by Jaime Marks
He hooked his finger under her chin, gently guiding her back so he could look at her. “No Stephanie, I do not find it clingy or crazy. I find that it is exactly how I feel about you,” he whispered as his thumb gently caressed her cheek, “but if we allow this to continue, we do so slowly and there are things you need to understand about relationships amongst the Fae. Things work quite differently here than they do in the human realm.”
“Explain it to me, please?” She requested as he took her hands in his.
He gazed into her eyes trying to fathom where to even start. “Well, when Fae take a mate, it is for life. Mating creates a bond that cannot be broken and should not be entered into lightly. As our bodies are of the Light of Lucerna, they are sacred. We give ourselves only to our bonds, our true mates. Some say bonds are two halves of the same soul, and others that they are a gift from the Divine. It is said true mates will always recognize one another by the intense connection that draws them together, binding them mind, body and Light.” As he spoke he could almost feel the pull between them intensifying. He wanted to pull her close, to show her how strong this connection was between them, but it was not right and she seemed oddly distant suddenly.
“The awakening is a cleansing and a rebirth of sorts. Your body will change. It is said that it washes away the mistakes of the past. Because of this it is considered improper for a fully awakened Fae to mate an unawakened. Age does not matter in our world aside for that rule. By all rights, with your given status and the fact that this is new to you, Lucerna knows I probably should not even court you until you are awakened…but I would be lying to even myself at this point if I said that I would stay away.” He gave her an apologetic smile.
She remained silent a moment, seemingly lost in her mind. He held his breathe waiting for her to react. Perhaps she was reconsidering her feelings, thinking they should wait? She would probably be correct.
Stephanie leaned forward and kissed him softly. “Ok, what else do I need to know?”
He had to restrain himself from returning her favor. What he wanted from her, she could not yet give. “When we are interested in a mate it is customary to court her. The intention to court is typically declared to the female’s Father or the head of her line. In your case that would be Grifyn. With the Lucerna Lines, the declarations are generally made publically or at least announced at some point. Once a couple has mated they are expected to complete the Bonding Rituals soon after. It is similar to what you know as marriage but it cements the bonds between mates ritualistically, binding them through blood, connecting their lines.”
“Which is what is going to be happening with Marcus, Cymeryn and Reyana, right?” She asked curiously.
“Basically, although it will be altered it should give you a general idea.” He nodded. “Aside from that, the rules are simple, follow your heart, honor and respect one another. Love one another as you are meant to and the rest will work itself out.”
Mythos studied her as she pondered over what he said. He would not pressure her. He smiled a moment realizing that when she was deep in thought her lips pursed and her nose crinkled ever so slightly. It was endearing.
“What do you want? What do you expect from me?” Stephanie requested studying him with that shrewd discerning gaze of hers. So very Cerulyion. “I know what I want but I want to know what you expect before I make a decision.”
He met her gaze and brought her hands to his lips, kissing them gently. He wondered again what had happened in her life that she would even feel she needed to wonder such things. “I want nothing more than you for you to be happy, Stephanie. I expect you to find yourself in our world, or as you say, make your way. Aside from that I have no expectations. I do not want to pressure you, or for you to feel anyfae else is going to. As I said, if this continues, we move slowly. I will not make a formal declaration of it unless it is your wish, but I do mean to court you. You will have to indulge my pampering on occasion but there will be no expectation or obligations. This proceeds only if it is your wish and it stops when you decide.”
She smiled slightly, “Then what I want is to let whatever is meant to be happen. I don’t want to walk away from this, but I already get the feeling that everyone is expecting something from us and I quite frankly don’t want to deal with their opinions about it. I just want to see where this goes with no expectations on either side. If a week, a month or even a year from now you realize I’m not exactly fit to be a Queen I don’t want you to feel tied to me. We don’t really know anything about each other, Mythos, but I want to know you and I want you to know me.”
He leaned down capturing her lips gently with a chaste kiss. “That is something I will gladly grant you, although in case you are unaware, you have already proven you have the strength and will of a Queen, my dear.”
She blushed again and he had the impression it was not something she was accustomed to. It was also something he would endeavor to make her do regularly. There was a knock on the door and she slid off of him putting space between them on the chaise.
“Come.”
Haylia entered with a cart and bowed before clearing the plates. Mythos moved the table back in place as the servant fussed that it was not his place which only caused Stephanie to giggle. When he had taken his seat once more the exasperated Fae set out the platter of treats Mythos had called for after finding how much he enjoyed feeding Stephanie this eve. She poured them each a glass of wine before excusing herself.
He spent the remainder of the eve feeding her a variety of the sweet desserts as they talked and sipped their wine. He could not remember a time he felt so at ease. Having her beside him, just being in her presence was a revelation. The next two days were going to be excruciatingly long without her. Were she already awakened, he would have convinced her to come to the Palace of Light and shown her around the Kingdom, but he would have to accept that it was not an option yet. It was probably for the best. Being separated by the covenants would force them to keep some amount of distance between them.
He sat facing her as he held her hand, bathing in the glow of her smile. “It is quite late, Stephanie. As much as I would like nothing more than to sit here with you until something forces me to leave, you look tired, my dear.”
“Yeah,” she sighed, “and you have to leave in the morning. I shouldn’t be keeping you up so late.”
“Worry not about it, I would likely be awake anyway. Probably reading boring mandates that I need to proof for errors.” He smirked, “I find your company far more enjoyable.”
“I should hope so.” she laughed.
“Come, allow me to walk you to your room?”
She nodded and he stood taking her by the hand. When they reached the quarters she had chosen he kissed her softly, “Goodnight my sweet, Stephanie.”
She cringed slightly but it faded quickly. He wondered what he had said, but his concern eased as she smiled up at him.
“Goodnight, Mythos. Wake me before you leave?”
“Oh, I fully intend on having meal with you in the morn before my niece comes to steal you away.” Kissing her forehead he whispered, “Sleep well, my Caria.”
The words had slipped past his lips before he could stop them. She would not know the meaning of the word, but the Sacred Language would have invoked the notice of the Divine. It was the will of his heart. There was no denying what he felt for her. He would give her the time she needed, but he was already eternally hers.
Darkness swirled as fire spilled from the floor at varying intervals around them. The Dark Lord was in rare form. Alayne’s blood continued to spill as he watched as walls crumbled and the floor split, the remnants of the Kyndra falling into pits of fire and Darkness. The Dark God had been at this for quite a while and there was nothing left of the Dark spires of the safehold, as least nothing the Dark Lord would find. Lord Lazurys turned on him and flooded him with his essence. It was excruciatingly delicious.
“Rise Alayne, you are not yet done with this life.” The Dark Lord
spat. He had sustained wounds from both Byryn and Marcus but they were far from fatal. Even without Lazurys’ attention he would have healed them but it would have taken days.
“As you wish, my lord.” He rose biting back his pain and his rage, bowing in deference to his lord. He had always felt his Father’s interest in Cymeryn was a dangerous folly. Now the Protectors were united and had obviously claimed their thrones.
“Gather reign of your thoughts Alayne, before I leave you rot in a pit until my anger is sated.” The room shook around them as it continued to fall in ruins. “I knew well the risk I took when I set him free, but I had him. He would have brought her to me directly. I could not foresee my Father’s interference.”
“Indeed. If we had foreseen the pregnancy we could have used it against Cymeryn,” Alayne mused. Without the pregnancy, Cymeryn certainly would have felt his best option was to complete his duty, but he likely feared risking his young.
“Do not doubt Alayne, that this is precisely what I intend to do. If we can gain access to those twins, to her…we will own both of the Protectors of Balance. In the meantime, claim your granddaughter, her awakening is soon. It is time to make her mine,” Lazurys hissed.
“It will be my pleasure to provide her for your needs, Dark Lord...as well as my own,” the High Priest sneered, his desire left unsated from the Mother of his bride.
“We will not be keeping her just yet. They do not realize the true value of her or her chosen mate. I mean to claim them both, cementing the Darkness in their souls. She is the key to owning him and he to her. To control them we need both. I will not make the same mistake I made with Cymeryn. I should have sent him to Reyn long before now. Had it been he who had stolen her innocence instead of your son I would already possess her, but then we would not have our Dark Princess.”
“Indeed and that would be a travesty, my lord.” Alayne all but snarled at the idea of keeping Staryana and Byryn linked. She was his to own, to claim.
“They are the key to obtaining the young, Alayne. You know we must possess and mold those twins from their birth. If we cannot they must die. Byryn is simply a means of controlling her until she can come to us with the young. She is and was always meant to be your bride.” The air around Lord Lazurys pulsed with flames. “Find me new Kyndra and recall Syneous and Crytos. We have already begun to lose ground in the territories. I will not lose dominion over the Earth.”
“We will correct the situation quickly. If need be we will turn some of the Tainted to refill the ranks,” Alayne bowed. “I will be able to act more freely now that I am unchecked by Cymeryn. It shall allow me to accomplish more in far less time.”
“See that you do, Alayne. I am losing my patience in this. You have always been my favored, my chosen son. I have gifted you with unimaginable strength and power over the centuries. Do not incur my wrath. I am all too aware this situation was my error. I should have anticipated my Father’s attempts to retain balance. I should have kept Cymeryn closer to heel.”
He grew silent. “I wonder if I would be able to request an audience with my dear sister now that her realm is reopened. I will not have the power to reach her but it would at least leave them shaken. They may become careless. I will have to consult the Covenant Scrolls. It may be the very opening needed to gain your bride, Alayne.”
In a puff of smoke and flames the Dark Lord vanished leaving the rubble of Alayne’s tower in his wake. Taking in the damage the Priest he raised his scepter to the sky calling the Dark essence around him. Stone lifted in the air and Shadows swirled about him. It would take several hours, but the fortress would stand once more. After all, he needed a home for his bride if he was going to be claiming her soon.
If she could not be his until he claimed the brats in her Mother’s womb, so be it. He would just need to obtain them both, because she was his and his alone. That boy would die for coveting her as he did, for taking the small pleasures he had with her flesh. He would not stand for allowing their bond to survive.
Chapter 12
Kyle entered the small mansion mildly curious about why they had chosen this place. It was a lot nicer than any of his Grandfather’s other safeholds on Earth. Most of them were falling apart, unfit for even the slaves to live in and they only used the subterranean tunnels. This place wasn’t exactly top of the line but it was clean, sturdy and livable. Why?
A slave rushed up to him. “Hold human. You’ve come to the wrong place,” The fool sneered at him.
Allowing his essence to surge Kyle didn’t hesitate. He backhanded him, knocking him on his ass. “Obviously you’re new so I won’t kill you…yet. Tell the High Priest that Kyle Johnson is awaiting an audience.”
The Shade’s brow rose and he averted his eyes as he forced himself to kneel. “I…I apologize, Master Kyle. I didn’t realize…”
Gripping his hair he ripped him back meeting fear filled eyes. He hated this, honestly, but this idiot wasn’t worth the beating he’d receive if he bothered to show any weakness. “I don’t need your apology, slave. Go notify the High Priest of my presence before I kill you and find him myself.”
“Yes, master.”
“No need. Your Grandfather’s busy.” Syneous replied walking over to kick the Shade in the side knocking him from his hold. “Go tend to your duties. I’ll see to our guest.”
Kyle followed him without question to a small study and took the seat he was prompted to. “Do you want me to wait for him?”
“You’re late. I expect when I send you a summons that you be where you’re told when I command it,” He snarled.
“Yes sire, I know. I did come earlier but the Elder Priest Pagyrian said that Grandfather would be detained most of the day due to a ritual he needed to attend to and that I should come back this eve,” He explained trying not to sound too bored or placating. Every interaction with Syneous was like a test and he had to be careful not to leave anything out…or say too much. “I reached out to you but you didn’t respond.”
Syneous glared at him but remained silent. “The Supryn Cymeryn has defected. He’s playing his own games while he tries to gain his whore, my former wife. The Kyndra are dead.”
His brow rose in shock. “Wh-, what does that mean?”
“It means that I’ve got my hands full Kyle, and I need you to pull your weight. You were supposed to be keeping an eye on Staryana. I don’t care how you do it but you are to find her. She’s in the Realm of Balance. Crytos is trying to set a trap for Byryn. You need to be part of it. Get close to members of the Brood, use any connections you have to but I need you in place when Byryn makes his move so you can get close to her. I’m tasking you with bring her home to me,” he commanded.
Swallowing hard his eyes drifted to the enlarged portrait of his sister that sat above the mantle before he met Syneous’ stare. “What’s going to happen to her when I do?”
“That’s not your concern. Just do as you’re told or I swear boy I’ll beat the weakness right out of you,” he growled.
“Yes sire. Can I use John? It’ll be hard to hide this from my mentor.”
“Actually, yes, Atlyion has far more stomach for this sort of thing than you do. He’ll see to it that you do as you’re told. I want a fell debrief tomorrow from both of you.”
Kyle nodded as he rose to his feet. “If there’s nothing else I should see who I can track down. The Brood are more active at night.”
“Go, get out of my sight. I have enough to deal with.” Syneous turned not even bothering to look at him. “I assume I don’t need to remind you that if you can’t be of use to me, Kyle, then your life has no purpose.”
“You’ve been more than clear on many occasions. I’ll do what you ask.”
“You had better. My Father won’t continue to protect you if you continually fail us.”
Without bothering to acknowledge the statement he walked out of the room and out to his car. If this was protection he’d like to know what the hell the alternative was. Of course that was obvious, deat
h.
Glancing up to the manor he sighed. That’s what this place was for. They were ready to bring Star home. He’d brought them women and females before but each time it chipped away at his soul and this was different. He wasn’t sure he could consign that girl to what they intended to do to her. It was wrong on so many levels. There had to be a way to save her but he knew without a doubt that if he betrayed the High Priest this time there’d be no reprieve. They’d kill him. They’d been working on gaining control of Star for too long.
Running his hand through his hair he pulled out his cell and called John. “Yeah, where are you?”
“At Steph’s trying to figure out where the hell she is. Her school shit is gone and she hasn’t been home all day,” John ground out over the line and Kyle could tell he was pissed off. “Why, what did the old man want?”
“He’s not here. Syneous gave us orders to get close to the Brood and we have to debrief him tomorrow. They think they have a way to reclaim Byryn and gain access to some place called the Realm of Balance. I thought we couldn’t get into the realms yet.” He was at Steph’s and she was gone? How the hell did he even get in? “They didn’t even mention Steph and I didn’t sense her here.”
“Well at least that’s something but I have no idea where the fuck she is. As far as the Realm of Balance, that’s where they took all those unawakened brats and where the Fae are hiding Reyn. They’re probably still trying to reclaim her. Look, we can go talk to Perydyn, Nox and maybe Fury might have a beat on something if we can track him. He tends to keep tabs on what the fuck they’re up to. We’ll stick to the unawakened since we’re just searching for info right now.”