by Jaime Marks
He felt a sudden warmth pushing against the cold, but it wasn’t the gentle warmth he felt from Staryana. It wasn’t the same as when Marcus had calmed him in the hotel. This burned. He gritted through the pain trying to suppress the scream. The howl that echoed through the woods was almost inhuman.
He heard Star come bursting through the tree line. “Byryn!”
He felt her push her way under his arm as she spoke to Ryo. “What’s happening? Is he awakening?”
“I don’t know.” Ryo spoke quietly. “We should take him back to the cottage. Hopefully Princess Reyana will return soon.”
“Return?” He could hear the surprise in Staryana’s voice. “Where are they?”
“She went to try to heal Kato. Our best bet is to be there when they return.” Ryo sighed, “I don’t believe anyone besides her has the power to save him.”
“You can’t help him?” There was fear in her voice, “I can’t lose him, Ryo.”
Byryn wanted to reach out to calm her but the pain in him was so volatile that he couldn’t speak. He reached up with a shaking hand and gently tugged one of her curls before his arm dropped of its own accord. He felt the soft kiss on his forehead.
“You’re not going to lose him Princess Staryana.”
Byryn heard her huff. “Don’t call me that.” He would have laughed if he could have.
A sudden wave of ice wrapped through him and he shivered in its grasp. He heard a taunting voice sing through his head.
“Soon Byryn, soon you won’t have a choice but to return to me. I will own you boy. Bring the girl to Cymeryn or you will be denied.”
It was Trevyn. He was out of time, the awakening was upon him. The message was clear. If he didn’t betray her no Shade would assist him, and he would die. If that was the choice he faced, there really was no other choice. Watching her suffer at the hands of the Shade would destroy him. It would destroy her. Worse yet was the thought that if she had her way, it would be he that broke her. He would be the one who destroyed her.
A new wave of pain lashed through him as he drew Light into himself through Ryo’s hand as he held him up. The burn boiled through his blood. The last thought he had as he gave into the pain was that he would destroy himself before he ever gave his Dark side the chance to so much as make her cry.
Chapter 21
Grifyn could feel the changes in him as the Light and the Dark merged. He felt a peace he had never known, not being pulled in one direction or the other by force. It wasn’t as clear cut either, there was no definitive division between the Light and the Dark guiding him, but it was as if he was the one who decided what was wrong and right.
Killing of any kind had always been wrong, but battles in the war were justified because it had been part of his purpose, it had been in his blood. He didn’t feel guilt over those battles, he hadn’t caused them, but there were certain deaths at his hand he now saw differently. There was no winning the war, he realized. Both sides suffered grave losses in each battle. War was pointless. He didn’t deny the need to defend against the Shade. The Fae had no choice, but there would be no great final battle that ended it all, he realized. At least not unless it killed them all. The only way to end this war, was through change. He was part of that change now. He, the Princess Reyana, Marcus, the Princess Staryana, Byryn, even Valeryn. It would be through their actions, through the change they created that the war would end.
He rose slowly, feeling slightly light-headed.
“How do you feel?” Reyana asked as she rose in front of him.
He immediately bowed before her. “Thank you Princess, you have done me a great honor in this.”
She nodded and signaled him to rise.
King Mythos approached him cautiously. “Are you fit to continue the task at hand, Grifyn?”
“Yes, my Lord, in truth I have only ever felt better on my bonding day.” Grifyn nodded.
Marcus studied him and then looked to Valeryn who was standing now as he spoke with Sheyna in hushed tones.
“Valeryn, approach.” Marcus commanded.
“Yes Praetor,” Valeryn came forth and bowed at the waste before standing at attention.
“How is your health, are you able to return to the fronts?”
“Yes Praetor, whatever your order, I am able and ready to follow with honor and Light.” Valeryn bowed.
Marcus looked to Grifyn. He could feel the Praetor in his mind asking his opinion of Valeryn and he gave it freely in silence. He was a formidable soldier and an honorable Fae. Grifyn felt if Reyana cleared him then he would be valuable to the mission. Marcus turned to Reyana and he could only assume a similar conversation was taking place.
“You will accompany us to the Council.” Marcus ordered.
“Y- Yes Praetor, I will endeavor to exceed your expectations.” Valeryn bowed in shock.
“See that you do, Valeryn. The Princess and Grifyn vouch for your transition to Gray, but I also understand your judgments are at your own accord. You have the propensity to act in either accord with Light, or with Dark. Given your past you must understand, if you show signs of betrayal, there will not be another chance granted.”
“I do, Commander. I must also confess, Praetor Marcus that I harbor strong feelings for the Fae Sheyna and if she would have me, I would take her as my bonded mate. I understand the requirements and will accept the transfer of units.”
“The condition is waved, Valeryn, you will remain with this unit unless you are unable to keep your personal feelings separate and your head level. Do you understand?” Marcus spoke frankly, no room for opposition in his voice. Grifyn had to admire the presence of his old friend. He was indeed intimidating and commanded authority as no other Praetor ever had, even when Marcus had held the post himself a hundred years prior.
“Thank you Praetor, I will not disappoint you, Commander.”
“Good, now rejoin your rank.”
“If I may?” Valeryn posed quietly.
“Yes, Valeryn?” Marcus raised a brow at the Fae, Gray? What were they now?
“I have retained some but not all of my memories from when I was Tainted, Commander,” Valeryn turned cautiously to Mythos going to his knee. “Cymeryn owns at least half of the Council. They are Tainted. We can recognize one another though we were told never to interact outside of our normal duties unless otherwise ordered. Also, I do not know how far they have managed, but I was there when Crytos ordered Councilman Freyion to proceed with the decree to claim the power of the throne, your majesty.”
“Absurd,” Mythos scoffed. “It goes against all of the covenants!”
“Indeed it does your majesty, and it was not supposed to happen yet. All Tainted knew that Cymeryn was going to have the Council usurp the throne once there was enough unrest and certain primary figures were not of concern.”
“Who were these figures?” Marcus demanded.
“I only know of three Praetor Kato, Grifyn, and Devyn. I believe you would have been of the highest priority Praetor Marcus, however Cymeryn did not expect your return. He wanted everyone in the territories to search for you whenever the chance presented itself. He believed you lived and had plans for you, but he didn’t view you as a threat to his plan due to your long absence.”
Grifyn approached. “So they have Kato. Even if they did not know Trina was my mate, they know now. They probably assume that I’m compromised. Devyn has been overwhelmed beyond distraction at the fronts. When you left to assist us, you gave them the very opportunity they were looking for. The order would never hold but they didn’t need it to hold. They only need to set a trap to kill the King.”
Marcus nodded. “They have to know we would come for Kato at some point. They know we’re here.”
“It would explain the lack of patrols at the gates. As they have yet to engage us here, they must have gone onto the Council anticipating that would be our next move.” Mythos stated, his ire evident.
“Grifyn, we need more Guardians. Decide who you would trust but run
the list through Valeryn to see if any of them are known to him as Tainted.” Marcus paced as he spoke. “Let’s minimize the threat of the Tainted as much as possible at the moment. Reyana, my love, please stay close to me, I need you to sense them, but I need to know you are safe more.”
She came over taking his hand, “Closeness you never need to apologize for.” She turned to Grifyn. “When you’re ready.”
Grifyn recited a list to Valeryn who stated that two were Tainted.
“We will need a full list of the Tainted, Valeryn. They will need to be detained and redeemed.” Mythos spoke the anger still evident in his voice.
Valeryn nodded to the King.
Grifyn stood beside Marcus and sent forth his essence through the mist. Six Fae took form and he stepped forward. “Praetor Marcus, may I present Gavyn, Alaria, Hyracen, Tryxia, Nycin, and Damyrous.” He continued with the presentation.
“Princess Reyana?” Marcus implored resuming the required formality.
“They are all untainted. Praetor.” Reyana nodded. “There is no Dark influence.”
“Good, a word, Princess?” Marcus bowed a small smile on his face. He knew how Reyana deplored the formality.
They walked off together, speaking in hushed tones.
Grifyn approached the King, “Are you alright, my lord?”
He eased with a chuckle, “I feel as though you are the one who we should be concerned with my friend. How are you?”
“I’m well Mythos, I truly am.” He spoke in hushed tones so the other Fae could not detect the lack of formality. “In some ways, I feel stronger because I’m my own master. My Light itself is not as strong, but my essence itself is stronger, balanced and in many ways enhanced.”
Mythos only nodded, “What do you think my sister and her mate are planning? If they wanted privacy they would have left the suite.”
“I don’t know, my lord, but I sense you’re correct. He is definitely up to something.” Grifyn replied unable to hide his grin.
“He always is Grifyn.” The King shook his head, but his smile was evident. He was pleased to have Marcus back, even more so that the Princess was with them once more.
The bonded couple approached them and Marcus kept his voice low as he spoke. “I think it would be best if Reyana offered the Fae present the option of becoming Gray before we go to the Council.”
“I am uncertain Marcus, we have yet to see what the long term affects will be of this, I can understand Grifyn’s reasoning as it will protect him from turning, but to continue without more knowledge seems fool hardy.”
“It is the best strategy, brother,” Reyana spoke. “The Shade’s greatest weapon and our greatest weakness is the way Fae react to their essence. The Gray will not have that weakness and the Shade will lose their advantage.”
“My lord,” Grifyn spoke, “Sense me and ease your mind. I open myself to you completely, I have nothing to hide from you.”
The King studied his face carefully and then nodded. He rested a hand on Grifyn’s shoulder and he felt the intense Light of the King pierce through his natural barriers as he sensed through his being. He opened his heart and mind to Mythos. When the King was satisfied he withdrew.
Mythos studied the three of them. “I am still unsure of this, but it is the prophecy, and there does not appear to be any cause for concern within Grifyn. You are Praetor, Marcus, with all the authority of that command. If it is your will, then proceed.”
“Thank you, my lord. Reyana, Grifyn, explain to them what it is, what it means and what takes place. We must all stress this is optional. I don’t want the Fae to feel we are staging a coupe. However many will accept the change, we will change and the others may remain as they are.”
This was the beginning, Grifyn thought, as he approached the Fae. This was the beginning of a new era. It would take time. There were thousands and thousands of Fae, and even more Shade. The Shade out-numbered the Fae, two to one now, not counting the large number of Tainted that apparently existed. Change did not happen overnight, but one day, they would all be one. One species, one nation, one people.
This was change and for the first time in a long time, Grifyn felt something growing in his heart that he thought he lost the day his sister turned. It was the one gift not even Trina had managed to help him regain. Hope.
Kato stirred slowly. His arms were bound above his head and his ankles were likewise bound to the hard table he lay on. He tried opening his eyes but it was hard to tell if he succeeded as everything was still pitch black.
He closed his eyes and thought of her; his mate. It had been so long since he touched her, held her. So long since he knew the feel of her core as it held his sex. When she came to him, he knew he should fight her. He knew she would try to break him, but he did not care. He let her think he fought, let her think she had forced him, he would fake his way through whatever act he needed to just to feel her again. He had turned the tables on her though. He had rolled her onto her back showing her the tenderness he had always shown her. Willing her to feel the love he sent her through his touch.
She had not stopped him. At first it seemed almost like she relented to it, but then she almost seemed to enjoy the gentle caresses from his hands and tongue, the feel of his lips. He had tasted her sweet nectar and though there was a chill to her and she was not quite as sweet as he remembered, he had reveled in it because it was her. He had taken her over that edge time and time again with tenderness and love and she had enjoyed it.
He knew he had not fully reached her. It was not nearly enough to turn her. When they had finished she rose slowly turning from him. She whispered that she had only been sating herself on the pain that still coursed through him from his wound then she stormed from the room.
He knew better, he knew she was still in there. Somewhere under that hard and cruel exterior was the Fae he loved and he was not giving up. He had sensed her as they made love. There was no denying she was there. It was enough to give him strength to fight the Darkness coursing through his veins. He had to fight it. If he could not fight this they would both be lost and now that he knew he had managed to reach her once, he knew he could do it again.
He had to tread carefully, however. He knew Demytria was Cymeryn’s favorite. He had come to his cell, offering her to him, telling him all the ways he had taken her and how he still reveled in her flesh. It made him sick to his stomach. Cymeryn offered to release her, to gift her to him as if she were a possession to be traded. If Cymeryn thought instead of being swayed to turn that Kato was actually reaching Demytria, working to strengthen any connection he could find that tied her to the Light? Either Cymeryn would take over and break him himself, or he would simply destroy him.
Kato heard the soft groan of a female to his left in the cell, “Who is there?” He asked cautiously. He could only hope it was not Reyana or Star. He knew that they had left to obtain one or both of them when he had been moved to this cell.
“It is Trina, Praetor.” She whispered just loud enough for him to hear.
“Trina, no…” Kato shook his head, he knew the atrocities that female Fae suffered at the hands of the Shade, “Have they harmed you? Are you alright?”
“No Praetor, they have been busy enough that they have saved my torture graciously until they can get to me.” She huffed, “But the bindings I hang from are cutting into my wrists and I fear at this rate I may lose them. Praetor, they have gathered the unawakened Fae. They mean to kill them all.”
“No,” It was a heinous notion even for Cymeryn. Resolve coursed through Kato. “You must tell me Trina, everything you know since I have been wounded.”
He listened quietly while she told him of Byryn, Grifyn’s pledge of protection, and the hidden realm Marcus was to take them all too.
“Trina, you must answer me this honestly, and please do not fear repercussions. I only ask because I need to know what I may have to work with. Is Grifyn your mate?”
He heard her sigh in resignation. “Yes Praetor, we have
been bonded mates since our last post here on Earth.”
“Then he will come for you. He has the means in Byryn, and Marcus will not leave you behind if he has any other options. We must reserve our strength and search for some way to get free of these bindings. They will come and we need to find some way to be ready. The race cannot afford to lose the unawakened, they comprise three quarters of the next generation.”
Kato needed to find a way to fight. He needed to save those poor kids. He knew there was no way that Marcus and Grifyn knew of the intended slaughter. He had to be sure it did not occur before they were able to act.
Trina’s voice was grim. She was all too aware of the fate she faced. “I will do my best Praetor. I can only hope Trevyn remains distracted before that time.”
He could hear the resignation in her voice. He could only imagine what she had been put through even if she claimed they had not had the chance. There was pain in her voice and he knew she was wounded. Whether she was holding back out of pride or because she did not want him to worry for her was no matter. It was obvious that his wound had been greater. He stared down to his wound but he was unable to see anything in the Dark. The flesh itself felt like it was healing but there was still a great deal of Dark essence slithering its way through his being. The pain was excruciating. He could endure it though. For Demytria, he could endure it all and survive. He would get through this, and when he left this dreadful place…he was taking his mate with him.
Chapter 22
They took form just outside the Council. There were eight Gray including Marcus, Grifyn and Reyana; and six Fae including Mythos. Four more of the Guardians had requested the change and Reyana had been able to convert them in roughly forty minutes without any real strain on herself.
Mythos studied them all. He was unsure what this would all mean. It was not that he did not trust his sister and the prophecy was clear, but he had always viewed the Fae and Shade as separate species. The Darkness disgusted him. It twisted love into Dark obsession, it twisted commitment into ownership. He did not know that he wanted to give any form of it purchase in his veins.