by Jaime Marks
“Help him, Reyn.” Cymeryn whispered, “Bring him to us.” She felt him withdraw from her core, but his body stayed wrapped around her. He leaned against her slightly, bringing her closer to his brother.
Her body felt coiled with tension having them both so close to her, but something in this entire mix felt dangerous. She couldn’t tell if her tension was out of fear or desire, maybe both. Her hands ran over his face and into his hair as she guided his face to hers. When their lips met something within him seemed to snap because his hands were suddenly on her hips pulling her to him.
She felt Cymeryn’s arm snake between them, drawing her back and heard his voice in her ear, “Bring him with you, Reyn.”
She drew him with her and he crawled slowly onto the bed. “I know you want him love, I feel how much you need him. He is a part of us, bring him home to us.” Cymeryn drawled as he kissed her shoulders, her neck. She could feel his hands caressing her and his hardened length pressed teasingly against her from behind. “Take him, as I take you, complete this between us.”
She undid the gold and red robing he wore sliding it off his chest, her hand traveling down his golden tan skin and he allowed her to push it from his shoulders. His mouth now running over her collar bone and the crest of her breasts as Cymeryn kissed down her side. She reached down undoing the clasp of his pants. She loosened it and pulled back slightly.
“Take them off,” She whispered. He hesitated staring at her with those sad blue grey eyes now churning with black swirls. He rose looking her over, motionless.
Cymeryn gripped her by the hair and pulled her back for a kiss, but her eyes remained on him and his on her. Cymeryn kissed down her throat and turned to him, “Last chance brother. Make your choice. Are you prepared to let her go?”
Mythos surveyed the hall looking for Crytos. He could sense the Shade but he had not made an appearance. He turned back to where Byryn faced off with his brother. He could feel the strain in the poor boy. It was true he was better able to face the Shade now as Fae, or Gray, their strength on equal footing, but the emotional toll of taking on Trevyn’s Brood was wearing on him.
Mythos scanned the hall again. Three young Shade littered the floor. If he had to guess all of them newly turned. Two of them had come and taken two others away at some point stating simply that Trevyn was dead and they had no desire to fight but they would not hear Byryn. They had been raised and turned at the hands of his Father and this life was theirs.
The boy now faced one of the oldest of what they had referred to as the Brood, Trevyn’s young. He was strong, and Mythos had not meant to allow this altercation, in fact stood ready to step in now, but Byryn had stepped between them. He had done so with the other two he had known as well. Mythos could tell he felt in many ways that this was his battle and his responsibility. The others he had had a hand in molding, teaching and training them to become who they were. He had tried to reason with them, offered them change and it had pained him to do what they had forced. This one however, felt different and there had been no attempts at redemption. This one had molded Byryn and it went beyond responsibility to the realm or Byryn’s own redemption. He was facing his own demons and in truth held his own.
He heard the whirring sound and dodged as a dagger lodged into the wall, but a second embedded in his shoulder. Not bad if you considered it had been meant for his heart. Crytos walked down the hall with three Shade, two were young, but the third held age and experience, strength. Mythos looked back at Byryn and saw the knowledge in his eyes. Another of his brothers. It had spurred him on because the first lay bleeding on the floor, though not yet dispatched.
“If it isn’t the impotent King.” Crytos sneered. “What a trophy you shall be when I lay you before my Supryn and his Queen.” He smiled mockingly as he swung his sword.
“Crytos, so good of you to slink out of hiding so I did not have to hunt you.” Mythos smiled. “Come, let us see how impotent I am, shall we.” He motioned for him but despite the Shade’s candor he was no fool, none as old as he were. He sent the three young on at once while he sneered.
Byryn’s voice rang through the hall. “Trycen, you don’t have to do this. I know you are overcome by Trevyn’s essence right now but you need to fight it, brother.”
The older Shade turned. “Enough with your lies, traitor. Trevyn may be dead but I am not and you are a fool if you think I will let you live through this day. Your very existence dishonors my Father.”
Byryn smiled motioning to him, “Well Lamyrion if you think your skills with a blade have improved since the last time I kicked your ass, by all means brother.”
Mythos engaged the two younger Shade, as Byryn rushed up to meet Lamyrion head on. “Trycen, you should listen to your brother, boy. I do not wish to kill you.” They were both clumsy and unsure with their blades. It would be a quick fight, but Mythos saw their fear. If he could spare them, he would.
“If either of you buy into this bullshit, I will hunt you and skin you myself.” Lamyrion spat from close by as he fought Byryn.
“You would have to get through me first, brother, something you haven’t been able to do since I was ten.” Byryn goaded the Shade.
“Only because I was not allowed to kill you Byryn, but Father isn’t here to protect you now, nor would he if he lived. You were the ultimate disappointment.”
Crytos stood watching as he leaned leisurely against the wall. “Leave him, Lamyrion, I have a special surprise for the whelp.”
Lamyrion misted back to Crytos as Byryn stumbled. Mythos watched as a young, but brutal looking Shade misted right in front of Byryn and landed an uppercut on the boy’s jaw knocking him backward to the ground.
Byryn stared up at the Shade in disbelief and fear. Mythos, turned his full attention to the young Shade he fought. “Time to make a decision, Trycen. You and your friend either lay down your swords or I will be forced to kill you. Time is up.” He did not know what was going on but it was time to finish this. Whoever it was that stood over Byryn had shaken him to his core, the boy’s sword lay on the ground beside him and he sat frozen on the floor. The boy was in trouble.
Chapter 11
Marcus stood there staring into her eyes. The pain ripping through his heart, his very being, was intolerable. The only thing that eased it was her touch, but it was a trap. Every time she touched him Darkness rose within him. He was losing himself, losing her. He wanted to fight, to pick up his sword and kill his brother for all he had done, to her body, her mind. She didn’t know him, she didn’t even know herself. All she knew was what the Darkness in her wanted and that was Cymeryn.
He couldn’t lose her, couldn’t let her go but if he made a move to take her Cymeryn would mist her to the Dark Domain out of his reach. Once she was in Lazurys’ hands she may never be able to find herself again. Though his brother had hurt her, he had taken nowhere near the liberties with her that the Dark Lord would. If Marcus were honest with himself, Cymeryn had been far gentler to her than he was legend to be with those he had turned.
He watched him, the way he held her, caressed her. It was not with the typical brutality the Shade inflicted on their mates, if you could call them mates. They were usually just passing cravings that they used to fill their needs and desires, no matter how depraved. The way he attended to her needs, the way he was rough, but somehow still careful not to hurt her too badly? It was not with the reckless abandon of a Shade giving in to his Darkness. It was far too…tender for that.
Marcus thought back to the Healer’s Compound, the words she had spoken. “Especially if they see the desire as unattainable in the Light.”
Cymeryn had loved her and from what Marcus could see, in some ways he loved her still. When had it happened? What had he missed? Was it before he had sent Cymeryn to the fronts, before he had courted her? He couldn’t imagine that it had been after. He had been by her side every minute. He watched her in his twin’s arms, did she love him? The pain at the idea of it tore him in half. What if he couldn’
t bring her back? What if she was lost to his twin by choice? He couldn’t lose her again, not like this.
Cymeryn pulled her back, kissing her, caressing her. “Make your choice, mine blooded twin, will you join us? Or are you prepared to let her go?”
Marcus’ eyes squeezed shut at the thought. He could not let her go. She was his Light, without her he was lost. What did it matter? What did this life matter without her? He felt the pants slide from his waist and off his body only realizing once they were gone that he had done so himself. He crawled back onto the bed, back to her, to them.
Cymeryn smiled, “Good brother, I feel the pain in you, the Darkness. Let it flow through you.” He reached up with a dagger and opened a gash in the delicate skin of her breast as she gasped. “Drink brother, seal your bond to her, to us. Sate yourself in her flesh as she frees you of your burden.”
She stared at him, licking her lips, reaching out to him. She pulled gently on his arm and he felt his need for her. He let his body go to her, feeling the caress of her skin on his. Her hands traveled his chest and his head kicked back as she griped his sex, stroking it. There was nothing, nothing but her. He snaked his arm behind her arching her as he pressed his body against her lower half and bowed bringing his mouth to her breast. Her nails speared his skin in anticipation as he lapped leisurely at the blood that trickled from her skin, his eyes still looking up locked on her gaze.
Marcus felt his brother shift against his arm as he placed his hand at the back of his neck pressing him to her. “Drink, Marcus. Let her Dark essence flow through you, strengthen you. Give in to her desire, to yours, my brother.”
Marcus latched onto her breast sucking her sweet essence in with greedy gulps and she moaned softly. Her hair, red as her blood once ran, fell over his shoulders. Her head rested on his own as her nails scored his back and he groaned against her. His blunt tip found her slit, gliding along her soft folds, so slick, so wet, but he only teased her as she teased him.
He felt her Dark essence taking over his Light as it took hold within him and still he drank. He let go, giving himself over to her completely. There was nothing for him, not without her. Whatever their fate, they would face it together. In Light, or in Darkness he would give himself to her as long as she would take him.
Reyn, felt him let go, offering himself to her completely, her essence flowing through him. His mouth released her and he rose his eyes meeting hers as his hand possessively cupped her face guiding her to him. He held her firmly but inflicted no pain as he kissed her, owning her mouth with a tenderness that shook something within her.
She felt Cymeryn lift her, spreading her legs as he slid inside of her, kissing her, caressing her as his twin’s fingers worked her clit. “Take her brother, let us take her to the highest point of pleasure, together.”
He pulled back staring into her eyes as the head of his sex probed her core, already full with his twin, teasing her, “Do you want this? Is it your will, Reyana?” He bit gently into her neck and sucked on the lobe of her ear. “You need to tell me. I will only do this if it is your will.”
Reyana, the name echoed through her, but she couldn’t follow where it tried to take. She was lost to him, to Cymeryn.
“Yes.” She whispered, pulling him to her. “Please.”
He entered her core, slowly stretching her as Cymeryn took her from behind, filling her to the brink as their hands caressed her. She gasped and moaned losing herself in the sensations. His warm skin heating her; Cymeryn’s touch cooling her. His tender, passionate caress; Cymeryn’s hard, forceful hands. Cymeryn’s Dark essence swimming over her, mixing with his Gray and merging with her own. She crested over and she felt him revel in her pleasure, as Cymeryn savored in her.
“I love you, Reyana,” he whispered in her ear as he thrust into her. A surge of essence coursed into her. Light shrouded in Darkness and Gray essences seared through her veins.
She felt the realization course through him as the memories hit her and their eyes met as she froze. He pulled her into a passionate kiss as he rocked her harder. Marcus. She felt the pull between them unable to deny it. Marcus. Cymeryn. Light. Dark. She wanted them both. She had them both, but she couldn’t. Her betrayal washed over her. How could she want Cymeryn? How could she feel this way? He stroked her hair as he pulled her back against him and she could not deny it. The feelings she had for him.
Passion washed over her at the feel of them both. Both of their passion and pleasure washing over her. She clutched Cymeryn’s head as he suckled her neck and Marcus’ as he teased her nipple with his tongue. It was wrong. She shouldn’t be doing this.
She felt Marcus’ hand slide down her body to her clit as he began to work her and Cymeryn’s hand ran up to her other breast. She lost herself to them as they seemed to move in unison, their movements, caresses and rhythms in harmony with each other’s and with her body. Marcus lightly bit her lip as another wave of Light coursed through her, meeting her eyes, reaching within her. “Forgive me” echoed through her mind and she almost shattered, but he didn’t give her the chance, kissing her again as he thrust harder, faster into her still working her clit.
“Come with us, Reyn, I want to feel you.” Cymeryn all but purred in her ear.
She felt herself reach her peak as she felt it within each of them, her body trembling and her core quivered as they worked her through the waves of pleasure, her body milking theirs. She all but collapsed onto Marcus, her body spent beyond its limit as her mind began to churn.
Cymeryn chuckled into her ear, “Was that too much, my love? Have we finally managed to sate your appetite?”
Not even close, she thought. She still wanted them. She wanted them forever but that would never be an option. It was wrong, so very wrong of her, and he knew it. Marcus could see within her, feel her heart, he knew. As if in response she felt his love flow strongly through her. He loved her, as she loved him, as she loved Cymeryn. How? How could he accept this when she couldn’t even fathom it?
It didn’t matter. There were no real choices here. She couldn’t fool herself into thinking that Cymeryn was something he wasn’t. He would have killed those children if she hadn’t come. It hadn’t been a bluff, she had felt it. He had opened himself to her so she would know he spoke the truth. Pain pierced her heart. It didn’t matter. One way or another she was losing one of them in this room and there was nothing she could do. She couldn’t redeem Cymeryn without reaching his heart, and she couldn’t reach his heart without breaking Marcus’ and losing him to Darkness. She could see the road clearly and there was only one path.
She felt them both slide gently from her, both of them kissing her, worshiping her. It broke her heart as she turned between them, turning from Marcus to face Cymeryn. She felt the weight of Marcus’ hands as they caressed her, trying to somehow reassure her that it was alright, and wasn’t that just tragic.
She kissed Cymeryn roughly, nipping his lip and sucking at his tongue the way he liked as she pressed her body against his. She felt his sex hardening as he tauntingly rubbed it against her, showing her how his body reacted to her.
He pulled back gripping her face as he stared at her in adoration. “Insatiable,” He chuckled, “Absolutely insatiable, hmmm?”
She guided him to her core, kissing him. He thrust deeply into her and she gasped at the sensation, memorizing the feel of him. How could she do this? How could she leave him...how could she not?
He groaned against her. “You please me to no end, Reyn.”
She pulled him tightly against her as he rocked inside her. “I love you.” She whispered softly squeezing her eyes shut.
Her heart ripped open as she thrust the dagger he had left lying on the bed through his back. She felt it rip through his heart and punch through his chest as it pierced slightly into her own skin. She didn’t pull back. Tears ran down her cheeks as she met his eyes. “I’m so sorry.” she sobbed. “I will always love you.”
She reached within her and released all the love she
had in her heart for him, letting it course through his being in pure Light and he howled in pain, his eyes never leaving hers. Knowledge shook through him as he felt it. He knew, he would always know, just as she did, that there was still Light in his heart. Light that only she could reach in him, as only he could reach the Darkness within her. She kissed him again before releasing the dagger and pulling away from him. The sobs racked through her body as her blood, black and red trickled down her chest from the wound. She collapsed and fell into Darkness.
Byryn stared up at Michael in disbelief. He had never expected to see his brother again. He was sure Crytos would have destroyed him. He was known for his ruthlessness to his slaves.
“What’s the matter, Byryn? Not so happy to see your long lost brother?” Michael sneered. “Get up.”
“I, I will not fight you, Michael.” He stammered in disbelief, misting back from his reach. His sword was left where it lay. “I won’t.”
“It’s funny how the tables have turned, isn’t little brother?” Michael laughed as he stalked closer, kicking Byryn’s sword further from reach. “Now it’s your compassion that makes you weak while I revel in the Darkness.”
“It doesn’t have to be this way Michael, I can help you. You were right. There is another way.”
“You only help yourself, Byryn. Or at least that is what you taught me, isn’t it?” Michael chided. “Although now it appears you also help your whore.”
“She isn’t a whore, Michael and if it wasn’t for you, I never would have found her. You’re the one who taught me, Michael.” Byryn stressed trying to reach the brother he knew. “You taught me that we always have a choice and some choices aren’t worth living.”
“Then you’re truly a fool, Byryn. You of all the unawakened I would have expected to know better. You should be a Shade, instead you’re a disgrace.” Michael spat at his feet. “But don’t worry Byryn, I learned the lessons you taught me well and I will be glad to help you remember your own teachings.” Michael back handed him knocking him to the ground and stabbed his sword into his thigh.
