by Jaime Marks
He studied her a moment and offered a curt nod. “We’ll deal with it, but I need time to calm down and think it through beforehand.”
Mythos sighed as she nodded. There were so many struggles they all had to endure. The last thing they needed was this level of tension between them. Everything had been aired and set out in the open, but the King could easily tell that none of it had been dealt with. It was not so much the relations between Byryn, Kyle, and the girls that were the issue, but the lack of trust that had brought them out in the open and the rifts between them and some of the others.
He had intended to immediately return to the Realm of Light after this meeting and remain there predominantly, but it looked as if he needed to keep a closer eye on the interactions and such of his family for now. Things had begun to disintegrate in his absence these last couple weeks. He looked over to Stephynia, feeling the pain that permeated them both. This separation was about to become far more difficult than he anticipated.
Chapter 22
Byryn breathed deeply as Wytheryn tentatively rested a hand on his shoulder. He looked up slightly surprised, but covered it quickly. “You alright, oryto?” As best as Byryn could tell it wasn’t like him to act of his own accord, but he wanted to encourage that. He wanted his brother to find his way in all this.
He nodded and glanced among the four of them hesitantly. “The Princesses should rest. Would you like me to bring a couch over for them, sir?”
He smiled and pat his cheek. “Thank you, but you don’t need to do that. Take Narysia and join my Father please. I’ll have the girls join you.” He turned to Staryana. “Baby girl, my brother’s right. You shouldn’t be so stressed out or on your feet so long. I know you’re not an invalid, but I’ll feel a lot better once the Healer has a look at the two of you and lets me know what we should expect. Take eria and sit.”
She smiled and leaned up to kiss him before taking Astryn by the hand. He watched as Wytheryn guided the three girls over to his Dad and smiled as both he and his Dad began fussing over them. Wytheryn poured them both a glass of water, handing it to them and then continued getting them each a plate of fruit. Staryana looked up in exasperation but he only smirked. He didn’t really have an issue with Wytheryn fulfilling his need for service by caring for them. It meant he knew they had what they needed while he and Kyle dealt with this mess. Besides, Wytheryn seemed more than content to be allowed to do so.
He measured the mood of everyone in the room. Felycia looked up meeting his gaze and gave him a brief nod. He suspected she was purposely refraining from being involved in most of this, but he could tell she wanted him to know they were fine.
Walking over he knelt by her and Bryce exchanging a nod with Devyn. “How’s he handling this tension? You don’t have to be here if it’s upsetting him. I know…” He scratched his brow. “Tension isn’t great for the little guy.”
“He’s fine.” She smiled as he bounced in her lap.
“Mama ma ma maaam,” Bryce babbled reaching up to Felycia’s face happily and Byryn smiled.
“When did he start that?” It felt like even with him so close he missed so much.
“This morning.” She set him down on the floor beside Byryn and he hooked his little hands on his leg, pulling himself to his feet. “I’m learning sometimes I’m too smothering.”
Byryn tapped his little nose and he giggled up at him. “No one faults you for that, Felycia. You’re great with him.” He looked up at her. “You know nothing’s changed, right? I’ll always be here for him, for both of you.”
“I know.” She nodded glancing to Devyn as she took his hand. “Are umm..” She hesitated but seemed to gain strength as Devyn nodded. “Are you and Star still ok taking him for a day or two if we need?”
He smiled warmly. “Of course, you two deserve to get away for a while and we’d love to have him. I’m sure Kylion would be ecstatic, but just let me make sure the Brood isn’t focused on the Realm of Light right now. Things are safe here, but I want to be sure you’re not walking yourself into danger.”
“Of course.” She nodded watching Bryce.
He dropped back down and pushed onto his hands and knees, rocking back and forth. They watched him a few seconds before he started crawling across the floor. Felycia gasped with surprise and went to jump up to catch him but, Byryn stilled her with a chuckle. “He’s fine, just…enjoy the moment a minute. Let him explore. He’s safe here.”
Devyn wrapped and arm around her. “Your brother is right. He is a growing boy, Felycia. Allow him to grow.”
He crawled over to Kyle and he looked down at him with a smile when he grabbed at his leg. “Hey little guy, what do you think you’re doin’?”
Bryce babbled happily sitting back and reached up for him. Kyle lifted him and carried him back to them. Seeing his gemyn with his son made him smile.
Reaching for his Mom he called out to her. “Ma ma mama ma.”
The entire thing calmed his rage to a simmer. Bryce always had that effect on him, but seeing his sister finally start to relax and let Devyn get close again was a relief. He meant it when he said she was a good Mother, but he knew she needed to let Bryce have some breathing room and live for herself as well. She needed to let go of the guilt.
Kyle laughed. “I think he wants you, Felycia.”
“Yeah.” She took him back happily. “Thanks, Kyle.”
“No problem.” His gemyn smiled before looking down to where Byryn knelt. “Everything ok?”
“Yeah, we’re good.” He stood kissing Felycia and Bryce on the head before clasping Devyn’s arm.
“Congratulations on the news of your young, Byryn, Kyle.” Devyn smiled warmly but quickly became serious. “If either of you ever need, I expect you to come to me, even if it is just to voice frustration. I am not just your Fae in Law, Byryn, or somefae the two of you spar with. I am the eldest of the Lucerna Lines. I have faith in you both. I clearly see the love amongst the four of you and I accept it.”
Byryn studied him skeptically, “I’m not trying to diminish what you say, Devyn…but you were far more critical of Marcus and Cymeryn.”
He sighed heavily, “I was. Cymeryn and I had been enemies for a very long time and it was difficult to see past the anger and hatred I held for him.” He glanced over Byryn’s shoulder to where his Grandsire had appeared. “We have just really begun to work through much of this, but I have no issue with what you share. There may be strict rules about the interactions between males and females, Byryn, but do you really believe all Fae remain fully chaste? I am over three hundred cycles old. I have seen many things in my days at the fronts.”
Byryn rose a brow in shock glancing between him and Cymeryn. “I…but the Fae are so…judgmental.”
Devyn huffed but then considered his words and nodded. “I suppose I can see how you feel that way. It is not that you would see such interaction openly, and yes, if they were exposed they would likely bear a great deal of scrutiny.”
“Females were not always permitted to serve. As Commanders, at the fronts you learn to look the other way when the intimate bonds between soldiers become more intense and committed. Most do not feel the relations between them hold the same weight as that of mates, however.” Cymeryn shrugged. “Such relationships tended to only last through the tenure of their post, though were generally continued as close friendships after. I have never seen evidence of it in the Capitol.”
Marcus joined them. “The Capitol is…far more refined in its tastes. There are things you would see in other sectors, I suspect, that one in the Capitol would never accept. The Fae there tend to hail from the oldest lines and are amongst the eldest of our race.”
Byryn nodded. “Gotcha. We weren’t exactly planning on openly displaying our affection in public.” Kyle blushed causing Byryn to chuckle. “Relax, gemyn.” He caressed his cheek taunting him but let him go. “I know how difficult that was for you.”
“We’ll talk about it later,” he replied nodding to the others
as he went over and sat with the girls.
It was difficult for Kyle to reveal their connection so openly. He’d been through so much with Alayne that sometimes it made him ashamed of who he was, but they’d come far in the last few days. There were some lines they hadn’t crossed yet, but he’d stopped pushing Byryn away. He wasn’t denying what he felt or turning away from his affection. Actually he’d been fairly open about their affection lately, all things considered.
“Are we done?” Devyn requested glancing to Steph. “I was under the impression there was something more.”
Byryn nodded. “There is and we should wrap this up because there’s more we need to attend to.”
He walked back to the center of the room as he measured Steph. “There are a couple more things we need to address.” He sighed heavily hating this, “Mythos, maybe this would be best coming from you?”
The King nodded hesitantly and joined him. “For those of you who have not figured this much, there will be no Bonding Ritual this eve. There was an…incident involving mental manipulation on John’s part and it has left my Queen shaken.” He studied her a moment as if to see how she reacted but she didn’t look up at either of them. “She needs time to sort out the things that trouble her mind and I am granting her that time. Stephynia will remain here. Our suite is hers until she deems otherwise. In the meantime, I understand the boy has awakened?”
Byryn nodded. “Yes. His name is now Ravyshyn, but I don’t know for sure which of my brothers awakened him.” That wasn’t entirely true. He was pretty sure it was Vilyn, but he needed to test Steph.
“Vilyn, but he retains his father’s name,” she replied looking up to meet him in the eye. “His name is Ravyshyn a Atlyion. There’s no reason to play games with me, Byryn. I know you read your line easily.”
“Sorry sprite. I needed to be sure you weren’t being controlled in some way. I trust you, but I promised you I’d protect you and I meant it. If there was some sort of connection that needed to be broken I needed to know.” He was more than aware of the irony that this conversation reflected who things should’ve gone between him and the twins, but he ignored it for now. Right now he was worried about Steph, but she only nodded in understanding.
Cymeryn scoffed, “I should have known. I knew he looked somehow familiar. Atlyion was newly sired by Alayne when their line moved against ours. He was brutal and had a strength to him, but he fell by my blade.”
Mythos grunted, “I want him found. He is a threat to Stephynia and as of this moment I am ordering him hunted down and killed.”
“You can’t!” Steph jumped to her feet. “What about my Father, Mythos?”
“We will find another way,” he asserted. “If he is the poison that is clouding your mind, if he is that which causes you such pain, I will end him. I cannot bear to see you suffer this because of the hold he has on you.”
“Fine, then capture him and get the information we need. He’s the only one who knows where my Father is,” she argued but Byryn didn’t miss the way her hands shook.
This wasn’t just about Ceryn. John, Ravyshyn, whatever the hell he wanted to be called now, might not have control over her, but he’d definitely gotten to her. Whether that was through their past or the bonds that male had created with her, he wasn’t sure, but he’d have to keep an eye on his sprite. He wouldn’t let that bastard ruin her life.
Wytheryn caught Byryn’s eye. “Sir?”
“What is it, Wyth? You can speak freely. If you know something that could help here, I expect you to share it,” he assured him.
“It is not entirely true that Atlyion is the only one who knows,” he offered as he looked to Steph. “You are Cerulyion, are you not? The young of Ceryn a Cerulyion?”
“Yes,” she replied studying him in confusion.
“I know where your Father is held. I was among those who were tasked with seeing to his care in between…sessions with…Alayne,” he explained, but it was clear he was suddenly fighting against something. He breathed deeply and appeared to almost brace himself. Byryn glanced to Kyle but his gemyn was already monitoring it. “He’s on Earth…in the safehold where I was kept.”
Cymeryn sat forward. “Is that what you meant when you said you could help us find some who were lost? Were there others?”
Wytheryn rubbed his head looking up to Byryn and he could already see the sweat on his brow. “Alayne has…the power of foresight. He sees many things…but only pieces…and tends to act on them. He keeps a journal…of all his visions. Cerulyion somehow found…the journal…and knew much of Alayne’s plans. Because of this…he orchestrated the strike on the Cerulyion Line…It wasn’t until later that he realized…Ceryn had survived. He had a vision of Ceryn’s young…the power she would possess. I doubt he knew…she had already been born. Ceryn was brought…to the safehold about…four years ago and…Alayne has been breeding him…attempting to create…the prophesized young.”
“Breeding him?” Steph stammered in disbelief, her shock cutting through the gold that had begun to fill her eyes for whatever reason.
Wytheryn nodded. “He knew the…lineage of the young. There is a female…amongst his breeders…he has been using…to ensure the proper…lineage. She has born Ceryn…two young, both sons.”
Grifyn started. “Breeder? What is a breeder?”
Byryn breathed deeply glancing to Cymeryn before he answered. “Many of the Shade feel humans are beneath them, sometimes Fae too. The only use they see for them is toys, tools, and breeding; carrying their young.”
“You said he knew what Steph’s lines would be. Who is the breeder he’s using?” Grifyn demanded.
“Her name…is Demarys,” he replied as his eyes squeezed shut and he forced himself to continue through the pain Byryn sensed in him. He should stop this but he knew Kyle had him. His gemyn was already piecing together the solution he needed to free Wytheryn in his mind and he needed to sense whatever connection remained between his brother and Alayne to be sure. “She has been…there…since before…my birth.”
Grifyn jolted to his feet. “Demarys is alive?”
“Who is Demarys?” Byryn asked distracted by his reaction.
“Our sister,” Demytria replied quietly. “She’s was thought to be dead.”
“She was alive…before I…was returned…to the Brood,” Wytheryn offered. “As were the…other…two Fae my mas…Alayne holds…there…”
“Three? Tell us Wytheryn.” Byryn commanded sensing he needed the added push as he began massaging his temples.
They needed the information but he might not be able to handle much more. He cursed to himself. The bond should have been broken, but it clear the High Priest had a stronger hold on him than they’d anticipated last night. Watching him go through this pain tore at him. Wytheryn’s knee was bouncing and he was tapping his foot as if agitated. Byryn knew his gemyn just a little more to find what they needed to fix this, but he wasn’t sure he could take much more.
Finally Kyle nodded to him as he shifted Astryn from his lap, He moved beside Wyth, letting his essence flow through him. “It’s ok, oryto. I’ve got you.” He looked up meeting Byryn’s eyes. “He needs to perform the rites again and we need to discuss the Claiming. Alayne’s hold is too strong. It won’t wait, not if he’s picked up on the information he’s giving us. I didn’t even know this shit and he’s fighting to break your bond. There’s no way if he succeeds he’ll let Wytheryn live.”
Byryn scrubbed his face and walked over kneeling in front of him. “Wyth we need to reduce the hold Alayne has on you further. Binding to me wasn’t enough. Kyle already told you it wouldn’t be. You need to be Claimed so that there’s a second hold on your blood. Is there anyone you’d feel comfortable enough to accept in that way? Any male in this room would accept you. We’re your family, Wytheryn.”
“Only you…and Kyle,” he gritted shaking his head. “No Fae else.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to have that much control over you. I�
�m not denying you, but I’ve already bound you and we’ve agreed I’ll awaken you. There needs to be some sort of balance,” he reasoned.
Wytheryn searched his face desperately and Byryn could feel his pain. “Then let…Kyle be…that balance.”
“He’d be Claiming you as his son. You’re only a few months younger than him.”
Kyle rested his hand on his shoulder. “I can manage this. I know how to overcome the connection issue and if he won’t accept anyone else…” Kyle shrugged as he considered everything. “I’m already connected to him through you, but it would need to be kept private. I’d be Claiming Wytheryn as my son and technically, Narysia is my aunt. There isn’t a direct familial link between them, but it would be kind of weird publically. Our connection should balance it so no one would think it was odd if they sensed him, but he’d need to either take your name or keep your line’s.”
Cymeryn stood over them. “Kyle’s right regarding the familial bonds. I have already realized that neither I nor Marcus can Claim him without causing public scrutiny, but I thought you said it was a risk to attempt that because of your birth lineage, son.”
Kyle smirked mischievously. “Well yeah, if I Claimed him outright without any preparation it would be.”
Byryn nodded following his thoughts. “How much?”
“I’ll know when I feel it. Not as much as the first time. Originally I intended to take from both you and Astryn if it became necessary, but I won’t risk that with her carrying my young.”
Byryn glanced to Wytheryn. “When?”