by Jaime Marks
“Well, we really haven’t had a reason to test it either,” Marcus mused. “It’s a simple thing for the Fae to seek Redemption and hence until there is a Gray/Light awakening we really do not know that there would be issue…”
Byryn cut off their conversation, “They’re coming. Greg and Ploxyn are first, they have Kyle between them. Wytheryn has Staryana behind them. Luke has Kylion after that. Tyson is carrying Felycia, she’s still unconscious. John’s behind them carrying Steph.”
“Let us know as they step in, Byryn, as best you can,” Marcus ordered drawing his sword glancing between him and his Grandsire. “And remember we cannot kill them.”
“Indeed, but maiming them is no issue,” Cymeryn grunted.
Amazingly Devyn nodded in agreement. “We make them pay.”
“Greg on the right, Plox on the left, with Kyle in between,” Byryn whispered standing ready.
Kato and Grifyn stood at either side of the entryway waiting. The boys appeared and they knocked the guns from their hands ripping them from the doorway. Kyle rolled out of the way throwing himself on the ground before rolling up to his feet in preparation.
“Wytheryn and Star. She’s on his right, gun on the left.” He grit his teeth, “Marcus, I need to get Kylion.”
Marcus stood ready. “I know. We have her, Byryn. See to your son.”
The boy appeared and Cymeryn and Marcus moved in unison. Marcus grabbed Star as Cymeryn disarmed him and took him down. Byryn let out a breath of relief noticing Marcus beside him with Star.
“Luke had the gun on the right. They were right behind them.”
“Get back, Star. You take Kylion, Byryn,” Marcus ordered pushing her back towards Kyle.
He held his breath moving close to the left side of the entryway. They appeared and Byryn ripped Kylion from his grasp he heard the gun go off but Kylion appeared to be fine. He scanned him carefully but he was alright, safe. He passed him to Staryana who had appeared at his side and readied himself to help Devyn just as Tyson stepped through. He allowed Devyn to take Felycia as he grabbed hold of Tyson smashing him face first into a tree. He struggled to reach for the gun at his waist but Byryn easily knocked it from his hand. He bashed his head harder against the tree knocking him out and then turned to take in their surroundings.
John appeared and he lunged forward as Mythos grabbed Steph ripping her from his arms. Byryn speared into the bastard’s chest. They would’ve ended up back in the Realm of Balance but the portal shifted locations just before he made contact. He slammed his fist into John’s jaw and skull repeatedly but he somehow managed to buck him off and Byryn rolled to his feet.
“You son of a bitch!” He cursed kicking away the gun that he had knocked out of his hand and drew the sword Cymeryn had given him earlier. “How dare you go after my mate?! My son! My sisters!” He spat.
John chuckled cracking his neck. “Steph’s not your sister and Star was never really yours. She belongs to Alayne.”
“It’s your last mistake, John. This is three strikes and I promise you won’t be able to walk when I’m done. You’ll be fucking lucky if you’re alive.” They paced circling one another.
Out of nowhere Steph jumped between them. “No Byryn!”
“Stephynia, please listen!” Mythos begged misting to Byryn’s side.
“Neither of you are going to do a damn thing to him,” she scowled the rage pulsing off her in waves.
“I swear to you, caria, if you come with me he will not be harmed. We will take him back. He is human, we cannot kill him,” Mythos pleaded. “Please, you are not yourself. I need you to come with me.”
Her hands went to her head and she groaned in frustration, “Why can’t I think?!”
“Don’t let them confuse you, baby. Remember what I promised you, they can’t help you with that only I can.” John took a step towards her but she stepped back.
“Don’t touch me, John I need to figure this shit out!” She snapped as Light essence flooded her skin.
“Caria, listen to me. You drank his essence and it is clouding your mind. I need you to look inside your heart, Stephynia. Feel the love we share, the piece of my heart you hold,” Mythos pleaded with her. “Do not leave me, please.”
She took a step away from them, towards John. “I don’t understand.”
Byryn watched John as he sent his essence out to her. She eased slightly. He was using what control he had over her and getting ready to grab her. He wasn’t gonna let that happen. Taking advantage of his distraction Byryn misted behind him driving his blade into his back. He drew his sword back and watched him bleed. It wasn’t a lethal blow but he’d need to be healed before he bled out and it would lay him out for a few weeks. It wasn’t nearly enough.
“Byryn!” Steph screamed. “What the hell did you do?! John!”
He looked up to see her rushing to John, reaching for him. Mythos misted and intercepted her. He wrapped his arms around, her holding her firmly despite how desperately she fought. “Shhh, caria. I need to calm you. Please be at ease.”
Byryn watched his essence wrap around her before turning to Cymeryn as he drug the unawakened Wytheryn over to him. “Tell him. Now!” His Grandsire commanded.
The unawakened glared at Cymeryn with a look of pure hatred. Byryn had felt the Command as his Grandsire spoke but Wytheryn fought it spitefully, almost as if he was proving himself in some way. If he didn’t want the bastard’s head he might have been impressed.
He turned meeting his eyes with disgust as he measured him. “I am your brother, Byryn. My real name is Wytheryn a Trevyn, son of the human Crystal Franklin,” he stated plainly, “our Mother.”
“Impossible. I would have sensed it in you,” Byryn snapped. “You’re not Brood and we sure as hell aren’t full blooded.”
“It is true. I was masked by High Priest Alayne who has held me these years so that I would remain unknown. He has only recently returned me to our brothers. I don’t tell you for your mercy or pity. I tell you because I have a message for you, brother,” Wytheryn replied passively but as he glanced to Staryana his voice became almost reverent. “The Princess is already his. Darkness owns her in a way that you cannot comprehend. You have a choice to make. Join her, joining him, pledging your life and loyalty to him, and he will allow you to remain at her side. Continue to fight this and she will be reclaimed regardless. You were born of and raised in the Darkness. It will always own you, this is your true destiny, but you will not live to take your place among us if you stand between Alayne and his bride. There is only so much leeway he will grant.”
Byryn scoffed, “Alayne can go to hell.” He flipped John over and kicked him in the gut.
“That is enough. The boy needs to live despite everything he deserves,” Cymeryn cautioned. “He is not worth risking turning, Byryn.”
“Your Shade is showing, brother. I can feel it,” Wytheryn smirked devilishly. “Sooner or later, you will fall.”
Byryn ignored him looking at Steph who was still crying for John relentlessly. “He’s too dangerous, Cymeryn. Look at everything he’s done to her, tried to do to Staryana.”
“Byryn?” He turned to his brightness who stood a few feet away cradling Kylion. His bindings and gag were removed and tears streamed down his face. “Let him live for now. He’ll awaken soon enough. We take him back and let him die in it.” Her eyes swirled Dark a moment but cleared quickly as she turned to Kylion.
“Alright, baby,” Byryn conceded reluctantly as he looked back down at John. He’d give her anything to keep her safe and protect her. If he killed this bastard he risked bringing her down with him and that was the only reason he stopped. “But this isn’t over. I’m gonna make sure your stay is the most painful experience of your life right up until you die you son of a bitch.”
John smirked, coughing through the pain as he spoke. “I could be a valuable ally, Byryn. I have resources in both lines through several factions. You might change your mind soon.”
Cymeryn’s brow
lowered as he studied Staryana and Byryn but he didn’t comment on it. “We should get back. It is not safe to remain here long. I am trying to block us from sensure but it is extremely difficult with so many out in the open like this. I have not yet exercised this ability in this manner.”
Byryn met eyes with Wytheryn a moment seeing his smug satisfaction. He thought they were shifting. Cymeryn may even be considering it. Didn’t matter, he was in complete control but he would make an example out of John. He didn’t care if his Dark side needed to make an appearance on occasion. It served its purpose.
Mythos came over with Steph in his arms. He finally had her mostly calm. “She wants to speak with you, Byryn. I am rendering her to sleep, but I do not think she will calm fully until you hear her. She will not tell me what has her so upset.”
She grabbed a hold of his robe and he allowed her to pull him closer. “Hey sprite, you’re safe now,” he spoke quietly and gently stroked her hair trying to reassure her. “What’s up?”
“You can’t…kill him, Byryn,” she murmured almost whispering as she strained against the Command of sleep that Mythos held her under. “My Father…He knows how to find my Father…please don’t kill him…”
Shock laced through Mythos and Cymeryn as their eyes shot to John. Byryn shook his head as he watched her drift to sleep, finally relinquishing the resistance she held. He looked between them. “Don’t get ahead of yourselves. You don’t know if he was even telling her the truth. He probably used it to manipulate her.”
“No,” Cymeryn murmured. “He would not have brought up her long dead Father if there was no possibility of it. He would have had to know enough details to know it were even possible to convince her. We will have to interrogate him fully once he heals. For now though, let us just get everyfae home.”
Marcus walked over. “I say we mist Star, Steph, Felycia, and Kylion back. If we run into trouble at least we’ll know they are safely back in the realm.”
Cymeryn nodded. “I agree. If we can get Felycia away from Devyn.” He chuckled as he watched them. “That Fae is bound despite what he thinks.”
They all laughed as they watched Devyn holding Felycia tightly as he spoke quietly in her ear. Byryn couldn’t help but smile a moment when he saw she was awake and allowing him to comfort her. Whatever he had just said to her, she smiled. Byryn had never seen her smile before and it lit up her entire face. As hard as it was to allow this, he couldn’t bring himself to intervene.
He pulled Staryana and Kylion close. “You ok, little one? Brightness?” He asked before kissing her.
She nodded as Marcus used his essence to release her cuffs before walking off to check on the others.
“Daddy, I’m ok. I was strong just like you said,” Kylion murmured but he was still trembling and he had never called him Daddy before. Byryn could sense the fear and vulnerability in him.
“I know, Kylion. You were so brave.” He kissed his forehead to comfort him. “Grandpa Cymeryn’s gonna take you and your Mom back home now, ok? I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
Cymeryn shoved Wytheryn off to Kato. “Put him with the others. Are you ready Starshi…sorry, Staryana?”
“It’s alright. You can call me Starshine if you want, Cymeryn.” She smiled. “You’re about to become my Dad anyway, right?”
Cymeryn nodded but remained silently staring at her. If Byryn didn’t know better he’d almost say the Fae was choked up. They misted from his sight and he tried to stop his panic. He knew they were safe now. That wasn’t what had him worried. He looked around trying to figure out what was missing. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. It was this nagging feeling of loss he didn’t understand. Everything was still chaotic, he would probably feel better once they were all safe back at home.
Chapter 6
Once Devyn had Felycia in his arms he found that he could not let her go. At first he had been terrified. There was blood in her hair and she would not wake. If he could not have sensed her essence he would have fallen apart. He had kissed her head speaking softly to her, pleading with her to be alright. When her eyes fluttered open he could not stop himself, he kissed her. He did not mean to, and in truth he was scared that she might push him away, but in that moment, for that moment, she melted into him returning his affection.
He pulled back searching her eyes. “Felycia, I am sorry if I overstepped but I was so afraid I had lost you.” He tenderly touched her face, her lips, her hair.
She blinked staring up at him in confusion and he was uncertain if she was even fully lucid. Her head was bruised and while the wound had clotted, there was a lot of dried blood and the gash appeared quite deep. Had she not been fully Fae he doubted she would have survived. “D-Devyn? Where am I?”
“You are safe, dear girl. We are in the human realm but we will be returning to the Palace of Lunya shortly,” he explained softly. Her eyes widened but he held her close, comforting her. “Shhh, I will allow no further harm to come to you now that I have you back, Felycia. How do you feel? Your head…I think they rendered you unconscious by force and the wound is rather severe.”
“I, I have a headache, but I, I think I’m ok.” She stared up at him with fear and uncertainty in her beautiful Gray eyes but a sudden panic lit within them. “They’ll come for me, Devyn. Please don’t let them take me. I don’t want to go through that again. I can’t!”
“Shhh, it will be alright. I promise.” He tucked a cascading strand of her hair behind her ear. “I will never allow another thing to harm you if it is within my power, Felycia. I will keep you safe. I almost lost the chance to hold you, dear girl and I do not think that I can let you go yet. I know that you are uncertain but please, just allow me hold you.”
She nodded slowly. “I don’t want you to let go yet. I’m scared, Devyn,” tears streamed down her cheek as she whispered the words and he could see clearly how difficult it was for her to admit. “Oh god! Where’s Kylion? Did they kill him?”
“No, he is well, as is Princess Staryana. Lady Stephynia is shaken but she will be fine.” He stroked her cheek reassuring her. “Everyfae is alright. I am going to take you back to the Palace so you can rest, if you feel up to moving?”
She nodded. “Will you stay with me? When we get back? I don’t want to be alone. They came in through my closet.”
He grit his teeth, hating that she seemed so fragile and scared when he knew just from their few interactions the warrior she was. It did not matter. He would soothe her pain, calm her fears...if she allowed it. “I will take you to my suite for now. At least until we can be certain of your safety. That is…if you trust me, Felycia?”
She stared at him a few moments and he wondered if he had truly overstepped. The girl had barely agreed to accompany him to the banquet. Still, he would offer her all he had if she would allow it. He waited patiently for her response as he tried to figure out what it would take to convince her that she was safest at his side.
“I won’t lie to you, you scare the shit out of me, Devyn…” He drew back in confusion at her words. The last thing he wanted was to make this harder for her but she rambled on as he listened. “…but it’s only because I trust you so easily. I shouldn’t trust you, or anyone. The ones closest to you hurt you the most. I never let anyone get close because that’s how you get hurt but I do trust you.”
He let out the breath he held, kissing her head. If she had truly feared him he did not think he could bear it. “I promise you, I will never hurt you, dear girl. I could not bear to bring you harm. There is not much that I can offer in this moment, but that I swear to you.”
She searched his eyes for the truth and finally relaxed in his arms, cuddling ever close to his chest. He knew he should not allow this to continue so quickly, he knew she was not ready for such things and he doubted that he was even ready himself, but he could not stop himself. He needed to hold her as much as she needed to be held. It might be beyond his ability to believe but there was no part of him that did not feel s
he was his.
He needed time to reason this all out in his mind, but he already knew the truth of it. From the moment Marcus had come for him and told him she and the others were gone his heart had stopped beating. It had to in order for him to focus enough to get her back, if not it would have shattered. In truth, he had been relieved Byryn had taken down the boy that held her because all he could see was Felycia. He needed to be sure she was alright before he could allow his heart to beat again and if she had not been, he was quite certain it may never have.
He looked her over more carefully now ensuring there were no other injuries he may have missed. For the first time he noticed the gown she wore and how it traced over the curves of her form. Her hair was a mess and the blood still disturbed him but she was quite possibly the most exquisite creature he had ever beheld. When he met her eyes again he could not help the words that slid past his lips. “You are so beautiful my dear girl.”
He hesitated afraid he may have pushed too far but the warm smile that graced her lips melted his heart. He kissed her head and cheek caressing her softly. He knew part of both their reactions was simply the adrenaline and he wondered if she would still be this at ease with him once the shock wore off.
It was then, in that moment, he realized that he was terrified. For the first time in his existence, he held no control. It did not matter what he wished or chose, this beautiful, fragile creature in his arms held the reins and if she woke from this state unable to grant him access to her heart, it may well break him.
Before this day she had already suffered so. It was written in her eyes, in her every movement. Even the human attire she had chosen prior to her awakening had been designed as an armor of a sort that she had put in place, carefully guarding her against the terror she perceived in the world. He had no way of knowing what her reaction to all of this would be when the dust settled so to speak. He could not say why, but there was something in his heart that told him if he could not sway her, could not save her from herself, she would run and it would ever be such until she drew her last breath.