Calvin is?” Staryana asked the concern in her voice evident. She had seen the full extent of what he and some of his brothers had endured when they were young and left in the group homes. Sometimes when he went to retrieve his brothers it took them weeks to heal and Trevyn had left him there on occasion before he was old enough to hold his own.

  “We’ll find him, brightness,” he assured her.

  Cymeryn nodded. “When I speak to Kyle I will see if he knows precisely where the boy is and we will begin to prepare for the raid.”

  She nodded. “Alright.”

  “I’m going this time,” he asserted meeting Cymeryn dead in the eye and raised his hand. “I understand your concerns but I’ve been dealing with the Brood my whole life. I know I will likely have to face Michael. I won’t deny I’ll try to get through to him, but I won’t allow him to continue to threaten and bring harm to my family. If he needs to die it will be at my hand. I helped to make him the monster he’s become. If I can’t undo what’s been done to him I will take him down.” He looked up to see his Dad studying him with pride.

  Demytria spoke up quietly, “We could have definitely used Byryn’s skills and influence in this last raid. It might also have prevented the issues that occurred when we returned because he has enough knowledge of the unawakened to predict who we can and cannot trust. We have to expect they will be ready for us and we need to be prepared.”

  “Fine, but we are going to train tomorrow and see exactly what you can do now, Byryn,” Cymeryn relented. “You need to know your limits if you are going to face that Shade. Between you and Crytos he has been trained quite well. He is not the weak boy you once knew.”

  He raised a brow. “You and Marcus trained with me yesterday, Cymeryn. I can’t imagine that I’ve improved any in a day.” They all laughed looking at him in amusement and he glanced around in confusion. Even his Dad was looking at him with an odd smirk. “What?”

  Marcus studied him a moment. “Byryn, raise your palm.”

  He gave him a puzzled look but did as he asked.

  “Now focus only on how Star makes you feel and bring the essence that feeling surfaces to your palm,” Marcus commanded.

  He frowned wondering what was going on but he closed his eyes did as he asked. When he opened his eyes to his surprise there was a ball of swirling Light in his hand.

  Cymeryn chuckled crossing his arms. “Now extinguish it.”

  He absorbed the essence and looked up at him in confusion.

  “Now summon the Darkness within you as you did before your Redemption.”

  The orb formed easily but it was different somehow, not quite as thick or something. He stared at in confusion. He had known this was a possibility, having the ability to wield all three essences, but it was still a shock.

  “You haven’t taken the time to even look at yourself, have you son?” His Dad asked in amusement.

  He shook his head looking to Staryana. She kissed him gently and rose guiding him to his feet. “You’ve been so worried about me, you haven’t paid any attention to yourself.” Her eyes glinted with amusement, “Now it’s time I show you who you are.”

  He gave her a coy smile but allowed her to lead him out of the room to the suite bathroom where she led him to the mirror. He stared at himself in confusion. He was built as strong as Marcus and Cymeryn and just as tall. White Light flowed over his skin at random and his eyes were a deep blue with diamond flecks. His hair was still shorter in the back than the front, which had always allowed him to hide his eyes but it was no longer black. Now it was dark brown with silver highlights. He really did look as if he and the twins were closely related.

  She stood beside him in the mirror and they fit so well together. He thought back to Alysse’s words. He had been made for her, bound to her before she was even conceived.

  “That’s right, baby. You we meant for me, just as I was meant for you.” She leaned up and kissed him deeply and he took her in as she ran her hand through his hair. “Come on, before I give into my desire. Uncle Mythos might have your head if you take me in his suite.”

  He chuckled in amusement, but she was right. Every moment they were alone now was a temptation. He pulled her close and kissed her again before releasing her. He realized then that nothing else mattered right now, not his lineage or her brothers. Anything that came from here on they would face together. As long as he had her…it was all worth it.

  Mythos carried Stephynia into the sitting room. She stared up at him in annoyance. It was endearing the way her nose crinkled when she was irritated.

  “I can walk, Mythos. My leg really isn’t that bad,” she snipped.

  “It also is not yet healed fully, caria. You were limping,” he replied.

  He took her over to the lounge and sat. Staryana and Byryn looked at her in amusement.

  “It’s not like I’ve never had an injury before,” she huffed. “Hell, I fought on this leg even after I was shot.”

  “Is it really that bad to allow me to pamper you when you are injured?” He asked as he sat on the lounge. He was enjoying this as odd as it was. In truth he loved that she challenged him and she was not really angry. He could sense her clearly without trying. She simply wanted to assert her independence. So many had tried to inhibit her over the years that she felt the need to ensure he knew it would not be tolerated, but she knew he would never really restrict her.

  Stephynia studied him a moment as he ran his hand through her hair easing her slightly. “Just don’t make a habit of it.”

  He chuckled, “I would never dream of it.”

  Haylia was setting up a rather large spread and Marcus and Cymeryn had brought over another table from their suite to accommodate for it. When she was finished she bowed and left discreetly.

  Reyana laughed a moment and he met her gaze. “What is it, my sister?”

  “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen either of you so comfortable and similarly well challenged,” she replied with a mischievous grin. “It’s just good to see and eases me in a way.”

  “How so?” He requested wondering what had been straining Reyana.

  Marcus kissed her head. “We’ve been worried about you, Mythos. You’ve been stuck managing things on your own in virtual isolation. It’s a heavy burden you carry.”

  He waved them off. “You have no need to worry. I have managed well enough.”

  “That may be,” Kato interjected, “but that does not mean we cannot all see the strain it causes in you, my lord.”

  “It was never intended to be this way, Mythos,” Grifyn added. “We were all intended to aide you and these last few years circumstances have prevented it.”

  “It is actually something we have been attempting to find some way we could rectify,” Kato broached cautiously.

  Mythos ground his teeth. He knew they meant well but the limited amount of faith they had in him was a dagger in his already festering wound. Even Alysse seemed to think he was caving under the pressure.

  Stephynia pulled him to her kissing him. “Hey, they aren’t saying you can’t handle it, they’re saying that you shouldn’t have to. They care about you, Mythos, and they’re just trying to help you. You need to let them, pretty much exactly as you keep telling me.”

  He smirked, “Says she who fusses over her mate carrying her when her leg is injured.”

  “Touché, my King,” she smiled, “but you need to understand that just because they’re trying to help you doesn’t mean that they think you’ve failed in some way.”

  He sighed staring into her eyes. “You are right, caria. I suppose I am simply being stubborn. It is my own guilt over the losses that our race has suffered.”
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  A soft glow illuminated your eyes. “The losses the race has suffered were not your fault, my lord, and you have done the best you could with the cards you were dealt.”

  He ran a hand through her hair again comforted just by her presence. “Stephynia, once you know the full history of my rule I fear you may not agree with that statement.”

  “If you’re not happy with the past, Mythos, then we’ll work together to improve things in the future, but you can’t continue to eat yourself up over it because it will only haunt you. You showed me that.” She studied him a moment. “Let’s make a deal, you and me. I’ll agree to let you help me when I need it, if you lighten up and let us all help you.”

  “If it means you will allow me to aide you what choice do I really have?” He chuckled.

  “What an interesting dynamic you add to this family, my lady,” Kato smiled.

  “Indeed. I propose we allow Steph to debate all issues with the King from now on,” Grifyn mused.

  Cymeryn laughed, “She does have quite a way with him.”

  She shrugged and gave them all a shrewd look. “That’s fine, but you might want to remember that means all issues will resolve in his favor.”

  They all laughed. He watched the ease with which she had settled in with them. Even after the eve she had, she was far more at peace than she had been previously. It was all the time she had spent wrapped in essence this morn, and the connection they had all shared with her during it. It had opened her mind and heart to them. He leaned forward and kissed her head and she rewarded him with that playful smile which he enjoyed so much.

  “We wouldn’t have it any other way, Steph.” Marcus smiled studying her. “It is good to see you smile so easily.”

  She looked over at them with her eyes a glow and Reyana seemed to focus on the gold sheen of them a moment. “Do they confuse you, Steph? The memories you see?” She asked quietly.