by Jaime Marks
Realistically it was probably just wishful thinking. The Shade controlled the Earth and there really wasn’t anyplace that she’d be able to hide there. As far as the Brood were concerned she belonged to them. They had made that much clear when she was brought to the cells of the safehold. They considered her their personal play toy. She would never tell Byryn what happened the night they caught her or the promises they’d made her. Wycelion and Trycen knew, they’d witnessed it firsthand but neither participated, though they didn’t stop it either. The Brood would definitely reclaim her if she left the realm. There wasn’t really any doubt about that.
It was probably better that she didn’t return to Earth. They’d be safe as long as no one knew who they were and if she went to them now she’d lead the Brood right to them. Really there was nothing she could do. Eventually she’d have to figure something out but for now the best thing she could do for Bryce was keep her distance.
Chapter 32
Byryn ground his teeth as he walked beside Devyn to his suite. If he wasn’t already on such thin ice with Felycia he would have told him to go to hell, but he didn’t see any point in aggravating the situation. He knew she needed time but she also needed to hear everything he’d said. Hopefully he’d struck a chord and made her stop and think. Besides, as long as she was going to the banquet tonight and the Bonding Rituals and ball tomorrow night it would be a step in the right direction. Tonight would be the first event she’d attended at the Palace despite the fact that she had lived here since it was reopened.
Devyn opened the door and he walked past him into the sitting room. It was the smallest of the Royal Suites but as Devyn didn’t live here full time it made sense. There were two large bronze colored arm chairs with a small table between them facing the mantle. The Sword of the Commander rested in a case there but aside from that the room was bare. Devyn motioned to one of the arm chairs as he sat in the other.
The male studied him as he sat, “I realize that I am likely not your favorite Fae, Byryn, and I can respect that. I have likely disrespected many of the Fae you hold in high regard this morn and I have taken an interest in your sister. In truth I am surprised you were supportive of my escorting Felycia in any fashion, though I understand why you chose to. You care very greatly for her, more so you feel obligated to aide and protect her. I do not know what occurred between the two of you in the past…and in truth it might be better at this point that it remains that way. Your current intentions however, are honorable and speak well of your character.”
Byryn looked him over. “She’s my sister, of course they’re honorable. What I’m trying to figure out, Devyn, is what exactly your intentions with Felycia are? I assume you know our lineage?”
“No,” he replied flatly. “I only know that she was unawakened Shade and as you are her brother that the same was true of you. In any regard, you are both now Gray, though somehow I gather you are something more than your sister. You do not sense the same and you possess all three essences as do Marcus, Cymeryn, the Queen and the Princess. It is an ability the Gray do not hold. Once their essence, Light and Dark, are integrated it does not appear to change but remains merely Gray.”
Byryn sighed, “Alysse calls it Sacred Borne. We have the blood and essence of Lunya per the design of the Divine Being. Steph is also Sacred Borne but I’m not sure I understand exactly…She holds a piece of the King’s heart, literally, by the design of Lucerna. If you need a better explanation than that I suggest you talk to Marcus. I’m not really a big fan of the whole destined crap.” Devyn raised a brow and Byryn cursed under his breathe. He wasn’t exactly sure why he’d even said that to him. “Look, this isn’t something I particularly enjoy talking about. I wouldn’t change where destiny has led me and you don’t need to worry about my motivations. It’s more my past that I hold issue with and need to come to terms with.”
“Indeed,” Devyn mused. “I supposed the journey that brought you to this point could not have been any more pleasant that of your sister’s. The Shade have never been very nurturing and the way they condition their young is nothing short of deplorable. It is the one thing in this entire situation that I would truly like to believe and understand. No young should have to endure such victimization. If that life is chosen by choice that is something of a different nature, but the young were never given such opportunities before.”
Byryn nodded considering his words, “Then you really aren’t sure what you believe yet? You still think it’s all some sort of trick?”
He watched the Fae run a hand roughly over his head. “In truth? I have no idea. I know what I sensed in your sister during and after her awakening. I cannot deny the transition. It is plain to see in her.”
“There is Light in her, Devyn. It’s always been there, but she’s lived an extremely hard life. Trevyn was her Father…and mine. While her Mother might have taken her and ran from that world when she was nine, she was a bitch. Honestly she would’ve had a better life if her Mother had left well enough alone.” Byryn shook his head. “The rest you need to get from her if you want to know. Some of it maybe I should be upfront with you about but the truth is that it’s her story to tell. I shouldn’t have even said this much.”
He nodded. “I appreciate your candor, Byryn. I do know there is Light in her, I sense it. I sensed it earlier as well. I will not deny I am drawn to her, but as I told her, I do not yet know that I should be. I need to sort out this entire situation and how I feel about it before I can even consider offering your sister more than my friendship.”
Byryn smirked, “You really think it’s that simple, huh? Why don’t you ask Mythos how well that worked out with Steph? If I didn’t already realize what was happening between the two of you I would’ve probably stepped in. Fact is though, if it’s the will of the Divine you’re not going to be able to walk away. They have a way of binding people so they can’t breathe without each other.”
He didn’t say anything just stared into the distance. He wasn’t quite as much of an asshole as Byryn expected him to be. In fact he could respect the fact that he didn’t want to rush into things with Felycia, not to mention the fact that they were asking him to accept what had always been impossible was suddenly true. He just wasn’t sure how they could get through to him.
“Three hundred years ago, I was told that I would have to fight in the battle for our species. That if the Fae were to survive I must be able to see past what was easy to the truth underneath.” Devyn sighed. “I have not discussed it for years but for some reason I feel it is something you must understand. It is not that I do not care about Felycia, but you must understand that I cannot put my feelings for your sister before the future of the Kingdoms. Your sister…” He shook his head and a small smile slipped across his face a moment. “There is something about that girl that breathes life into me. Wakes me in a way I have not felt in over two hundred years.”
“Two hundred years, huh?” He pondered that a moment. “I can’t even imagine living that long. You realize it may be a simple case of being able to see the truth of the Fae’s heart, the Light in the Dark so to speak. You say you’re meant to fight for the survival of our species, Devyn, but we’re all Fae, the Shade is just another race and not all of them are the nightmares you perceive. Most are just controlled by the monsters you stereotype them as. The entirety of the Guardians respects your judgment, Commander. If you tell them you think Redemption is a sham they’ll follow you, but Redemption is the last hope of the Fae. Without it the race will die and going against it will tear this society apart.”
“Perhaps. I will think on it. In the meantime would you show me the way to the meeting? I have yet to fully learn the layout of this Palace and if I am correct we are due at the meeting of the Council Elect.”
“Sure, but before we go there’s something you should know.” He stood up and tried to figure out how to deal with this. “Look, I’m not going to try to tell you to stay away from Felycia, honestly I think she needs you, but you need to unde
rstand you have the same effect on her that she does on you…maybe even more so. I’ve never seen Felycia let anyone touch her the way she does with you. Actually she never lets anyone, human, Fae or Shade touch her at all. Generally if anyfae tries she cringes and they generally end up with a black eye,” he laughed thinking of Guardian Luthious. He’d tried to get Felycia’s attention shortly after she got here. Byryn warned him but he thought he could win her over. He got a black eye and a broken arm for his trouble.
Devyn nodded with a devilish smile. “She has a fire to her.”
“She does, but she’s also very broken, Devyn. If you can’t see past what she was to who she is, then you need to keep your distance.” He paused, “Truthfully, I’m not really sure pursuing her is even fair if you’re planning on returning to the fronts. I don’t know how well she’ll handle that, though ultimately that’s her call.”
“I understand your concerns, Byryn. I have been completely upfront with your sister and I will continue to be so. I will not simply abandon her however.” Devyn stood beside him. “I also will not bring the girl harm. If things get to be too…intense and are not capable of progressing I will cut my reprieve short and return to my post.”
Byryn nodded as they headed out for the meeting. He really hoped it didn’t come to that. He could see the bonds forming between them. Devyn had been at the fronts for far too long. With all the changes that were happening and all the distrust that had been bred into the Fae after all this time he was almost as lost in this world as Felycia. As much as he hated to admit it Devyn wasn’t really a bad guy. Maybe, just maybe, he and Felycia would help each other find their way.
Mythos leaned over to Marcus. “Where is Byryn? And has anyfae seen Devyn?”
“I don’t know. Perhaps they are together,” Marcus offered. “I could mist to them if you like.”
“Star says they’re on the way,” Reyana replied. “She’ll be here in a moment as well.”
Mythos nodded. “Her absence is our fault. We should have ensured she knew to be here. In truth we should have involved her more before this point.”
“She hadn’t awakened yet and was more than happy to be left out of it beforehand,” Marcus dismissed. “With everything that has been revealed however, it’s now her responsibility as much as it is ours. We may be content to allow her reprieve from it but by obligation she must take her part in running the Kingdoms.”
Mythos nodded as he watched Byryn and Devyn enter together. They looked to be getting along. Hopefully it meant Devyn was beginning to open his eyes and he had no doubt Felycia was a big part of that. He reached over and took Stephynia’s hand kissing it as she offered him a smile.
He looked around the room. The main room of Councilors Hall was a large white room with a high ceiling, large windows ran along the walls on either side of the room. Hanging in front of the windows on the left hand side was the crescent moon of Night, in front of the windows on the right hung the golden disk of the sun representing Light, and behind them hung the Symbol of Lunya representing Balance. He nodded to Byryn as he took his seat beside Cymeryn and watched them confer. They sat at an elevated, curved tabled at the head of the room. Reyana sat in the center with Marcus on her right and Cymeryn on her left. Byryn and Staryana would sit beside Cymeryn as they were both closely tied to Night, while he and Stephynia sat beside Marcus as they were of the Light. A similar placement of thrones had appeared in the throne room last eve apparently.
Opposite of where they sat was another curved table which stood several feet in front of the silver double doors of the entrance. Kato sat in the middle while Grifyn and Devyn sat to the side of Light and Demytria sat to the side of Night with an empty seat beside her. Mythos knew those seats were to be occupied by the Heads of Securine. He glanced at Cymeryn once more wondering when they would have this coming discussion. Females did not traditionally hold high ranking positions. Now was not the time or the place to argue such matters but their Praefect seemed to be artfully maneuvering his way around it. Cymeryn nodded to him with a mischievous glint to his eye as if he followed his thoughts.
The other two tables held the Elemental Fae, a representative from the Hall of Scholars, the Matryn of the Healers, Alysse as High Priestess of the Order of Light, and the Head of the Guardians Academy. At some point in the future the Fae who would be Director of the Order of the Securine would be added. It was a larger group than they had initially discussed but they were being given more responsibility in their positions and would be expected to assist in the restructuring of the government. It was a risky move but none of them were Tainted and they all wanted what was best for the race.
Staryana rushed in and sat beside Byryn mouthing an apology that Cymeryn quickly waved off. Mythos rose commanding the attention of the room. It was time to begin.
“Thank you all for your patience so we could ensure all members of the Council Elect were present for this briefing. As you may have noticed there are a couple of empty chairs. They will be filled prior to our meeting upon the new moon. We are merely awaiting their decisions.
“I have spoken too many of you individually over the past few weeks and I am aware that many of you have spoken to my sister, Queen Reyana a Mythion, since your arrival. We are all here because we recognize the necessity for the restructuring of the Council and you have all agreed to be sworn in as its members. I see no point in droning on painfully to restate everything we have discussed. Instead I would rather open the floor to any questions you might have.”
Prince Ignisyn a Mulciberyn of the Fire Fae rose and bowed. “If I would your majesties. The Lucerna Lines have always been the law. With the forming of the new Council including the representation of the Elemental Fae it allows us to express our concerns and questions more openly. Will this be taken into account by the Lucerna Lines?”
“It has long been my concern, Ignisyn, that the needs and concerns of the Elemental Fae were not appropriately addressed. The Palace of Light has always been open to any who would seek council, but I realize that it is not always enough. The purpose of ensuring representation of each Elemental race is so that we may better hear and take into account the needs of all the Elementals. The old ways, while they served their purpose in their time have become outdated as our society grew and it has created unrest amongst our Fae. Change can often take time and this has been a long time coming. You are here on this Council so that we may not only hear you but ensure we are seeing to the needs of all factions of the Fae.”
“Your candor is much appreciated your majesty. It goes a long way towards assuaging our concerns regarding the slights against the Elemental Fae.” He bowed once more returning to his seat.
Lymphia a Aecoryion of the Fae of the Oceans Rose bowing. The Elemental Fae had each been appointed by their own factions. It was quite a surprise when the Fae of Oceans had presented a female for the appointment. “There are many who have questions regarding Redemption and wish to seek it but do not know how to go about doing so. How should we direct them?”
Marcus rose clearing his throat. “At this point in order to manage the influx of requests and the lack of current expedient communication methods between the two realms we are asking that you each take requests and forward them to the House of Light. We will set up times and locations for Redemption as the demand and availability permit.”
“That would be acceptable, my lord,” Lymphia bowed and sat.
Mythos watched on fielding questions when necessary or allowing the others to reply when warranted. He sat beside Stephynia watching Kato address the soon to be Council members.
“…These changes allow us to not only address the concerns and needs of all of our people, but they will in many ways allow us to bridge the gaps in our society and finally lay the unrest aside that has plagued us in recent years. Too long have we allowed the Taint of the Shade to infect not just our race but our lives. The Darkness has stolen our loved ones and incited a fear in the Fae. If we can come together, work together towar
ds our common goals instead of against one another’s interests, we can usher in a new era that will see the glory of the Fae returned.”
Mythos nodded joining the others in pounding their fists on their tables. It would not always be this easy, but the truth of the matter was all of them had hope and had suffered greatly at the hands of the Shade. Despite the differences amongst them they were bound by common purpose.
They were bringing the meeting to a close when Nycholi a Savion of the Fae of Storms addressed him. “My lord, I presume I speak for all of us present when I say that we are most curious as to the Fae of beauty who is at your side this noon.” He bowed offering her a smile. “I would not inquire but we have all noticed she bears the symbol of the crown upon her throat. We had quite hoped you would present her.”
He glanced at Stephynia taking her hand as she blushed slightly then turned to address them. “Of course, Nycholi. I should have known such an exquisite lady of her stature would not go unnoticed,” he mused allowing his reverence to slip into his voice as he pulled her gently to her feet. She remained silently smiling at him but that lovely blush had spread and he was fighting everything to refrain from pulling her in his arms and giving her a reason to let it run over every inch of her delectable flesh. He forced his gaze away from her to address the room once more. “Might I present the Lady Stephynia a Ceryn of the Cerulyion Line of Lucerna, Daughter of Ceryn a Cerulyion and the Lady Madelyna a Grifyion.”
He paused while hushed murmurs ran over the room and indulged himself slightly brushing the hair from her face and caressing her cheek. “Grifyn a Grifyion, son of Lucerna, I have a declaration to proffer if you are ready to hear it.”
Grifyn stood slowly and they met eyes across the room allowing him to know all tensions between them had passed. To Mythos’ relief the male accepted this fully. “I would hear it your majesty.”
