by Jaime Marks
“Star? Are you alright? Look at me, Staryana,” Kyle spoke so quietly next to her she almost couldn’t hear him but the command made her bristle. His voice was urgent but he was distracting her. She needed to keep in touch with Byryn.
She wanted to kill them. All of them for laying a single hand on her son. How fucking dare they use Kylion like this. She’d make an example out of every last one of them.
“Star I feel your rage, Princess. I need you to look at me or you’re going to play right into their hands.”
She turned to him. Who the hell did he think he was he anyway? “What?”
“I’m Kyle, your brother. We went to school together. Do you remember me?” He studied her waiting for a reaction but right now she didn’t even know what to make of the guy. “Apparently not. It doesn’t matter. I need you to listen to me. Hear me out a moment and then I’ll leave you be, ok?”
She looked back at Steph before studying him a moment. Nodding to let him know she heard him she looked down to Felycia and let her gaze settle back on Kylion. She could feel Byryn looking through her eyes. Right now that was more important than anything he had to say.
“They’re going to continue to try rile you. If you let them see they’re getting a reaction out of you they’ll push you until they make you shift and then Alayne will own you, Star. There’s too much of his essence flowing through you. You can’t give in. Whatever you need to fight…use it…but not your rage,” he reasoned, his voice barely a whisper.
“Kind of hard right now,” she scoffed still surveying their situation for Byryn.
“I know, but you don’t want to deliver Kylion to Darkness either, do you? I’m sure when Byryn finds out you’re gone they’ll all come looking for you. They’ll figure it out. Until then we need to try to bide our time and stay calm.”
“They already know,” she slipped. Shit. She didn’t know if she could trust him. She kind of felt like she could but Byryn didn’t and that was enough to make her leery. Byryn always protected her. If he said Kyle was bad news he likely was…but he was also her brother.
“Good,” he nodded lowering his voice further. She had to strain to even hear him. “When the fighting breaks I want you to drop back behind me if you can, do you understand? At least until you’re free of your binds. I’ll protect you until Byryn or the Kings can reach you. I would help you get to Kylion but it would likely get him killed. Let the Kings of Balance handle it. They can mist here. They have the best options.”
She bit back the rage she felt, the sudden urge to tell him to fuck off, that if she wanted to fight for her son she would, but the truth was he was right. If they tried anything Kylion was dead. She had to let the others handle this one and it was killing her to be so close while he was terrified and she was so helpless to protect him.
“How about I distract you?” She glanced back at him looking away. She wasn’t sure what he had in mind but if he tried anything she’d fry him with her Light and not even think twice about it. Instead he just kept talking, “Let’s see…how about I tell you about our brothers, Cal and Phil? Phil, he plays soccer and drums. Kid’s got spunk, but he’s shy. I used to have a study hall with him in the auditorium. Since it was one of the few classes I didn’t share with John or any unawakened I always sat next to him. He’s a good kid. Kicks ass at poker and rummy, said he learned it from his Mom. I think you’ll like him a lot. I know you’re life’s different now, but he might just help you find that sweet, innocent girl you used to be.”
She shot him a look. She didn’t want to be sweet and innocent anymore. She wanted the strength and power to fight. She wanted to destroy these assholes and kill Alayne.
Kyle sighed and nodded. “I get it. After everything you think you’re past all that and wouldn’t want to go back but…there was always something so pure about you, Star. You can get that back. This rage, anger and lust for power…yeah that’s just not you. Actually it almost reminds me of your betrothed.” He stared off into the distance. “I know you trust him but you don’t really know the truth of who that bastard is.”
She studied him with a raised brow and hissed. “I know you don’t like Byryn, but you need to keep your opinions to yourself. I know exactly who he is. I’ve seen the whole of his mind and you’d do well to remember that he’s my mate and your Prince. I suggest you learn some respect.”
He blew out a breath and shook his head. “I’m sorry. I’ll try. It’s just…I know how he used to be. Maybe he’s different now, like Cymeryn says.” He shrugged. “Hell, Cymeryn’s definitely different. I just don’t want to see you get hurt. If he’s really told you everything and you’re happy with him, well then it’s none of my business, is it? Just because I thinks he’s an ass doesn’t mean anything provided he treats you right. I’ll try to give him a chance, for you, but I promise, Star, if he hurts you I will find some way to make him regret it.”
“You’re nothing like I thought you’d be,” she mused trying to figure him out. She expected him to lash out at her defense of Byryn but instead he was trying to understand and support her decision. He wasn’t trying to control her or lay claim to her and she didn’t sense any jealousy coming from him.
He smirked, “The arrogant ass routine keeps me from getting killed or disappointing Da…” He let his words trail off not even finishing the thought. His brow was furrowed as he stared off into the distance. Hmm, maybe she wasn’t the only one with Daddy issues.
He sighed changing the subject. “Anyway…Cal? He’s in second grade now. Likes science and shit, especially anything to do with space. I didn’t get to see him as much but I tried to slip away and check on him every few weeks, if only for a couple minutes. I’m all he really had so I kept tabs on him when I wasn’t there, but…it’s complicated. He seemed ok before I left. He’s a ball of energy though. Hyperactive maybe? I don’t know, but he’s the kind of kid that makes you laugh.”
“Why are you telling me all this?”
He sighed. “Byryn might not believe me, and I can assume that means you don’t either, but the fact is you’re my sister. Believe it or not, I do care about you. Aside from that it’ll keep you, you Star. I may not like Byryn but the one thing I know is he’s coming for you. He always has and no matter what our differences, the only thing we’ve ever agreed on was keeping you safe.” He offered her a lopsided grin, “Even if he never technically knew that’s what I was doing. I’ll make sure you’re safe until he gets here…no matter the cost.”
She sighed heavily. Why did he care so much? Was he just protecting her for Syneous and Alayne? Seriously, Kyle had never really known her but he seemed to genuinely care. And why would he tell her about their brothers? He seemed to really enjoy talking about them. It was almost like he might miss them. Damn she hated all this trickery and bullshit. It made her overthink and question everything. She wished she could just trust him, but that would be stupid considering all the lies Dad had told her.
It didn’t really make sense for him to be working with Alayne though. He’d helped to bring her back from the edge. Wouldn’t he be trying to push her over it like John had been trying to do? He even risked his life to take the brunt of her attack in order to keep her from killing that bastard. When he’d absorbed that Light…She shook her head. It didn’t matter how he’d done it because she was grateful as hell that he had. He wasn’t the one she was really angry at and if she’d killed her own brother she never would have forgiven herself. Not to mention, and granted things were hazy, but she was pretty sure that bullet he took was meant for her. He’d jumped in front of her when she ran for Kylion and he’d been her only focus. She’d heard the gun go off, but she hadn’t notice Kyle fall.
Her Mom tapped her shoulder. “Penny for your thoughts, Starshine. You’re pretty quiet.”
She shrugged. “Trying to decide how I feel about Kyle. I mean, I want to believe that he’s sincere, but he’s Syneous’ son.”
Her Mom sighed. “I know, but if you want to look at it that way S
tar, you’re his daughter. Does that mean you shouldn’t be trusted?”
She breathed deeply a moment wondering if her Mom had the ability to pick up on her thoughts at all. Sometimes she really thought she did and that was one thought she couldn’t let her ever know.
The truth was she really shouldn’t be trusted. The Darkness was still flowing through her in strong currents. It infected her from time to time. It was true that Alayne’s control was waning in the wake of her and Byryn’s bond, but she was still fighting the tides in her heart and mind constantly.
She was starting to understand that Alayne still had some hold on her but his control was so complete she couldn’t even speak about it. She’d tried to tell Byryn but the words just wouldn’t come out of her mouth no matter how hard she tried. It was so strong she was starting to wonder if it was even Alayne or if…No. The only alternative was too terrifying to consider.
In the cells when she’d tortured John she was fully prepared to do far more damage than she had. Healing him hadn’t entered her mind until afterwards. Now he was back in the dungeon and the only thing she wanted was his death. Her soul screamed for it. It was the Darkness in her. She was changing and it wasn’t for the best. If she gave into this and killed John the Covenants said she would turn. Sacred Borne didn’t turn though, they shifted. She could come back from that, right?
Whatever, she was never going to find out because she’d pull it together. She had to. They were so close. They’d come so far and there was no way in hell she wasn’t making it to her own Bonding.
The longer she sat beside her, the more Reyana was concerned for her daughter. There was a Dark turmoil churning through her and she suspected it wasn’t so much a confusion or influence as a gift from her Dad or maybe Alayne. Pure inherited power. Dark power. It didn’t change who she was, and she wouldn’t be controlled by it, but she needed to learn how to control and harness it.
The issue was where her daughter had been influenced and partially controlled by Alayne before, or subdued by herself and Cymeryn for her own protection, that power now reigned free. It was unchecked and to Star it was sudden. She didn’t even realize what it was or what was happening but her power was nearly as pure as Reyana’s own as Lunya. It was the touch of the Divine. Somehow her power nearly rivaled Lazurys. No wonder Alayne wanted to claim her so badly. If she had been awakened Shade, or worse, awakened directly from Lazurys himself? It could have been disastrous.
She studied her a moment allowing her to sift through the thoughts and confusion over her brother.
“You’re right, Mom. It doesn’t really make any sense that he would try to help keep me balanced if he was working with Alayne. I just…it’s difficult to trust this. I mean, I only just found out he even was my brother and the issues with him and Byryn? What he did to Steph? I don’t know what make of it.”
“I know, but maybe we need to give him a chance,” Reyana considered looking over the grove. “I’m not saying drop your guard right away or even trust him, but maybe just get to know him before you reserve judgment. Cymeryn seems to think there’s more to him than Byryn has seen and that given time they’ll work through their issues. Give it a chance and see if he’s right. It could just be that Byryn and Kyle have been pitted against each other.”
They looked up to see Byryn and Marcus approaching through the grove. They looked tired and drained but at ease which was a good sign. She hadn’t been able to sense Marcus or Cymeryn since the awakening began.
Marcus came over and scooped her easily into his arms. “Hungry, my love?”
She giggled, “Actually I was just debating if I needed to call Shala for more berries. They aren’t exactly filling.”
Byryn stood beside them with Star wrapped tightly in his arms. “Kyle’s fine. We were just going to head to the feast when we realized that neither of you have eaten. We thought you might like to join us.”
Reyana watched them. Star simply lit up when they were together. The love that flowed between them kept her grounded and balanced.
“I thought that was males only?” She teased her mate mildly amused.
Marcus shrugged with an arrogant grin, “We’re Kings. We do what we want.”
“Then of course we’ll join you. I wouldn’t mind meeting Kyle myself. How did it go? Were than any issues?” She asked sensing the strain in him.
He nodded tensely, “Actually, if not for Byryn the boy likely wouldn’t have made it.”
Star seemed astonished as she studied her mate. “Really?”
Byryn sighed, “Yeah, brightness. I know what he means to you, even if you just met him, and he really helped you out today. Not only that, I…I think he saved your life.”
Reyana tensed at that revelation and Marcus met her gaze. “Cymeryn said in his memories he saw Kyle anticipate the bullet hitting Star. The boy put himself in the path knowing the risk.”
“I kind of thought that he might have but I wasn’t really sure what happened and I didn’t see him actually get shot. Once I had Kylion he was my only thought...” Star’s voice trailed off.
Byryn kissed her softly. “I know, baby. I’m actually really grateful to Kyle at the moment…as painful as that is to say.” He grimaced a moment and Star laughed.
“Wait, I thought you were assisting Cymeryn? How did Byryn get involved?” Reyana wondered.
“We weren’t enough, Reyana. The boy’s internal wounds reopened.” Marcus shook his head, “In order to balance the awakening, Cymeryn needed to focus all his essence on the awakening itself. Kyle was unconscious, Cymeryn couldn’t reach him in his mind and his body was failing under the stress. It was literally tearing him open and I couldn’t keep up on my own. Truthfully it was almost as if we were fighting to even maintain a merger of essence with him until Byryn intervened. He had to assist me with the healing in order to manage the wounds while helping Cymeryn maintain the merger. He was the key to it all. It was a great concession on his part because with all of our essences mixing in such a way we all sired Kyle in a respect. He is bound to us all.”
Chapter 15
Kyle groaned as his mind reconnected with his body. He shifted and was immediately uncomfortable. It wasn’t the high level of pain that rolled through his ribcage, as sharp as it was he could manage that. He was laying against a male’s bare chest, skin to skin. If he hadn’t realized he still had pants on he probably would have smashed his elbow into his attacker’s ribs on instinct but he needed to assess his situation first. He let his eyes drift open and took in his surroundings afraid to even imagine where he was. His eyes didn’t seem to want to focus.
“You are in the Palace Lunya, Kyle. Be at ease, I will not harm you,” a deep voice resonated from behind him.
“Cymeryn?” He asked in confusion trying to get his bearings. Everything felt…weird.
“Indeed,” Cymeryn replied. “What do you remember of what happened?”
He strained to find a recollection of what he could be referring to but everything was so hazy. John. That son of a bitch had kidnapped Star and Steph, taken Kylion hostage, him prisoner, and knocked Felycia unconscious. “The woods. We were in the woods and…I think we stepped through the portal,” his voice was hoarse and strained.
“Here.” A glass of water appeared beside him. He glanced up and almost shrank back. The Shade Wycelion a Trevyn stood beside him handing him the glass.
“Uh…Thanks.” He took it and drank slowly watching Wycelion cautiously. That Shade hated both him and John ever since John decided it would be a wondrous idea to seduce Perylia. Then he noticed Trycen was sitting by the bed as well. Byryn’s brothers. Why were they here?
“We were waiting when you exited the entryway,” Cymeryn explained. “In the course of the struggle, you saved your sister. The memory is there. Would you like me to assist you in accessing it?”
He shook his head. “I think I need to reorient or something. Everything is…different.”
Cymeryn, Trycen and Wycelion all chuckled slight
ly before Cymeryn spoke, “I suppose it is. You went into your awakening as a result of your injuries, Kyle. You had been shot and the wound was quite severe. Once the awakening set in, you could not be healed, your body rejected it.”
Kyle sat dead still wondering what they done to him. Centering his essence he gathered it within his being feeling it, allowing it to flow through him. He expected to feel the sharp pain that always pierced his heart, the rage, hatred, and anger he fought, instantly surging through him. When it never manifested he breathed a deep sigh of relief. He wasn’t Shade. Forcing himself to raise his palm he summoned essence and saw a grayish, white orb form easily. He nodded squeezing his eyes tightly in an attempt to stop the tears that he barely restrained.
“Leave us, boys. We will meet you at the feast shortly.”
Wycelion and Trycen rose and bowed, each inclining their head to him before leaving the room. When they were gone Cymeryn gently assisted Kyle to move beside him.
Once they were situated he met the King’s eyes, Thank you, Cymeryn.”
“You are welcome, Kyle, but I am not the only Fae to whom you owe your life. You must understand, your awakening was far from average. Nothing like it has ever been attempted prior and I doubt it will be again. If you focus you will feel your sires within you. Can you tell me how many you feel?” Cymeryn spoke cautiously.
Sires? Kyle gave him a confused look but closed his eyes and centered himself. He could feel his essence but there were others easily discerned within him. The link between him and Syneous was fairly weakened now but it still existed. He could sense Cymeryn clearly but the strongest essence he felt outside of his own was...His eyes shot open on a gasp. “Byryn?”
Cymeryn nodded. “And Marcus. He and I attempted to awaken you. I focused on your essence while my brother attempted to heal your wounds. We did not, however, anticipate the severity of the physical strain on your wounds and the internal injuries were tearing open faster than Marcus could manage on his own. When the peak hit it required my full attention and your body was very weak. If Byryn had not stepped in and worked your wounds as well you would have bled out before the peak ebbed. As a result you have, in some way, bonded to all three of us as progeny.”