The Rýkr Duet

by M. E. Clayton

  “And no boy has approached you the way this Griffin kid approached Avalon?” Mom asked.

  She shook her head again. “No.” Her brows drew inward in thought before she said, “But…well, there was this guy in my first period that I’ve never seen before, and I just figured him for a new student, but he did look at me as if he knew me.”

  “But he didn’t say anything?” Dad asked.

  Neve winced. “No, but even if he wanted to, we’d been ordered to follow the earthquake safety procedures, so we’d all been too busy doing that.”

  Dad didn’t say anything for a while. In fact, we were all sitting in the living room as we tried to make sense of what was happening. I knew the answer was in the letters, but I’d take the diary if that’s all they were offering. I had admitted to not being scared of Griffin, so I wasn’t sure if they’d cave on the letters if I wasn’t feeling threatened.

  “We’ll give you the diary,” Dad finally said. “You girls can take it upstairs and read it. If you don’t find something in it that…gives you comfort, we’ll discuss the letters.”

  I jumped up off the couch and threw my arms around my father. “Thank you, Dad.”

  His arms came around my body automatically. “You’re welcome, sweetie.”

  “I’ll go get the diary,” Mom announced, and Neve and I sat on pins and needles waiting for her to come back.

  “I want you girls to stick close to each other until we figure this out, okay?”

  Neve rolled her eyes. “Obviously, Dad.”

  Just then, Mom returned with the diary and Neve snatched it out of her hand before grabbing me by the arm and dragging me behind her upstairs. Once we were in her room, I was wringing my hands in my lap as Neve opened the diary. Two hours later, Mom was calling us down for dinner, and we’d gone through the entire diary.

  “Grab your laptop and look up Rýkr,” I instructed as I closed the diary that told us nothing about Griffin.

  The diary had been just as our parents had told us. It had given us a history of the descendants of Rýkr and how there really was no rhyme or reason behind who got which power or why. It read about a royal hierarchy and it truly read like a history lesson. We read about how the town supposedly still existed up around Northern California, only four hours from here.

  It also talked about couples who were bonded as children. It didn’t explain how the children were chosen, but when you bonded with someone, you were bound to them and raised together with marriage being the endgame. Supposedly, the bonds were so strong that it became a serious case of co-dependency that probably wasn’t healthy for anyone involved.

  “Got it,” Neve announced, and I scrambled over to sit next to her.

  “What does it say?”

  Neve clicked the first link to pop up and not much popped up on the town. It had your basic tourist information but that was about it. “This doesn’t tell us shit,” she muttered.

  “Click the government link,” I suggested. “That should tell us if it’s an actively populated town.”

  The government info popped up and I could feel panic threatening to take over again. “Holy shit.”

  Neve looked at me. “What? What is it?”

  “The mayor is Astra Keenstone,” I said, surprised my voice even worked.

  “So?”

  “That’s the last name Griffin gave me, remember?”

  Neve’s eyes widened. “Oh, crap.”

  “If…if that diary is telling us the truth, then that means that Griffin is royalty of some sort, no?”

  My sister looked worried for me. “If the town had conformed to continue existing, then it makes sense that the mayor of the town would also be its king. Holy shit, Avalon.”

  “That still doesn’t explain how he knew about me?” I said, thinking aloud. “I’m so fucking confused.”

  “Let’s go eat dinner, then tell Mom and Dad what we think,” Neve suggested. “Maybe we can get those letters now.”

  “What about you? Aren’t you scared someone’s coming for you, too?”

  Neve arched a brow. “If there is, he won’t know what’s coming.”

  I looked at my sister and wished I had some of her spunk, but I didn’t.

  Christ, what a shitty day.

  Chapter 15

  Griffin~

  To say that Severus was concerned at Neve not responding to Easton as strongly as Avalon had reacted to me was an understatement.

  When we’d gotten home last night, we had both given Severus a rundown of our day and what happened with the girls, and the man was not happy. He’d been hoping that the results would be one or the other. If both girls bonded, then the experiment would have produced a concrete result. Even if both girls had not bonded, the outcome would have been the same. But with it looking as if Avalon has bonded, but not Neve, then the experiment to see if our bonds were nature derived instead of nurture was looking to be a complete bust.

  There was also Easton’s take on it all. The guy was not happy, but he knew he only had himself to blame. He could blame Dad all he wanted-which would be warranted-but Dad hadn’t forced him to make the decisions he’s made. That had been all Easton with his anger and pride keeping him company for so many years.

  And now, sitting in American History class, I was waiting for Avalon to come to me. With her having missed the first two days of first period, I had waited until all the kids had been seated before I put my head down and compelled the girl sitting next to me to switch seats to an empty one in front of the class. It wasn’t always easy to move a person, but I had managed it, and that had made the desk next to me the only empty desk in the classroom.

  When Avalon finally entered the classroom, I wondered if she was going to flight instead of fight once she realized where she had to sit. There had been pockets of fire flashing from her eyes yesterday, but I suspected it was because she had felt cornered. I wondered if she felt fiery now.

  Her blue eyes held mine as she walked down the aisle and sat down next to me.

  No drama.

  No fanfare.

  No unsuspecting blade to my chest.

  Avalon sat down and placed her book on her desk, her notebook and pen laying on top of her book. She was going to try the ignore approach and that wasn’t going to work for me. Not when my hands shook with wanting to touch her.

  I leaned closer as Mr. Arnold ignored us until the final bell for class rang. “It’s not going to work,” I warned her.

  Pride bloomed in my chest when Avalon turned to look me in the eye. “What isn’t going to work?”

  “Ignoring me,” I clarified.

  “I’m talking to you, aren’t I?” she challenged. “I’d hardly call that ignoring you.”

  “I want more than just you talking to me,” I reminded her.

  “You’re not getting anything from me until you tell me who the hell you are,” she fired back, her voice low but loud enough.

  “I already answered that,” I said like a dick. “I’m yours.”

  “And what if I don’t want you?” she asked, her chin lifting a bit in defiance.

  “We both know that you do,” I smirked. “Or do I need to kiss you again?”

  The final bell rang before Avalon could reply, and Mr. Arnold was calling the class to order. “Welcome and let’s get started.”

  I let her be for the rest of class and I even let her leave class with no drama. I was still worried that she couldn’t control her powers and that was the only thing holding me back. However, that didn’t mean I was going to just hide in the shadows until we figured this thing out.

  Computer Science had come and gone uneventfully, and when I met Easton at his locker, I told him my plans for lunch, and he just smiled.

  “Think Neve will be with her?” he asked.

  “What happened this morning?”

  “Nothing,” he admitted. “But she kept throwing subtle glances my way like she suspects or something.”

  “If they’re sitting together and you sh
ow up with me, she’s going to know.”

  “She needs to know,” he replied. “I need to know.”

  I nodded. “Okay.”

  Getting through the rest of third and fourth period had been boring as hell. I never realized how irritatingly boring school was now that I no longer needed it. However, the monotony was broken up whenever Sheryl Kennedy would throw sneering glances my way during Science. Apparently, she was still upset over my claims on Avalon.

  When lunch finally rolled around, Easton and I had met up, grabbed our lunch trays, then went in search of the girls. Scanning the lunch tables, I found Avalon and Easton sitting together on a corner table, but they weren’t alone. A guy and girl were sitting with them and I could only hope the newcomers were a couple because I knew my brother was already feeling on edge. It wouldn’t do if this guy was friendly with Neve, considering everything that Sheryl had told us.

  With Avalon and the girl on one side of the table and Neve and the guy on the other side, I set my tray down next to Avalon while Easton did the same next to Neve. The entire table went silent, and it was awkward as fuck, but I didn’t care. Avalon was turning eighteen in less than two weeks, so it wasn’t like I had all kinds of time to waste.

  “What are you doing?” she gawked.

  “Having lunch,” I answered like a dick.

  “This can’t be happening,” Neve muttered, and that was Easton’s cue.

  “Oh, it’s happening,” he replied.

  “Uh, what’s going on?”

  I looked that blonde-haired, blue-eyed asshole in his eyes because I was feeling unsure and territorial, and said, “Love at first sight.” His head reared back. “I’m just trying to convince Avalon to take a gamble.”

  “Uh, okay,” the girl sitting next to Avalon mumbled.

  “Avalon doesn’t date,” he replied.

  “Gale-”

  “That’s where the whole convincing part comes in,” I fired back. “Or is there a reason you’d have a problem with that?” His eyes flew towards the girl who was sitting in front of him, and I used that moment to pretend like I had to cough.

  Turning to exercise proper manners and cover my cough, I hid my eyes as I looked to see what I could find out about him and I saw him and the girl across from him married and getting pregnant sometime in the near future.

  Good.

  “Stop it,” Avalon hissed before looking over at her friend. “He’s just being stupid, Gale. Ignore him.”

  “Unless you want to date him, that’s not possible,” he replied. “I’m not going to just stand back and let some guy harass you, Avalon.” Even though I knew he wasn’t a threat, I still wanted to punch him in the face. However, I had to admire his willingness to defend her. There were too many pussies disguised as men these days.

  “So, how do you want to play this, Avalon?” I asked her, and I knew she was going to cave. She had to. Right now, she had no idea if I was a threat to her friends or not, and I couldn’t see her taking any chances while she still wasn’t sure what I was or what I was doing here.

  Her eyes burning all kinds of hate into mine, she lied and said, “It’s okay, Gale. He’s not harassing me.”

  “And you?” the girl asked Easton. “Who are you?”

  “I’m Griffin’s brother, Easton,” he answered. “And love at first sight seems to be contagious.”

  The girl shook her head. “You’re weird and you’re lying,” she muttered.

  “I’m not lying,” Easton lied. “Saw her on Monday and it was a wrap.”

  “Are you girls okay?” Gale asked. “I really don’t care what’s going on as long as you girls are okay.”

  “We’re fine,” Avalon answered for both of them.

  “Ava-”

  “Bonnie, we are,” she lied again. “I promise.”

  Ah, so her name was Bonnie.

  “So weird,” she mumbled, and I knew they were going to grill the shit out of Avalon later when we weren’t around.

  “Well, this fucking sucks,” Neve announced right before she reached for her burger.

  Then the six of us proceeded to have the most awkward and uncomfortable lunch ever.

  Chapter 16

  Avalon~

  Lunch had been an uncomfortable disaster, and after making up some serious lies, I had finally convinced Bonnie and Gale that Griffin wasn’t a problem, and I had even convinced them that I liked him.

  Now, Neve and I were in her room, the letters from our mother in our hands.

  Griffin and Easton had left us alone the rest of the day, but as soon as Mom and Dad had come home from work, we had told them all about today and how Easton had shown his interest in Neve. We also told them how Easton had said he was Griffin’s brother and how we suspected that they were twins because they were both seniors and looked so much alike. Where Neve and I were identical twins in our features but not our coloring, Griffin and Easton had to be fraternal twins because they weren’t identical.

  And though Neve wasn’t feeling the same intensity as I was, it was obvious that we were out of our depth here, and we needed to read those letters. So, being in agreement, our parents had handed them over, and now we were sitting on Neve’s bed, our letters clutched in our hands.

  “I feel slightly terrified,” Neve mumbled. “I’m not sure why, but that’s how I feel.”

  “Probably because these letters might change our lives,” I grimaced. “God, this sucks.”

  Neve’s eyes held mine. “At the same time?”

  I nodded.

  We tore the envelopes open, then we both pulled out two sheets of paper. I took a deep breath and read.

  My Avalon,

  If your new parents have abided by my instructions, you’ve read the diary and have learned all about our people and what makes you so special. I don’t know which abilities you will grow to possess, but they’ll be strong ones and you’ll be amazing in ways you never imagined you could be.

  What the diary doesn’t tell you is why I gave you and your sister up to be raised by the Livelys. Though the hardest decision I have ever had to make, your safety and well-being was more important than my broken heart. I don’t know if the Livelys renamed you, but you and Neve will always be the most important things in my life. It was why I had to give you away.

  In an unprecedented event, you and your sister had been bonded with King Astra’s sons while still in the womb. Something like that had never happened before, and I knew there was no way your father would give you the choice to choose differently. King Astra was his best friend, and the union would have united us with the King and Queen of Rýkr, making your father more powerful than he already was, and I couldn’t allow that.

  Your father was not a good husband. I don’t know if he would have been a good father, but he was not a good husband, and I didn’t want that for you girls. I didn’t want you to be forced into a relationship because of your bonds. I didn’t want you stuck in an abusive marriage because you knew nothing else. So, I made the ultimate sacrifice and freed you the best way I knew how.

  After months of looking and researching, the Livelys seemed like the perfect couple to raise you as their own. It took a lot of sneaking around to make it work, but once the wheels had been sent in motion, there was no turning back.

  I also wasn’t so naïve to believe that I got away with it. If you’re reading this letter, then I did, but I also know that I am dead. And if I am, I’m okay with that. Anything for your happiness.

  And while I cannot predict what will happen, what I can tell you is that on your eighteenth birthday your powers will fully blossom. You will be more powerful than you ever thought before. You may even experience new powers, though rare. Historically, only royalty possess more than one gift. However, since you’re the first to be bonded to royalty before birth, your full potential still isn’t known.

  Your puberty years may also be affected. If your bonds have been nurtured, then discomfort will come in the form of people who are not your partner. M
ental, emotional, and physical attempts with someone else will feel uncomfortable and possibly painful. Your soul will recoil at the idea of connecting with someone else. The level of discomfort will depend on the strength of your bonds. If you can manage to fight through it and succeed in loving another, you may be able to sever all ties to Rýkr and our people.

  Also on your eighteenth birthday, if your bonds are still intact, your soul will call onto your partner in an almost painful way. Your soul will feel incomplete and will demand its mate. The same goes for that of your partner. The need will be so strong, those boys may come looking for you girls. If they do, then I have failed and the bond of the Rýkr is stronger than I had suspected. If they come for you, you’ll never feel whole until you surrender. There will be no peace if you continue to deny your soul the only thing it needs to survive.

  If no one comes looking for you, then I have succeeded in providing a life for you that is full of choices that are your own.

  Either way, you’ll know on your birthday and it is then that the rest of your lives will be decided for you.

  Whatever you decided, know that I loved you with every fiber of my being and I still do, no matter where I may be, and I’d make the sacrifice all over again.

  Avalon, be happy, my child. It’s all I ever wanted for both of you.

  Love,

  Lesedi Stallard, your mother

  I stared at the letter in my hand, and while it didn’t really provide any more information on Rýkr, it explained Griffin’s sudden appearance in my life. It explained why I’ve never been attracted to other boys before. It explained why I let Griffin kiss me twice, despite my fear and confusion. It explained why I was at odds with myself over him. It also explained why he said he was mine.

  Because he was.

  “Holy shit,” Neve muttered. “Holy shit.”

  “I know,” I agreed. “It still leaves so many questions unanswered, though.”