by Jaime Marks
“You also have me, Rey. I know the Dark Lord’s tactics and abilities better than any save you. I know many of the resources he has at his disposal and their limitations. We know where to hit the Shade and the Umbra to debilitate them. It will take time but we will find a way to bring this war to an end,” Cymeryn promised.
“Have I told you both lately how much you sound like Kings,” she teased.
He chuckled tracing his finger absently down her neck and over her collar bone. “If we do it is only because of our Queen who inspires us. I will admit that I do not know the first thing of how to go about claiming this mantle in your world, but you, my love, are guiding me.”
Marcus smirked in amusement, “Who are you and what have you done with my brother? Did the great Cymeryn really just employ modesty?”
Shoving his brother he laughed, “Shut up you annoying fool, I am not so arrogant. At least no more than you.”
“Perhaps,” he smiled teasingly, “but it is fun to poke the lion so to speak. In all honesty, we are all still adjusting to these roles and their responsibilities. It will take time but as long as we have one another we will manage it. You both need to trust that.”
Cymeryn nodded, “He is right, Reyana. I would never have believed it possible that this war would end unless the Shade could fully turn the entirety of the Fae and even then perhaps not as long as Lucerna had the ability to breathe life into this world, but I know now there is a way. I also know that we will find it. It will take time and effort, but we have the knowledge and the ability.”
“Surely you can feel it, Reyana,” Marcus kissed her head. “The growing body of knowledge and power within the three of us. Give it time and do not strain yourself so looking for answers. They will reveal themselves as they are meant to. It will save you a lot of aggravation if you can simply be patient.”
It was true. They had all struggled the past month looking for solutions to the issues they faced only to find the answers had been in place since before their birth. When it was time they had been revealed and they all knew a new age had dawned with their ascension to the thrones. What it would mean in the scheme of things was not yet certain, but much like Byryn, Staryana, and Stephynia’s future, it would be revealed as it was meant to be.
“The past is the past, Reyana. It may hold some answers or perhaps have taught us lessons to prepare us for the future, but the reality that has come to pass has changed things. We will have to wait to see where this path takes us and assess our situation as it unfolds.”
She sighed settling between them. “You’re right. I know that, but I just wish I could save them from what’s yet to come. I know Staryana has her own trials to face and it scares me. She has grown so fast this past month and now it’s clear she’s awakening…but then I suppose we’ve all changed.”
“Indeed, Reya. I will not deny I am concerned for the young as well but they must be allowed to find their own way. Our place is to support and guide them as we build and tend to the Kingdoms,” Marcus reasoned.
“And we will always be here for them. Byryn is my grand progeny, Staryana is your daughter and Marcus and I have all but claimed her as our own and Stephynia is the young of my closest friend. We will never abandon them or the twins.”
“The way you say that and your emotions, brother. It is almost as if you believe Ceryn is still alive.”
He shrugged, “There is no way to know for sure but he was ever resourceful. I do not believe that we should count him out just yet. At any rate I will hold out hope until we can confirm that he has been truly lost.”
Marcus nodded as they all sat in quiet contemplation. The road before them was long and uncertain. There would be many twists and turns that could not be predicted but together they would find a way to overcome the obstacles. They had grown and changed so much in the short time since he had found Reyana, since they had first allowed their essence to merge and he had begun his Redemption. The world had been opened to them in a way that none of them could have imagined just a few short months ago. They had claimed their place as her protectors, as they had always been in one facet or another and now they had taken their places at her side as Kings.
He leaned down claiming her mouth as he kissed her, reaching over to clasp his brother’s hand, linking the three of them together. They were one, with or without the Bonding Ritual, as they had always been meant to be.
Thank you for reading Protectors and Kings. Here’s a sneak peak of
Connections: Book 5 in the Mists of the Fae Series, due out August 1st, 2015
Cymeryn stood in the first rays of the day’s morn. He glanced over the small group as they prepared to leave. Kato was helping Demytria with the form fitting leather armor that he had fashioned for her. Grifyn was stretching off to the side. Gavyn stood with young Trycen helping him sort through his travel pack. It was the boy’s first mission out of the realm, his first real mission likely since his awakening had been forced and he was subsequently Redeemed. He glanced nervously at Cymeryn, not because he felt unprepared, but because he was still unsure of how much he should let his guard down around him.
Walking over to the boy he watched how his eyes widened, studying him carefully as he considered how to approach this. “Be at ease, Trycen. Are you comfortable undertaking this mission with me? I can sense your uncertainty. If it is going to be a distraction for you to serve with me son, you should reconsider. It is likely we will be facing some of your brothers as it is. Being unfocused like this in such a fight could cost you your life and that is something I am unwilling to do.”
The boy took a deep breath and then met him directly in the eye. “I won’t deny that it’s a little intimidating to be working so closely with you, my lord. You’re my Grandsire and we were all taught to fear you, but they are my brothers and some of our sisters might be at Bearringer’s. If Byryn can’t be here then I need to be. I’m solid, Sup…my lord, I swear it.”
He clasped his shoulder in reassurance and nodded. “I want you close to me, son. Your knowledge of your brothers will be invaluable and I am not about to lose you to the Brood.” He held his gaze trying to impress upon the boy his sincerity. “You are of my essence, Trycen.”
His eyes widened in surprise a moment but he merely nodded and Cymeryn could sense his resolve strengthening. He looked up to the top of the Palace steps where Byryn stood by the entrance. The boy was not happy that he was remaining behind, but in truth even if Staryana was not so close to the awakening after what had occurred the previous eve, Cymeryn would have ordered him to remain at the Palace regardless.
Byryn was still carrying that guilt on his shoulders and had yet to address it. Until he did he was a distraction to himself and there was no mistaking the fact that the Brood wanted to reclaim him. Even if the Brood was not so determined to gain vengeance on Byryn, the boy had severely wounded Alayne. The High Priest was nothing if not vengeful and he was the key to Staryana’s salvation. There was too much risk to the boy, especially when his mind was so clouded.
Cymeryn looked up to him, meeting his eyes and nodded. When he grudgingly nodded back, he signaled the others and they set out from the Palace silently. He wanted to be quick about this if possible. He had intentionally left without letting Reyana know. She would be irate when he returned, but in truth it was better than the stress she was putting herself through in her fear. She persisted in her attempts to dissuade him from this. With any luck the raid would be efficient and without issue.
They were hitting a group home where there were generally twenty or twenty-five unawakened on hand at any given time. Most, if not all, were typically female. He was hoping they would all come with them without issue. The world of the Shade was especially brutal on female young. They had no real future unless their sire took special interest in them upon their awakening and that was not necessarily a blessing. Generally they served simply as slaves.
He glanced back to Demytria. She had not been awakened his progeny but he had always treated her
as such. He had trained and sculpted Tatyna and Demytria into formidable Shade. Of course he had taken full advantage of their attributes, as any Shade would have, but they had not suffered in the same ways that other females suffered at the hands of their sires and owners. Cymeryn had never really understood the propensity of the Shade to view females as the weaker sex. He had seen them endure extreme amounts of pain and still endure. Some of the best warriors in the Umbra were female. The life most female led in the Shade was an atrocity that needed to be corrected, one he had helped to create.
With the power he now held, and what he now understood of the true capacity of the Darkness, he was going to set things right. There would always be Gray that held a propensity for the Darker aspects of life, but he now understood that Darkness did not necessarily mean evil. It meant Night. It meant the Light of the moon versus the Light of the Sun. The nocturnal creatures of the world and the stars in the sky. It also meant death, but from death came rebirth. It could mean anger and pain and the Darker emotions, but those emotions did not need to corrupt, instead they could foster growth and strength. There was so much more to the Darkness than he had ever been taught as Shade. There was a purpose to it. He was beginning to understand that what he had always been taught was Darkness was really better termed evil and had no real place in life.
He had perpetuated that evil, had reveled in it. Now was his opportunity to help right the wrongs he had helped set in motion. It was not only something he needed to do to assuage his conscience, it was his duty as the Protector of Night.
Mist of the Fae Series
Revelations
Secrets Past
Shades of Redemption
Protectors and Kings
Connections
Choices
Dynamics (coming November 1, 2015)
About the Author
Jaime Marks is a thirty-five year old writer, an artist, a mother and a wife. There’s probably about ten other titles I can tack onto to there, roles I play, job titles I’ve held, degrees and certificates I’ve earned, but these are the roles that embody who I am. I’m from the northeast in the United States but most people will tell you that my heart belongs on a beach somewhere down south.
I’ve had some people ask me why I write. It’s simple really, I write because I enjoy it. Sure it would be nice to get rich and live off of my books but if I made writing about making a living then I don’t think it would be quite as enjoyable. I write what I want, when I want and let the story come to me in such a way that in essence I’m experiencing it as I write it. It’s kind of like a movie or a play unfolding in my head. Sometimes the characters and plots take turns I can’t even foresee but I always want to know where they’re going and how it will end. If I worry about what other people think, or what people would buy then I have to try to write what they want instead of being true to the vision of the story. I’m always happy when others enjoy my books and as long as they read them, I’ll publish them, but even if I didn’t I would still write because I enjoy it and I sincerely hope my readers enjoy reading it.
I’m the same way in a respect with my art. It’s an expression of my soul or some feeling. When I’m making it, for me it’s about releasing that expression, that emotion. Sometimes the result is beautiful and others it’s frightening, but it’s always me and I enjoy it from start to finish.
If you have questions or want to keep in touch here’s my information. I love hearing from you guys. Also please be sure to review the books if you like them. I hear from a lot of people but I haven’t had many reviews. It helps me to hear from you but reviews help other people find the series. Thanks.
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