The Awakening (The Bryn And Sinjin Series Book 6)

by HP Mallory

  For the fifteenth time, I reread the last sentence of chapter thirteen of Salem’s Lot. My mind was racing, preventing me from paying sufficient attention to King’s narrative. Losing the battle, I closed the book and placed it on the bedside table. Then I simply stared at the ceiling for an unknown length of time.

  My mind refused to relinquish thoughts of my little tempest and her heartfelt reaction to finding Audrey in my bedchamber. I replayed the details of the evening repeatedly, trying to discover if there was anything I had missed—any rich morsel that could shed further light upon the subject.

  I sat up, leaning against the ornate headboard I had selected upon first taking lodging in this chamber years ago. I had selected the bed frame for its carvings of flora and fauna within the sturdy brown mahogany of which the structure was composed. It was both functional and lavish—just my style.

  I stretched, reaching my legs all the way to the baseboard. It was difficult to be a night creature when the majority of those residing in Kinloch were creatures of the sun. I found myself quite bored during the long evenings. And this evening was no different.

  I tried to engage my mind with my book again but when that failed, I stood up, deciding to take a walk. I approached my chest, where I pulled the drawers open in succession until I found what I was looking for: black slim-fit trousers and a white tunic that would provide enough room to move my body through a full range of motion, allowing me to take part in my training exercises. After all, one could never indulge in enough training.

  I would soon be training the Unseelie fae women, once dawn began to break. If the cloud cover remained, I could train them outside. Otherwise it would be back to the dining hall which had been cleared of furniture and the shutters pulled to disallow the sun’s vengeful rays.

  I very briefly found myself dwelling on the lack of progress some of the Unseelie fae recruits had made in terms of the number of push-ups, sit-ups, and other exercises they could complete at one time. And I do mean push-ups on the toes, rather than the knees. Their running pace was not adequate, either. Truth be told, the women were in less-than-ideal physical shape and it was my duty, along with the Lady Bryn and the fop, to ensure they reached their peak condition, and soon.

  Lost in my thoughts regarding how to best train the recruits, I almost failed to hear a voice calling my name outside my door.

  “Sinjin?”

  It was Lady Bryn.

  “Bloody hell,” I grumbled, even though I was pleased to know it was she. I decided to take my time answering the door, all the same.

  “Sinjin!” The little twit was certainly demanding.

  I opened the door to a freshly-showered royal princess. Her wet hair smelled of berry shampoo, evoking a physical response in my body that I could hardly control. My fangs began to lengthen and the crotch of my pants was suddenly tighter. The rush of blood through her veins and her increased heart rate and breathing only amplified my own physical response.

  She was dressed in tight, navy blue yoga pants, white sneakers, and a very form-fitted white zip-up hoodie, the zipper of which was open down to her cleavage. I wondered if she had intentionally unzipped it so low, or if perhaps it had fallen down of its own accord. Of course, given Lady Bryn’s less than seductive personality, I figured the zipper’s placement was more by accident than design.

  “You look… kind of white,” she said, studying me. Then, she dropped her gaze to the ground, looking wholly uncomfortable.

  “I have not fed.”

  Her eyebrows arched toward the ceiling as she narrowed her eyes on me. “Maybe you have an eating… er, a drinking disorder.”

  I glared at her. “I am not attempting to lose weight.”

  “Then you didn’t feed enough… last night?” she asked, a fresh blush stealing its way across her cheeks.

  “No.”

  She nodded, no doubt wondering why I had refused her offer to drink from her when I had not experienced a contented sufficiency from Audrey.

  She studied me more narrowly. “Can I come in?”

  “Why?”

  She appeared surprised again. “Because, obviously, I need to talk to you.”

  I opened the door and allowed her entrance. Of course, my gaze lingered on her shapely rear and my trousers grew even tighter.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Sinjin

  “What do we need to discuss?” I asked. Perhaps it was wrong of me, but I was enjoying her discomfort exceedingly.

  “Things.”

  “Such as?” I could not help my roving eye as I took her in from top to bottom and felt myself harden even more. I did not imagine I had ever before been so physically stimulated by a woman. I thought back to the previous evening with Audrey and how difficult it had been to get my bloody member to perform. And yet, this woman did not even have to look at me and my todger was ready to take her.

  “Sinjin, this is serious.” She frowned. “Jolie just called another council meeting and I’m going to speak.”

  “About?”

  “That’s why I came to see you,” she said and hesitated. “I thought I should discuss the particulars with you before I announce them to the rest of the panel.”

  “I am appreciative… I think,” I replied, eying her with interest. Of course, I had imagined she had come to deliver an apology for the previous evening, but it appeared such was not the case. If I had to guess, she would likely rather brush the events of yester evening under the proverbial rug. Perhaps I would allow her.

  And perhaps not.

  She grew quiet and appeared lost in her thoughts.

  “I am prepared to listen,” I spurred her.

  “It’s about the upcoming war.”

  “Very good.”

  “And what I’m about to… to, uh, tell you might com… completely change your perception of… of the tribe.”

  The words flew out of my pet at an outrageous speed, and she stumbled over them. Clearly, she was uncomfortable, but I believed her discomfort had very little to do with whatever information she sought to tell me.

  “Lady Bryn, take my hand,” I offered quietly. She did not argue but took my hand with her smaller one. I felt a fair amount of sweat on her palm, suggesting she was under more stress than I had previously anticipated.

  I led her to my bed and sat her down, ensuring she was comfortably settled. Her breathing slowed and the sweat on her brow began to evaporate. She looked deeply into my eyes, with a gaze that suggested she was grateful for my presence—grateful and nervous.

  “Now, my dear,” I continued, attempting to use a calming tone as I dropped down on my haunches before her, ensuring we were eye level. I took her other hand and held them both tightly. “What do you need to share with me?”

  She took in a deep breath and relaxed her shoulders. “I found something out from Dureau,” she began, to which I responded by donning an expression demonstrating distaste.

  “And what did our friend, the frog, have to say?”

  She ignored the jab. “Dureau told me that everything I learned when I was a member of Luce’s tribe was wrong.”

  “Everything you learned as far as?”

  “How the Tribe came to be—the origins of the Tribe.”

  “The origins?”

  She nodded. “Yes, where Daywalkers and Elementals came from. I was taught from childhood that Elementals and Daywalkers are entirely different species from witches and vampires.”

  “I thought such was the truth?”

  “It’s not,” she insisted, shaking her head as her gaze fell to our entwined hands. She did not attempt to free herself, but just studied our fingers as if she were attempting to commit them to memory. “It was never true.”

  “Explain.”

  She brought her eyes back to mine and explained how and why she had been raised to believe Elementals and Daywalkers were so vastly different to their counterparts.

  “And what is the truth according to the dandy?” I asked quietly.

  “
According to Dureau,” she corrected with a reproachful glance, “Luce tried to stage a coup and failed. He was exiled, shown mercy, and allowed to leave with his life—and he responded by creating his own cult of sorts and kidnapping magical children, who followed him blindly.”

  “And you believe the frog’s version of the story?” I asked as I released her hands and stood up. My hands immediately felt cold.

  She nodded. “Yes. Dureau has no reason to lie to me, and his version makes more sense than Luce’s does. I mean, it’s a pretty big stretch to imagine humans were able to overcome witches and vampires, right?”

  “True. True.” I scratched my chin as I reached the conclusion that I was most likely going to be forced into believing the frog’s version, as well. I began to pace my bedchamber, as I was wont to do while pondering. Then I stopped pacing and faced her. “Now that you know the truth, what do you hope to gain from it?”

  She nodded, as if now realizing there was still more to tell. “I don’t believe all Tribe members are inherently evil.”

  I chose to take a few moments to weigh my thoughts before I responded. “Who do you consider to be Tribe members?”

  “The women of the Tribe who had been soldiers but are now forced into Luce’s breeding program should be automatically exonerated, if and when we free them. I believe they should be given the chance to become a part of our society.”

  I nodded and walked to the far side of the room, where I paused beside the fireplace and propped my elbow upon the mantel. “Do you believe these women have turned against Luce, then?”

  “Yes. I’m more than sure any woman who was degraded the way I was will definitely be happy to sever ties with Luce. And I think with enough therapy, they could all become good citizens of our kingdom.”

  “That is, if we are able to emancipate them and they choose to come with us. Or do you mean we capture them as prisoners of war?”

  “I think we give them the option to join us. And we tell them the truth about where they came from and how we aren’t so different, after all. I don’t think it will be a difficult sell.”

  I nodded. “I agree with you in all aspects on that subject.”

  There was an expression in her eyes that hinted there was more on her mind. When she looked up at me, her blue eyes were deep pools of pensive thought. “There’s more.”

  “Yes?”

  She took a deep breath and glanced down at her lap, beginning to drum her fingers against her thighs in rapt succession.

  “My pet, you are a warrior, not a fidgeter,” I said and approached her, reaching down to place my hand over her fingers.

  She glanced up at me and nodded. “I believe the other Tribe members, the men, have a right to know the truth of their lineage, as well.”

  “Our enemies?” I asked, withdrawing my hand and placing it in my pocket.

  She swallowed hard. “Maybe they’re only our enemies because they don’t know the truth, and so they’re blindly following Luce?”

  “Are you asking me or telling me?”

  She inhaled deeply. “I don’t know.”

  I frowned as I studied her, trying to understand just what she was saying. “Then you wish to enlighten Luce’s soldiers as to the truth?” She nodded. “And then what?”

  “I think we owe it to them to tell them the real story, since they’re essentially the same blood as we are. And then we should offer them the chance to join us… peacefully.”

  I was not quite certain I understood her correctly. I narrowed my eyes. “You wish to exonerate our enemies and allow them to join our kingdom? The same men who brutally forced themselves upon you and others?”

  “Yes and no,” she admitted, dropping her attention back to the floor.

  “Bryn,” I said and pulled her eyes back to my face. I frowned at her, furrowing my brows. Anger was already beginning to brew within my stomach. For the undead life of me, I could not understand how she could feel or think this way.

  “I don’t believe each soldier is equally guilty,” she explained in a mousy voice.

  “Yet each and every man under Luce’s command has taken a woman against her will.”

  “Yes, but I believe some of those men did so against their own will.” She stood up.

  “Why are you standing?”

  “I don’t like the feeling of you looking down at me,” she replied.

  I could not help my smile as I approached her and, taking both of my palms, placed them above her shoulders. Then I gingerly pushed, forcing her back down upon my bed. I dropped to my knees in front of her and held her attention as I pulled my hands away from her shoulders. I shook my head. “I fail to understand how you can feel this way about those… fiends…”

  “I was there, Sinjin,” she insisted. “I witnessed first-hand what was happening, and what I can tell you is that not every man who came to me was the equivalent of a Jack Jeffers.”

  At the mention of Jeffers, the anger within me became all consuming. I had promised myself I would destroy Jeffers in return for the pain he had inflicted upon my princess. And no one would take that promise away from me. The day Jeffers joined our kingdom would be a cold day in hell, as far as I was concerned.

  “Some of them were just boys, Sinjin,” she continued. “They didn’t want to do what they did any more than I wanted them to.”

  “Yet they did it anyway.”

  She took another large breath and took her time exhaling it. “I believe the fate of Luce’s male soldiers should be decided by the women who suffered under their hands. If every man is found guilty, then so be it.”

  “That is an interesting and extremely magnanimous stance.” I was of the belief that perhaps it was too magnanimous. “I must admit, I am incredibly surprised. And I am not wholly convinced by your argument.”

  “I knew you wouldn’t be.”

  I stood and paced to the far side of the room as her argument echoed within my head, causing me considerable angst and upset. I studied her from my perch beside the fireplace. “There also remains the question of just how we would bring this information to the forefront? How would we alert Luce’s Tribe members of the truth of their lineage? And, furthermore, would they believe us?”

  She nodded as if she were expecting this question. “That part needs to be figured out, still.”

  The atmosphere of the room grew heavy, the silence lingering. Finally, I spoke aloud. “I hate the Tribe.”

  “I know, Sinjin.”

  “When I learned what they had done to you—and the memory of that moment still boils my blood to this day—you witnessed my reaction.” I felt my hands curl into fists of their own accord. “I traveled to America, I infiltrated Luce’s camp, I killed a portion of the men who violated you, and I crippled Luce, leaving him with a deformity that will never heal.”

  “And I’m grateful for everything you did,” she said with a small smile.

  I nodded. “I detest the Tribe and everything it stands for. I hate what the Tribe has done to the people of Kinloch Kirk; I hate what they have done to you, and to our Queen. Truth be told, I believe all of them should be put to death,” I finished, gritting my teeth at my own words.

  “And you feel that way about the female Tribe members, as well?”

  I shook my head and found my gaze settling on the darkness outside my window. “With the exception of the women, for they have been forced into a hell of their own.” I paused and inhaled deeply, not finding it within myself to question my continued respiratory needs. I faced the princess once more. “I am willing to yield to the opinions of yourself, my pet, the Queen, and her panel. If I am outvoted in my beliefs, I shall respect such a decision and rally behind it.”

  I loathed the words that came from my mouth, disgusted at the very idea of sharing Kinloch Kirk with a member of the Tribe – or many of them. But I was also quite aware that my opinion was not the deciding factor. The decision would have to be made by a majority.

  “I knew you wouldn’t agree with me, but
I’m happy to know you’ll abide by whatever agreement the court comes up with.”

  “I will,” I agreed with a clipped nod.

  “Thank you, Sinjin,” she said softly and stood up, approaching me. She looked as if she were ready to depart and smiled up at me warmly.

  I was not ready to allow her to leave. “I believe there is one more conversation we should have?” I eyed her with interest, and she gulped audibly.

  “Right,” she replied, dropping her gaze.

  “Look at me, my pet,” I commanded.

  She glanced up at me, her cheeks flushed crimson. “I’m… I’m not sure what came over me the other night.”

  “Last night.”

  “Last night.” She gave a quick nod and then turned her back on me, approaching the far side of the room. “Just… seeing you with Audrey… it did something to me.”

  “I believe you were overcome with jealousy.”

  “Yes, I think I was.” Her back was still to me but she turned around before sitting back upon my bed.

  “Why?”

  “Why?” she asked and frowned up at me. “What do you mean, why?”

  I shrugged. “I found and continue to find your reaction quite strange, given the fact that you made your feelings for me clearly known.”

  “Right,” she agreed, nodding. Then, she inhaled deeply, dropping her attention to my unmade bed as she began to fuss with the duvet cover. “I’m not sure I was that clear about my feelings for you, actually.”

  “What does that mean?”

  She shook her head and outlined the pattern upon my pillow. “You really don’t make things easy, do you?”

  “I am not attempting to make things easy or difficult. I am simply attempting to understand your words.” I vacated my position beside the fireplace and approached her. This time, I did not drop to my knees but towered over her, enjoying her disquietude, though I could not say why.

  “You make me nervous and you always have,” she said directly, looking up at me again.

  “Why?”

  “Because you’re a threat to my comfort, and everything I think I know about myself and what I want.” She took a breath and frowned up at me. “Stop doing that.”