Choices (Mists of the Fae Book 6)

by Jaime Marks

  “I am taking that into account. I am releasing you now, Byryn. We need to begin the awakening.”

  Byryn came back to himself to find Trycen watching him oddly. He shifted uncomfortably and offered him a brief nod. Marcus was finishing arranging seats beside the bed saying something to Trycen about the potential length of the awakening. The twins weren’t distracted in the slightest by their mind-link. They were right, he really did need to practice so that he was able to retain his awareness.

  “Wycelion, I cannot merely ignore the risk you brought to this realm in your silence, but I do understand your reasoning. Before I render any decision however I will require a concession of loyalty from you, are you prepared to offer such?” Cymeryn met him in the eye.

  Wycelion showed no reaction. He simply watched Cymeryn with that same reserved caution that Byryn had noticed when he made his confession, so very similar to their Father and Cymeryn. He wondered if he came across that way himself. “I am prepared to do so depending on who will pay the penance of my concession. I won’t sacrifice Perylia nor her safety in this realm for my actions. I can only offer you myself and whatever penance I can give.”

  Their Grandsire nodded solemnly. “I would never expect you to sacrifice those you love. I am no longer Shade, Wycelion. It is not the way of the Fae to do so and the very notion sickens me. This is something you will understand soon enough. I merely require you to open yourself to me fully and allow me to deign your true feelings and intentions for myself. I will know if you attempt to hide from me. You do not need to do this, but in not doing so I will be forced to view your actions and your denial as a connection to Alayne.”

  Wycelion glanced to Byryn with a smirk. “Is this why you went statue, brother? The two of you have some way to confer evidently. This is one of your favorite concessions or did you think I’d forget? I can only assume it was your suggestion.”

  Byryn smiled ruefully, “It’s a fair request, Wyce. Your silence placed my mate and many others, including Perylia, in danger. If we hadn’t already anticipated the attack and had it confirmed by Kyle, a lot of people could’ve been hurt.”

  His brother laughed sarcastically addressing them both. “Come on, Byryn. I knew you were here and we’re talking about Cymeryn. As if you, my Grandsire, could not have smelt that trap from the next realm over and you, Byryn, I followed long enough to know once you heard the brief that you would have had no doubt there was something coming. It was a ridiculous plan from the start for those reasons alone and I easily could have spoken up when Michael suggested it. Instead I refrained as my loyalty has and always will lie with you, brother. There was never any real danger in my silence so let us not play games. I neither assisted in its planning nor did I aid in its follow or defense. We all know I have more than enough knowledge to have made this far worse than it played out. Had I planned it the Elders would have been in battle during your raid to at the least make it believable.” He faced Cymeryn with a curt nod. “I will give you your concession only because I realize the necessity of trust and I should have anticipated it myself.” He shrugged, “In truth I have nothing to hide.”

  Cymeryn chuckled clasping him on the shoulder. “Sit if you will, Wycelion. It would honor me. I must attend to Kyle now. He can wait no longer.”

  Wycelion glanced between them and then nodded sitting in the middle chair with Trycen on his left. Byryn grudgingly sat beside him. It wasn’t that he was still confused about being here. He still wasn’t sure how he felt about Kyle but he would attend because his Grandsire requested it. Not to mention the issue with Felycia had his heart in a knot trying to figure out what to do.

  As if he’d read his mind Wycelion turned to him. “I heard Felycia was injured? I know I have no real right to ask, but…”

  Byryn grunted slightly causing both Trycen and Wycelion to turn to him. He shook his head. “She’s alright but still healing. She was awakened only a couple hours before her injuries and they were severe, mainly because the extent wasn’t realized before she was misted. She’s fully awakened so really she’ll be fine by morning.” He ground his teeth to try to hold back the confusion and bitterness he felt from his voice. “Devyn a Devyion is attending to her.”

  Wycelion raised a brow. “Attending to her how exactly?”

  Byryn cleared his throat. “He is healing her. She’s Gray so his Light won’t hurt her. They were…resting in his chambers when I left.”

  “And you’re allowing this why?” He asked in shock. “That girl has been through enough, Byryn.”

  “You’ll soon learn, Wycelion that if you truly love someone you have to sometimes release them to their own choices. It was clear Felycia was…comfortable with Devyn. I’ll discuss the situation with her in the morning and address the concerns I have. He’s been respectful…” Byryn met his brothers in the eyes. “He means to court her but I wouldn’t allow him to ask yet. You have to realize though, it’s her choice, not mine or any of yours. If she wants this and we interfere we’re only pushing her further away than she already is.”

  “But Byryn she only…” Wycelion began in frustration.

  Cymeryn cut off the conversation, “Byryn is right. You must allow Felycia to make her own choices. Devyn accords her a feeling of security at the moment when she has none. If she is ever to heal, she needs this…friendship…courting…whatever it turns out to be, and I am not just referring to her injuries.”

  “Wyce…” Byryn hesitated uncertain he really wanted to know. “When did Felycia meet Michael?”

  Wycelion paled and shook his head. “You don’t want to know this, Byryn. I will answer but I assure you…” He shook his head again. “I know how you have protected her since that night. I have always guarded your secret and guided the others away from her as well. What we did…she did not deserve it…”

  “Tell me,” he commanded already knowing the answer.

  “The day they locked up the unawaken Michael claimed control of the Brood. He had revealed the fact that you hid his Mother and your full connection to Staryana, how you had been protecting her at school and all but claimed her while hiding it from Father. When they brought her in Malym, Obitryn, and Impetyus were on her immediately. Kylion threw himself in front of her and tried to protect her but he is but a boy. He did the only thing he could think of to protect her. He pretty much told them if they touched her you would kill them.” Wycelion blew out a frustrated breath. “Michael overheard him and involved himself. They threw Kylion in the cell to get him out of the way and then took her. Trevyn even…” He trailed off looking disgusted.

  Cymeryn cleared his throat. “I put an end to it before she was badly harmed but the damage was done. As I am putting an end to this conversation.”

  Byryn looked up and saw they were ready to begin and forced himself to regain control of his rage. There was nothing he could’ve done to protect her from the Brood at that point but for his Father to have…he shook his head. He couldn’t even think about that right now. “I apologize, Grandsire. I only just found out it was a possibility. You’re right it has no place here.”

  Cymeryn nodded. He was already laying against the headboard of what was once Staryana’s bed. Kyle’s body was lying against his chest. Byryn could see the essence flowing between them as he attempted to stabilize his energy. The stasis was beginning to fail. Marcus faced them sitting beside them on the bed. His hands were resting against Kyle’s chest over his wound a soft glow emanating between them and the skin. He still hadn’t regained consciousness since he fell.

  He looked around the room as silence fell over them. He’d spent a lot of nights in this room. If it had been up to Staryana he would have spent every eve in here but he hadn’t ever really been all that great at denying the temptation of her and the distance was necessary. Otherwise he would have taken her long before her awakening. Now they shared his quarters down the hall, across from Kylion.

  Technically Kylion should have been in Felycia’s quarters but being directly across the
hall allowed them to keep a better eye on him. If they felt he was up to something they could just leave the door open and keep an eye out. Now he was considering posting a guard permanently on his door and he wasn’t even sure if Felycia would return to her own quarters.

  Things had changed so much in the last day. It seemed like that’s just how things happened in their lives. He really hoped one day that things settled down because he was getting seriously tired of all the constant drama.

  Chapter 14

  Cymeryn flowed through Kyle’s mind trying to calm the boy. He was in an utter state of panic. That bullet had been meant for Staryana. Perhaps not intentional, but that was where it was aimed. Kyle had seen it and anticipated the result, placing himself in its path. Cymeryn witnessed the events in his mind clearly. He tried to console the boy but it was impossible to reach him in this state.

  The boy could not focus his essence himself so Cymeryn would do it for him. Saving his sister alone granted him the right to this but there was so much more to this boy. He could not explain the reasoning but Cymeryn knew that he was supposed to be here. Some instinctual ability to sense the Night versus the Darkness allowed him to see the truth of this boy’s soul and he knew that there was more to him than they saw. There was some connection there, something he was missing.

  Marcus looked up meeting his eyes with remorse. “His wounds are severe, Cymeryn. I don’t know if even this will work. Can you reach him?”

  Cymeryn shook his head. “It will work, brother. It has to. You can sense the truth of his actions in my mind. We cannot allow him to die.”

  Marcus nodded but said nothing else. They both continued to focus their energies, Cymeryn on the awakening, Marcus on the boy’s wounds. The waves of essence surging through him were intense and they were not merely Dark. There was Light to the boy. He had to be part Fae.

  Cymeryn was just beginning to make headway, just starting to reach Kyle, when he felt things shift for the worse. The waves of essence were peaking in intensity and frequency. He was nearing his peak but the physical strain on his being was immense. His body had suddenly began to weaken under the strain.

  “His internal wounds have reopened. I don’t know if I can hold him together through this intensity. His body is still not healing on its own. His essence…the strength of it is tearing him apart with his injuries,” Marcus shook his head as he explained urgently. “I am already using all my power to hold the boy together and prevent him from burning up. You need to reach him, Cymeryn.”

  “I am…trying.” He grunted feeling the strain himself.

  Byryn stood and tentatively approached the bed with his arms crossed. “Maybe… Maybe this wasn’t meant to be, Grandsire.”

  Cymeryn could feel the sweat breaking out on his brow as he struggled to balance the next wave while assisting Marcus with the healing. “I will…not lose…him.”

  “Cymeryn…is right in this,” Marcus grunted. “This boy…saved Star’s life. It could…easily have been her.”

  Byryn’s arms dropped as realization crossed his face. “What are you saying?”

  “He took…the bullet…to save her,” Cymeryn forced out unable to manage a mind-link under this strain.

  Marcus shook his head. “He is losing…too much blood. Get the Healer.”

  Byryn paled as he watched them. He was about to get his wish. Kyle very well may never cause Staryana or Stephynia any further strain because they were losing him. Cymeryn was holding him together by sheer force of will. He would not be able to hold him through the peak. He did not have the strength left to manage it in addition to balancing his essence, healing his wounds, and attempting to keep him from burning up. Without some Divine intervention, they would lose him in his peak and it was fast approaching.

  Byryn stared down in disbelief at the power he felt rolling off of Kyle. He felt so much like Staryana in her awakening but his body was rejecting their essence. He was sure of it. And the blood? God the blood was gushing from him now.

  He’d saved Staryana? She’d almost been shot and he’d risked his own life to save hers? In all honesty she’d probably have fared better as fully awakened Fae but there was no way to be sure. If the bullet couldn’t be removed fast enough or the damage had been too extreme it could still have cost her her life. Shit, he couldn’t let him die but he couldn’t save him.

  A sudden instinct flowed through him, a knowledge from some unknown source and as he let his essence touch Kyle and it responded he instantly knew what to do. He couldn’t explain how or why, but he knew he was the only one who would be able to save him. His essence merged almost instinctually with his, naturally in the same way that it did with his sister’s. He reached into him healing the damage as best as he could. Aiding Marcus as both he and Cymeryn stared up at him in confusion. It wasn’t enough. He knew what he needed but…god, was he really going to do this?

  Before he could talk himself out of it he’d sliced his wrist and ripped Kyle’s head back sealing his wrist to his mouth. “What are you…”

  Byryn spoke over Cymeryn as he issued orders knowing they were running out of time. “Wyce, Trycen, get the Healer, now. Tell her we need to prep for a transfusion.” His words were stilted and rushed as he sliced his sleeve and stripped off the robes. “Make him swallow it, Cymeryn.”

  “Byryn…do you under...”

  “Do it before I change my damned mind,” he growled crawling onto the bed and allowing his essence to merge completely with Kyle’s and theirs. The intensity began to slowly ease but the blood loss was the main issue now. He’d be able to manage the flows better than the twins. Why? He had no fucking idea but for some reason he knew.

  Sanytia came rushing in. “My lords?”

  “Sanytia, he needs my blood. Now…Do it,” he added when she hesitated and the others in the room froze.

  “If his body rejects the blood it will kill him,” the Healer argued.

  “I know what I’m doing. Hook up the IV’s. Now,” he commanded shocking himself at the level of command in his voice.

  When he looked back to Cymeryn he held his gaze in confusion but respect. “Thank you.”

  “Don’t thank me until he lives. Manage the intensity of the waves through my essence.”

  They sat there, barely maintaining Kyle. The only thing that could save him now was the blood. Trycen and Sanytia rushed around the bed prepping tubing and needles. The Healer went to come to him with the needle in her hand but Wycelion took it with a slight shake of the head and came to him. As he cleaned the inside of his arm with a sterile wipe he met his eyes. “Are you sure? There is no going back from this. He will be of you, a part of you that will never fade. This is more than just accepting him as progeny, brother.”

  “I know. It’s…how it needs to be,” he answered confused by his own reply but somehow he knew this was right. Kyle’s memories were already washing through him. His Grandsire was right. He wasn’t what he thought he was.

  Wycelion only nodded and inserted the needle into his vein massaging his arm to quicken the flow. “Then he shall be of us. Open and close your fist.”

  Byryn groaned as Kyle’s pain became his own and their essence merged completely. Wyce met his eyes. “No, don’t interfere. I can manage this.”

  He measured him hesitantly but gave a curt nod and he and Trycen retook their seats as the Healer monitored the flow of blood that pumped steadily from his body to Kyle’s. Using his essence he increased the speed, sending more of himself into Kyle. It wasn’t enough yet.

  “His body is accepting your blood and essence,” she murmured, “but you must slow the flow, young Prince. You are giving too much of yourself.”

  “No. I’ll be fine just keep him connected,” he demanded resting his head down on Kyle’s chest as he felt the bond’s strengthening each moment his blood coursed through his veins. “I’ll know when it’s enough.”

  A warm Light flowed over him, so much like Staryana only purer, purer than even her Mother. It comforted hi
m, embracing him and Byryn knew he did what he was meant to do. His actions had pleased the Divine, not that it mattered to him. He still had no idea what the repercussions from this would be. He wasn’t really sure what it meant to be bound like this, but at least he wouldn’t have to face his mate and tell her that her brother died trying to save her and he’d let it happen.

  Star was getting antsy. The grove was a magical place and she really loved being here with her Mom but…they were taking so long. Kyle had really been there for her and she’d only just met him. Yeah she’d passed him in the halls at school on occasion, she knew of him, but she’d never spoken to him aside from in passing. He’d always been polite and nice when they did talk but it was never about anything of consequence and for the most part he just stayed away from her.

  Byryn didn’t trust him at all. He said he’d been obsessed with her but it must’ve been something they’d handled between themselves because she’d never even been aware of it. She didn’t have the slightest clue if he was someone she really wanted in her life, but she didn’t want him to die either.

  It didn’t help matters that when she’d lost it earlier she’d nearly killed him. Well, not really, but he looked as shocked to be alive as she did at her actions. There hadn’t been any real thought to it. Her rage had been so strong and he was standing in her way, physically keeping her from killing John. Actually at that point she’d been sure he was working with John, but looking back now she knew that wasn’t true. The whole messed up situation was confusing and now he might be dying.

  She sat back down next to her Mom by the brook and tried to relax but she just kept thinking of how he kept her calm. She tried to remember it all. Maybe if she did she’d have a better idea of how she should feel about all this.