Protectors and Kings (Mists of the Fae Book 4)

by Jaime Marks

  She raised her arm, her essence flowing over the boy and his bindings released dropping him to the floor. Alayne watched as he knelt there, still in pain from his wounds as he glared up to him. He was not strong enough to aide her.

  “You underestimate the strength and power granted by the Divine Being, Alayne.” She met his stare. “You may be created by a god, but you are not a god.”

  He smirked pulling his essence to him allowing it to swirl around the room. “In this form, neither are you.” He sent an orb of Dark essence at her but she deflected it easily. “Your essence may be strong but your body is weak. When the Kyndra rise, they will take you and they will break you.”

  He lashed out with his essence causing her to dodge. She tripped over the body of a Kyndra falling to the floor. One of them near her had begun to rouse and he gripped her by the throat ripping her to him.

  “You bitch,” he spat. “I will cleave the flesh from your bones as I force my length into your tight little core and tear you open.”

  She grabbed him by the head flooding him with essence and he howled releasing her, collapsing on the ground as the smell of his burnt flesh filled the room. Alayne watched her stumble back. She was proving more amusing than he could have hoped, but this fool’s folly would end here. He stretched out his senses to Lord Lazurys alerting him to the situation. He would not risk bearing the penance of this failure.

  Chapter 4

  Kato studied her as they walked. He had never seen Mythos so taken with anyfae. None could gain such a reaction from him, even his own kin. He had not missed the interaction between them. They were both hard, stubborn, and yet they seemed to in some way to calm and humble each other. Mythos fought it but he was drawn to this young girl.

  He had sensed his King. His old friend was so taken with her that he had not even noticed it, nor had he noticed the reaction his essence had on the girl. Their eyes had been locked and she had actually taken a couple of steps towards the King as a soft gold luminance graced her skin. Whatever blood of the Fae existed in the girl, no matter how dormant, Mythos had called it forth.

  “Did you know your parents, Steph?” He asked softly.

  She shrugged. “I knew their names. I vaguely remember what they look like, but there weren’t any pictures of them. Other than that no. I grew up with my Grandmother…sort of.”

  “Sort of?”

  “She provided for my needs. I had clothes, food, and a place to live.” She seemed to stiffen as she spoke. The edge in her voice growing almost cold. “Other than that she didn’t want to be bothered with me. I was emancipated earlier this year. I live on my own now.”

  “Emancipated? Forgive me, I am unfamiliar with its meaning.”

  She looked him over a moment. “In my world kids are considered under the care of their parents. They have to live with them or their legal guardians that are supposed to act as their parents until they’re at least eighteen. I’m only sixteen, but I have, well had, a job and I found a one bedroom loft that was reasonable enough. I applied through the court for emancipation almost two years ago. They granted it this year. Now I live on my own, well at least up ‘til now.” She looked around the halls. She did not seem overly upset to be here but it was clear that she was uncomfortable.

  “I see…” Kato wondered how she would adjust. If Byryn were rescued and Star were returned to her usual self he imagined she would adapt easily enough, but if not it might prove difficult for the girl.

  With a sigh she looked him over and began relaying the information he had requested. “My parents died in a car accident when I was six. My Mother’s name was Madelyn but everyone called her Maddy. My Dad’s name was Ceryn. Their last name was Cerulyion, but my Grandmother’s was just Smith. I think that’s her maiden name though. I never met my Grandfather.”

  Kato stopped dead staring at her, his voice all but a whisper. “What is your last name?”

  “That depends on where you check. All my school records say Smith, but I found my birth certificate when I moved out. It says my last name is Cerulyion like my parents.” Her eyes narrowed and she studied him with a creased brow, concerned by his reaction. “Why, is that bad or something?”

  He met Demytria’s eyes. “She is of the Cerulyion lines?” She asked in a hushed tone. “Maddy’s young survived?”

  “We do not know that for sure yet, Demytria, and we will not assume such things.” He met the girl’s eyes, “But if you will allow me, I will definitely be able to sense the truth of it. The Cerulyion lines, if they are indeed your family, were some of the greatest, most regal warriors of our race. I apologize for my reaction if it caused you concern. It is just that…unfortunately, their young and mates were wiped out in a strategic strike by our enemies. When the battle ended it was believed that the entire line had been destroyed.”

  Her brow rose. “So they were Fae? Then why aren’t I?”

  “I never said that you were not Fae, my dear. Only that it appears dormant within you.” He opened the door as they reached his suite and he motioned for her to enter. “Please make yourself comfortable. I will sit in front of your when you are ready.”

  She walked nervously around the room. “Ya know, we don’t really have to do this now. If you have more important things to do, it can wait.”

  He stood watching her as she stooped to study a dagger. Oddly it had been a gift that he had received from Ceryn a Cerulyion himself. She had been seemingly enthralled with a similar Cerulyion dagger that Grifyn kept earlier. He wondered if she was drawn to the remnants of her Father’s essence.

  Had Ceryn found some way to hide his young in the human realm? He had met Maddy once. She was an amazing female, very strong willed and brazen, much like Steph. She had been descendant of the Fae herself but she had never manifested the gifted abilities, nor had she awakened. She had been descendant from the Grifyion line, Demytria and Grifyn’s line. Their Father had sired young with a human, Elizabeth Snyder, nearly a century before their Mother had even met Grifyion.

  It had been something highly frowned upon that he had taken a second mate but as so much time had passed with him alone many understood. Others had argued that a human is never capable of existing as part of a true mated pair and he was well within his rights. They claimed in doing so he reclaimed his honor. It had been a different time. Many claimed human mates and sired young, though few took another after their passing.

  Regardless, Demaria had in fact saved Grifyion from the grief that had plagued him since Elizabeth’s death. Grifyion had kept watch over the family from afar unable to live amongst them for the danger his presence brought and unable to bring them to the realms lest he lose them to the Shade per the covenants. It was how Ceryn had indeed met Maddy. He had gone looking for Grifyion and they had encountered some Shadows. Maddy had walked out into the battle and her mind had been resistant to mental manipulation.

  Ceryn had helped her come to terms with what she had seen and the knowledge of a world that she could not unlearn. He became her self-appointed protector. Kato had been there when they had wed and for the modified Bonding Ritual that had occurred afterwards. He had never known they had sired young.

  The strike would have occurred when Steph was still an infant, but she had said her Father was alive until she was six? How was that possible? Was it possible? It would certainly explain the familiarity he felt around the girl. There was something commanding about her and it was a trait that every Cerulyion he had ever met embodied.

  “Do not be nervous, Steph. I promise it will not hurt,” he reassured her.

  “Oh, I’m sure it won’t hurt physically. Not so sure I really want to know,” she shrugged still looking at the dagger.

  “Sometimes, knowledge is worth having. Sometimes, it can help us to understand who and what we are and that can grant us a peace we may not be able to otherwise reach.” Mythos spoke softly as he entered the room.

  Kato could not hide the grin that graced his face. The King was drawn to this girl and if s
he were truly Cerulyion? Well, perhaps his old friend was about to learn that destiny could never truly be avoided.

  Mythos watched her as she turned slowly to face him. Those beautiful topaz eyes meeting his own. She did not appear surprised at his presence, in truth it seemed to bleed some of the tension out of her.

  “I was unaware you had wished to join us, my lord,” Kato mused as he bowed.

  He motioned him to rise. “I wanted to be sure you felt at ease, Stephanie. I realize this is all likely confusing and unfamiliar to you.”

  “It’s definitely a bit different.” She stared at him a moment. “Am I familiar to you? Do you feel this, this…”

  “Connection?” He offered, smiling softly as she nodded. “Yes, it is something I am unable to explain, but I feel it as well.”

  She blushed a moment and he had to bite back to keep from reacting to it. He was unsure how proper it was for him to be reacting to her this way in any regard. She was but a young in his world. He saw the amused expression Kato wore and cleared his throat annoyed that he had let himself slip in front of the Fae.

  “Yes, well…Kato will be able to tell you more about who you are and perhaps then we will be able to ascertain why.”

  She seemed to be gathering her composure a moment before going to sit on the beige sofa in the middle of the room. The girl tensed as soon as Kato sat on the floor in front of her and she sought out his eyes. She was nervous and seeking his comfort. It was something he could not bear to deny her.

  “Kato, would my essence interfere?”

  He looked up at him confused a moment. “It should not, my lord. I am well familiar with your essence and should be able to separate it knowing that it is there, but you should refrain from consciously sharing essence with her until I am finished.”

  Mythos nodded and walked to the sofa, sitting beside her. “You do not have to do this if you are uncomfortable, but if this is something you want I am right here…if it will help.”

  He offered her his hand as she met his gaze. Nodding slowly she placed her hand in his and he motioned for Kato to begin as he spoke softly to her. “All you have to do is relax. Open your mind and your heart, Stephanie. Kato will do the rest.”

  Watching her as she relaxed back against the couch he wondered what this pull he felt to her could be. What were her origins? He had not meant to come here but when he and Grifyn had gone to check on Staryana and Kylion they found them together in Byryn’s bed. She had the boy cradled to her chest as they both slept. He had reached out and sensed her. She was still agitated but more at peace than he had seen her since this had begun. Leaving them to rest he had intended to go to his quarters to clear his head, but he had been drawn to this girl.

  He wanted to pull Stephanie into his arms and hold her, to reassure her that everything was alright and that he would keep her safe, but she was so young. He should not feel this way for her. He wished he felt for her the protective urges of a brother or a Father, but what he felt was far more inappropriate. There had never been another he had felt so connected, so drawn to. It was not something he understood.

  She drew closer to him as Kato’s essence flowed over her, resting her head on his shoulder. He had not missed the fact that she had allowed him to call her Stephanie. It made him smile. She had felt it too, this link between them. Stephanie was abrupt and stubborn with everyfae else, but with him she was at ease.

  When he felt Kato’s essence pull back from her she lifted her head slowly and looked up at him, her cheeks coloring with a soft blush momentarily. It was oddly endearing. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

  He reached to her a moment but pulled his hand back, unsure how proper such behavior would be. “You were fine, Stephanie. There is no reason to apologize.”

  They sat there staring at each other a moment. She had not yet taken her hand back and his thumb slowly caressed it. She leaned closer to him a moment, but stopped. What was this between them?

  Kato cleared his throat. “Your majesty, she is indeed Fae, though she has been well masked.”

  He turned to him. “Masked?”

  Steph studied Kato cautiously. It was clear this situation, discovering she was not human and looking into her family, unsettled her for some reason. “What does that mean?”

  “It means that somefae very strong has hidden you all these years to ensure your safety,” Kato offered.

  “Do you know who, Kato? What of her lines?” Mythos requested.

  He needed to understand the mystery of this girl. Perhaps her lineage would give him some answers. She seemed so tense and he gave her hand a gentle squeeze allowing a small amount of his essence to flow through her.

  Kato rose slowly going over to his mantle. Mythos watched as he picked up his Cerulyion dagger and stared at it thoughtfully before taking it with him to his chair. He studied her as he sat down. “You were very interested in this dagger, Steph. Can you tell me why?”

  She shrugged, “It kind of sparkles more than everything else.”

  Kato nodded with a warm smile. “This dagger, Steph, is a Cerulyion dagger. It was a gift to me from your Father, Ceryn a Cerulyion.”

  Mythos sat back in shock. “Are you saying that she is Ceryn’s daughter?”

  “Yes, she certainly is. She was born the month of the strike against their line. As she was born in the human realm, the Kyndra either must not have known of her existence or they were unable to locate her. It is why your parents left you with your Grandmother. They were trying to keep you safe.” Kato explained.

  “But you said that they all died in the battle. My parents were alive until I was six. They weren’t always there but they came to visit on occasion. Then one day they left and that afternoon I found my Grandmother crying. She said that there had been an accident and they were both killed.” She was stumbling over her words, struggling to understand a reality that was so different from what she knew.

  Rubbing his brow Kato seemed to hesitate but ultimately nodded. “They were with you, Steph. They ran with you as best as I can ascertain. Your Mother, she was a descendant of the Grifyion line. Your entire family had been, but the gene was dormant. None of them ever awakened. She would not have been able to enter the realms at the time. We did not have access to this plane and the covenants forbid humans from the realms of Light and Dark. Ceryn had been in the battle, but somehow he must have escaped the slaughter. There is no way to know for sure, but the Shade did know of your Mother. They likely hunted her. Your Father would never have left her to a fate at their hands. My best guess is that he remained there to protect her. As far as their accident, there is no way to know, or even to speculate.”

  Mythos met Kato’s eyes. It was a lot for even he to take in, but for her? She was scared. She did not understand but he felt her resolve harden as she composed herself, pushing forward in true Cerulyion fashion. “Ok, so what is this awakening thing? What happens?”

  Mythos squeezed her hand. “When a Fae and a human sire a young, they grow as human for the first twenty years or so of life. It is then that their body of Light begins to grow and expand. They need a Fae to guide and assist them through the change, balancing the energy, or essence, within them as their awareness grows and their body adapts. We call it the awakening.”

  She nodded, “So in about four years I’m going to awaken?”

  Mythos looked to Kato. “Yes, definitely. The Light of your essence is very strong despite the fact that you are so well masked. As to who masked you? I am going to have to investigate that further, but I will not need to sense you for that.”

  “What are you thinking, my friend?” Mythos studied him, wondering where his mind was.

  “Only a member of the Order or Lucerna herself could possibly have enough ability to mask her so strongly and I am uncertain if even they possess the ability.”

  “The Order?” She looked between them in confusion.

  “They are the Priests and Priestesses of Lucerna, the Goddess of Light. They are the keepers of ou
r knowledge and history as well as the covenants, the laws that bind us all. They have strong gifted abilities and act as the voice and will of Lucerna.” Mythos explained.

  “Oh, ok.” She stared into the distance. “Is Star alright? Is someone with her?”

  He nodded, “She was sleeping when I went to check on her. I told her guards to alert me when she wakes.”

  “Ok. Marcus said something about a room, or something?” She turned to him. “Can I go there now?”

  “I will take you now, if you like.” He rose gently pulling her up. She had yet to take her hand back. He was unsure if it was out of comfort or distraction, but he was not about to pull back from her. She was feeling lost and confused. If she needed him as an anchor he would gladly allow it. “Thank you, Kato. I will retire myself. I will not be returning to the Palace of Light until Byryn, Reyana and Marcus return. If I am needed I will be in my private suite.”

  Kato smirked at him but inclined his head. “Of course your majesty. Grifyn and I will see to things in your stead.”

  He led her from the suite and paused, realizing that not only could he not bear the idea of having her alone down in unawakened corridors, her lineage prevented it. If any of them were to learn who she truly was it could make her a target. Really she should room near Grifyn or Demytria’s suites.

  Glancing to the rooms that sat empty he spoke before he could even make a decision. “I believe Marcus was going to place you down in the unawakened corridor, but if you prefer there are some quarters across the way here. They are similar to Byryn and Staryana’s quarters. These rooms connect to my suite. No Fae will bother you and I will leave you to your privacy.”

  “I would like that, thanks. I don’t really feel like having to get to know a lot of new people right now.”

  He led her to the hall that ran adjacent to his suite. “There are two rooms here, you may choose either you prefer. There is a lock on the inside adjacent door to grant you privacy.” He brought her down the hall opening the way to the sitting room of his suite. “This sitting room is where the rooms open out to. I never really use it so you may feel free. The only rooms that are occupied are mine and my study there,” He motioned indicating the two rooms.