by Jaime Marks
“Cymeryn will kill you if he finds us this way.”
Kato smirked, “He can try. He does not know how to treat you, Demytria. He cannot please you the way I do. He does not love you.”
“And you think you can sate me Kato?” She scoffed at him.
“I am going to take you, my love. I am going to make you mine once more, and when I am done you will be sated in such a way that you will not even be able to fake your way through this foolishness you try to portray.” He smirked when he felt her shiver. “We both know you are enjoying this. We both feel how you want me, how I want you, let us not pretend otherwise.”
She gasped as his sex kicked, hard once more inside her and he reached between them teasing her as he thrust into her slowly, watching her. “I am going to take you to heights this day that you have never felt and I promise you, I will break through that icy shell you try to front with me.”
“Are you still trying to save me Kato? I like being Dark too much to be Light.”
“At this point Demytria, it does not matter to me what you are. The only thing that matters, love, is that you are mine.” She moaned as he lifted her hips and sunk deeper into her.
He sent his essence into her, careful not to give her too much. This was divine he thought, he did not care how long it took, he was getting his mate back this eve and he was going to enjoy every second it took to reclaim her.
Grifyn opened his eyes awhile later, emerging from Byryn’s mind to see Marcus and Mythos standing against the walls both looking grim. Marcus because the boy had not yet fully awakened and every moment it took to save him was a moment longer that Reyana was in the hands of his twin. Mythos because he wasn’t sure if it would work and if it did, what it meant. He was still struggling to come to terms with what exactly the Gray meant to the fabric of Fae society.
Byryn, was still unconscious but he was resting more easily. The essences in him nearly balanced. Grifyn was exhausted. The boy had nearly died. Five minutes longer, if they had been five minutes longer they would definitely have lost him. As it was he had no idea how he had pulled the boy back from such a brink. He had fought him at every turn, presenting image after image that he felt proved he was beyond redemption, but the guilt he felt, the truth of what Grifyn witnessed, it was enough for him to truly admire this boy.
He had seen a strength and conviction, a level of devotion in him that few in either race embodied. It was true he was not a saint. He had been predisposed to Darkness and broken at a very young age. It was all he ever knew before Michael made him question. When he did question though, his principles began to change, adapt. He grew from each experience, learning and choosing a better way despite his circumstances. Few would have risked so much, been so bold. It took character to see the error of ones ways and truly change but in many ways, that was exactly what Byryn had done.
Star gasped, hope shining in her eyes as Byryn began to stir. He heard the boy choke out, “Hey, Brightness.” And the stress in her face eased some as she smiled at him.
Marcus left the room returning with water, handing Star the glass and she helped him drink it.
“Better?” She asked.
“Yeah, thanks.” He nodded and Grifyn felt his essence searching both internally and outward. “Grifyn, is that you in my head?” He asked weakly.
“Yes, Byryn. Sorry to disappoint you if you were hoping for a female.” Grifyn chuckled as Star threw a pillow at him, narrowly missing Byryn. Most male unawakened preferred a young attractive female to awaken them because it created very intimate bond. It all depended on their circumstances of course. Generally if they were not in an arrangement to be mated, a family member was chosen.
“Nah, if I had known I had a choice you were who I would have asked.” The boy said solemnly and Grifyn reached forth clasping his hand.
Mythos stood, “As soon as the time permits us, we will proceed with your formal declaration. I see no reason at this point to refrain. That is, if it is what you both still want?”
Byryn seem to tense a moment, but Grifyn simply answered, “Yes. My lord. I will claim Byryn as mine own son as if he were of mine own blooded line. In many ways, I already have.”
Byryn nodded and he saw Star reach forward as if she were wiping a tear from his face. Grifyn gave his hand a squeeze as he had yet to release it.
“So be it,” Mythos stated in that strong royal voice of his and glanced at Marcus, “So witness you, Praetor?”
“So witnessed.” Marcus nodded and gave Grifyn a slight look of approval before the pain reclaimed his eyes. “Star, I do not mean to talk as if you are not here, but Byryn, is Star balanced?”
She gave him an odd look as Byryn nodded. “Yes, she seems to be now.”
“Good.”
She looked from him, to Mythos and then to Grifyn. Realization struck and fear drifted through her. She turned to Marcus. “Where’s my Mom, Marcus? None of you would have left her anywhere but here. Where is she?”
“Star, please, I know you want to know. I know you deserve to know. I just don’t want to lose you too.”
She tensed. “Too?”
He met her eyes realizing his mistake and sighed in resignation. “Cymeryn he…he has a large number of unawakened Fae. He got hold of your Mother during a battle at the Capitol. He never would have gotten out of there with her, but he threatened to slaughter the unawakened. Your Mother, she would never…she couldn’t bear the thought of the young dying.”
“But he’ll just kill them anyway!” She protested, “Doesn’t she know that!?”
Marcus’ eyes squeezed shut, “Not if she gives him what he wants. He will keep them alive to hold over her head until the Dark Lord can cement the hold of the Darkness in her.”
Byryn pulled Star to his chest, comforting her. It was slightly awkward and Grifyn had to shift to accommodate the weight. He let Byryn know through their newly formed connection that he was fine when the boy hesitated, realizing that Grifyn still lay behind him. Gratitude washed over him and he knew it was about so much more than the moment. He wasn’t even certain Byryn knew he had been communicating with him in his mind. He had been so far gone and his awakening had been so intense, but he knew he had almost died.
“We’ll get her back, Brightness,” He swore to her, meeting Marcus in the eye. “She can’t go to the Darker Realms until the Darkness has completely over taken the Light. Cymeryn won’t hand her over to the Dark Lord ‘til then. He can’t. Lazurys is invulnerable unless he’s creating Shade. It’s why he has only created two from which all lines can be tracked. He won’t fill her with his essence in the territories or on Earth. He’ll want to convert her in the Dark Domain, his realm. Cymeryn will also want her close enough to the unawakened so he can use them to control her. He likes to flaunt leverage when he has it. There’s only one place secure enough that they could take her that could hold more than 15 unawakened.”
“Could it hold four hundred and fifty?” Mythos requested.
Byryn seemed shocked at the number, but he nodded, “Yes, my lord, I’d guess it could hold over a thousand easily in the dungeons, though it’s never been done. And if that’s the number they hold then Cymeryn will definitely be fortifying his position in Trevyn’s safehold. There’s nowhere else. That old castle is a maze really and no one can find their way in and out through the booby traps. Cymeryn will think he’s safe to turn her there. He’ll expect an attack, but that it’ll be a head on, direct attack. I know that castle better than anyone and I set up most of current defenses myself.” Byryn chuckled. “Fortunately for you, Trevyn bid me a good death a while ago when it became clear I wasn’t going to give him what he wanted. I was on the cusp of it so they believe I’m dead. I don’t think they can sense me now.”
Marcus’ eyes lit with hope. “That is fortunate indeed.”
“What did he want?” Star asked quietly.
He stroked her hair and kissed her head, “He wanted you, Brightness. He wanted me to surrender you. I would sooner have
died before I turned you over to my Father’s hands, let alone Cymeryn’s. I couldn’t watch you go through that.”
Grifyn nodded to Mythos confirming the question before it was asked. Ryo was right. Byryn had admitted it to him when he had been in his mind guiding him. Actually, he had begged him to kill him. He wanted to kill himself before he became a weapon to be used against her. He knew how the awakening worked. It generally came and went in waves, the body of essence growing stronger in you. If he had allowed it to take hold of him at any point he might well have relented to his sire’s wishes. Especially as Star had all but asked him to awaken her Dark when she had been under the hold of the Darkness within herself. If Byryn had not fought it, they may well have been gone before they had returned. He was resourceful. Grifyn had no doubt he would have lost Ryo and found some way out of this realm.
“Byryn,” Mythos spoke. “Custom generally dictates that only a Guardian may serve as a Royal Guard. I cannot see Staryana accepting anyfae but you, however, and history has proven to me that it is best to ensure a Personal Guard is one our Princess will actually heed.” Marcus and Grifyn snickered as the King continued thinking back to Reyana in her youth as Star and Byryn just looked around in confusion. “You have proven yourself to be of strong will and honor. If it would please the Praetor, I would ask that you serve as Staryana’s probationary Personal Guard. The post would become formal once you complete a tour through the Academy, of course.”
Marcus nodded, “Reyana should have final say, but I believe she would approve and I can think of no Fae finer suited for the position, and none other I’d trust.”
Grifyn felt the boy swell with a mixture of pride and astonishment. He was not accustomed to anyone trusting him in such a way or paying him such respect. He was used to those beneath him following him based on fear and strength but never trust and very rarely this form of respect. The trust Cymeryn and Trevyn had placed in him had been nothing more than their confidence in the level of control they held over him. This was more about accepting him, and none had ever truly done so. He had better get used to it. Grifyn would not allow any to disrespect the boy if it was within his power. Not to mention it would be a slight to the Grifyion Line and they were of the Lucerna Lines.
“Y, yes, your majesty. I would like nothing more.” He stammered out forcing his composure.
Mythos chuckled. “Relax, son, it is not a declaration of mating.” Grifyn and Marcus chuckled as Mythos motioned to Marcus, “You have to go through her Mother and him for that.” Marcus gave the boy a stern look that conveyed exactly what he wanted it to and he felt Byryn gulp as the three of them burst out laughing.
Once it stopped and the solemn mood of the room returned, Marcus turned to him. “How long Grifyn?” He demanded.
“About an hour, Praetor.” Grifyn nodded. The last of the awakening was ebbing off but it would be another hour before the boy was ready to undertake what they were asking of him. As young and untrained in his new form as the boy was, if they had any hope of saving the Princess or the unawakened, he would have to lead them.
Chapter 4
Marcus felt like a hole had been drilled in his heart. He knew what Cymeryn wanted of Reyana. He also knew that he had gotten it. He did not blame her, he knew it was his twin’s manipulations and threats, but it did not soften the blow. It also didn’t change a thing. She was still his bonded mate. He had just gotten her back and he would reach her back again.
He looked over Star and felt his heart tear in two for the girl. She had lost her Father, lost the entire world she knew in so many ways, and now she faced losing her Mother. Marcus wasn’t her Father. She would never accept him trying to take that role with her, but there were things he needed to discuss with the girl and time was short. Her Mother wasn’t here to do so, and as he was her mate custom dictated that only he could set what needed to be into effect.
“Star, I know you’re still very angry with me,” Marcus spoke softly as he met her stare, “but there are some things I would like to discuss with you if you will come sit with me.”
Byryn whispered something in her ear and she reluctantly nodded. Watching him suspiciously as she walked out of the room he could feel her distrust. It was something he could not fault her for but that they would desperately need to rectify. He followed her over to the couch and sat beside her as she stared at him in silence.
“First, I need to apologize to you.” He saw her brow quirk, but she stayed silent. “Your Mother and I were so lost to each other in her awakening, in finding one another again, that we didn’t take the time to consider how our actions would appear to you. Or how they would affect you for that matter. We should have given you time to adjust to this life you were thrust into and all the changes that have come with it. None of this, is fair, and if I could have found a way for you to transition into this smoother I would have. In truth though, sometimes life just happens. My bonding to your Mother, however, that was within my control and we should’ve waited.”
She studied him quietly, but didn’t say a word. He was uncertain if he were making any head way with the girl but he was sincere. It was something he had thought of at length since she stormed out of this cottage. He had always seen her as a daughter and the thought of finally being with her Mother, being by her side and becoming a parent of sorts to Star had been all that he thought of. A hundred years is a long time to wait and their needs and impulses had run away from them without fear of the consequences.
He sighed weighing it all out. “I can’t change what has happened. I can only hope that you come to understand the whys in time and that you can forgive us our insensitivity.
“As far as your Mother’s capture. I swear to you, that I will do my best to bring her home to you, regardless of the state she is in. It’s very possible at this point that she may have turned or be turning. I can feel the Darkness that is in her through our connection. I’m fighting it every moment and I will die before I lose her again.” He admitted wanting to prepare her for the worst.
Her eyes winced shut, but she nodded.
“If for some reason,” He hesitated. “I need you to know, that if for some reason your Mother does not make it back. I’m here for you, in whatever capacity you will have me, and I will guide you through this world as best as I can. It won’t be easy, there are some things I am relearning for myself. I had forsaken everything and lived here in the Sanctuary for seventy-five years before living between here and Earth for another twenty-five while I watched over you and your Mother. We will have to take it one step at a time. But just know, even now, I’m here if you need me.”
His head dropped, “If I don’t make it back, Mythos will care for you. He is your blooded uncle. Both my line and that of your Mother are very wealthy. We both hail from the Lines of Lucerna. You will never want for anything, Star, anything material anyway. You will still have chance to attend college by joining one of the Halls or the Academy. It will just be different than you thought and you won’t have to worry about acceptance. You are a Princess,” he looked up at her with a smirk, “They would never dare deny your admittance. Byryn is new to this world as well but I’m sure you will help each other through it.”
He paused and shored up his strength. “As far as your Father is concerned, I cannot promise you anything, especially with your Mother gone, but I understand your feeling. Our reactions, they were based on a war that has been waged for literally a millennium. There is deep hatred bred into both sides, though the Fae would deny such an emotion. Your Mother is changing that. Grifyn, Byryn, myself, we are all something that no one thought possible. We are a merger of the two essences into one. We are Gray. Byryn, himself is proof that there is hope that the Shade may be redeemed. It has never before occurred to our knowledge and opens many doors.
“It is possible because of the ties we hold to your Mother that we may also possess the ability to redeem the Shade but we cannot be foolish and we cannot rush in. You have not yet awakened and we may not have that
power. Admittedly, you are more likely to have inherited it, but we will still need to ascertain your abilities once you awaken. Even with your Mother we are not sure what will happen if she tries to redeem the Shade. I do know that she wanted to try to save your Father though, for you.
“I promise you, when this is over and the dust settles. We will work on a way to save your Dad. It will take time. I’ll have to make a lot of arrangements to enact even a simple plan because we may not be able redeem him easily. He will have to want to be redeemed according to your Mom. All this may mean we need to hold him somewhere for a while and we’ve never done so. The Fae have no prisons, we take no prisoners. The Shade have the ability to easily infect any Fae they come in contact with and holding any for long term has always been considered dangerous because there is no cure. Those who contract Shade Sickness and actually manage to survive it, even if they manage to resist turning are often never the same. The Healer’s Compound is a hospital and they can restrain Fae who are ill with the infection of Darkness but there are always Guardians on hand because they cannot hold them as their strength returns. It will basically mean a new type of facility must be erected and a complete change in strategy in the war. As it is we have an issue because we have nowhere to hold the Tainted and no way to redeem them until your Mother returns, or until I have the time to try. I cannot promise what the results or timing will be. I do promise we will work towards it and that we will try, but I need you to do something for me Star.”
He watched her as she wiped a tear from her cheek. “What?” She choked out.
“I need you to work with me on it and not try to do so on your own. I know I’m probably not your first choice as an ally, but I have the full might of the Guardians behind me and I can protect you. Cymeryn has made it very clear he wants you both for the power you possess. It’s a threat to the Shade, to their best weapon in the war. I know it’s hard to know who to trust, but if you trust no one else, trust yourself. There is a reason you were uncomfortable around Cymeryn and why you didn’t even trust your own Father. When you trust no one else, I want to you to sit, focus, and find the truth in your heart. I can tell you over and over to stay away from your Father but that is only going to make you want to run right to him. The truth is though, you already know you should stay away from him. You already made that choice and I’m going to trust you enough to follow it.
