by Jaime Marks
He shook his head ignoring Marcus and narrowed in on her. The revulsion was evident on his face. “I know enough to know that you have dishonored yourself, Reyana. I can sense the young within you. Did you think I would not notice?” Devyn stared her down. “What I cannot understand is why you would allow such a thing! How could you dishonor yourself in this way! Thank the Light your Parents are not here to see you fall so far.”
Cymeryn misted to their side his anger finally brimming. “If you have issue, Devyn, by all means speak it, but you will address it with myself and Marcus. You will not attack her in such a manner!”
Devyn turned to him in disgust, “You will not make demands of me, Cymeryn a Cymarcion, if you even claim your lines these days. I should have your head for this because I am sure this is some strategy you are working even still.”
“Devyn, Cymeryn is King and Reyana is Queen. You will hold your tongue,” Marcus demanded. “If you would just allow us to ex…”
“You will be silent while I deal with this, Marcus. I am all too aware that you must know full well of these circumstances and it disappoints me greatly.” He turned back to Cymeryn. “I should not be surprised that you have managed to Taint and corrupt her. I always warned Mythion you had taken far too great an interest in her.”
Marcus’ fury rose, “No I will not Dev-”
Cymeryn snapped out, “I do not expect your trust Devyn, but…”
“Dysteno!” Steph’s voice echoed through the suite as her essence pulsed over them brightly and everyfae froze.
Marcus studied her with concern, her eyes were gold, but she appeared to be in control. The anger was pulsing off of her in waves but she appeared to be channeling her essence, not allowing it to overtake her.
Mythos walked over and took her hand as she offered it, “Are you alright, Stephynia?”
She nodded but her voice had taken on an oddly familiar, stern quality. It actually reminded Marcus of his former mentor, Cerulyion. “Devyn a Devyion…Son of Devyion and Teryia a Terisyion. Grandson of Terisyion and Marisse of the First Fae. You will hold.” The essence faded from her eyes.
“Who are you to address me in such a manner? How is it you know of my full lineage?” Devyn breathed studying the future Queen as his gaze settled on her necklace…the necklace worn only by the Queen of the Fae.
Mythos cleared his throat in discomfort. Marcus could tell he was less than pleased to be placing her in the line of Devyn’s ire. “Devyn, may I present the Lady Stephynia a Ceryn of the Cerulyion Line of Lucerna…my betrothed and future Queen of the Fae.”
Devyn stepped back involuntarily as he took her in and then studied Mythos in shock. “Betroth-...Cerulyion? Impossible.”
“Sense me yourself, Devyn. We all know you will when you see fit anyway.” She regarded him with that hard edge that only Steph could present. As abrasive as she was though, it garnered only respect from Devyn. Marcus had to bite back his smile at how she held herself.
The Commander stepped closer to her allowing his essence to reach out to her and his mouth dropped slightly open. “Indeed you speak the truth. The Cerulyion Line is strong in your essence. Madelyna a Grifyion’s daughter?” He requested turning to Grifyn.
Grifyn nodded slowly. He looked highly uncertain as to whether he should intervene. He was still very protective of the girl. She was not acting like the girl they had met just days ago, however, but as the Queen they could all see she was fast becoming.
“I have been gifted with the knowledge and strength of the entirety of my line. It is how I know your lineage,” she explained curtly, her eyes still brightly shining golden. “I also understand how this may all seem to you, but with all due respect, you will sit down, you will hear what they have to say, and you will hold your tongue until they are finished. I understand the respect you expect and are due but that does not absolve you from offering it. Despite your age you are all equals in the running of these Kingdoms, aside from that The Kings and Queen of Balance as well as the King of the Fae are above your station. You are out of line and if my Grandfather were here right now he would take you to the training area and pace you through your manners until you learned your place, and we both know it. Now I suggest instead of coming in here and disrupting everyfae’s meal that you rethink your approach or I might be tempted to follow my Grandfather’s example.”
Chapter 23
Mythos could not hold back the smile as his chest filled with pride. They had all been taken off guard and at a loss for how to handle Devyn, but Stephynia, his Queen, had put him well in his place. Even Marcus and Cymeryn seemed to have eased although the tension bleeding from Reyana was intense. They needed to rein in this situation. It was not good for her to be so upset in her condition.
He watched Devyn as he studied Stephynia. “You would have to be a Cerulyion. Any other Fae would have to be either incredibly foolish or insane to speak to me in such a manner.”
Steph scoffed walking right up to him despite how he dwarfed her size, her eyes still flashing gold. “I assure you I am not foolish although I have been known to have my sanity questioned on occasion. Do not doubt that I am more than up to the task of reminding you of your place, Commander, though I do not wish for it to come to that. It should not have to. Now I will ask you simply, are you going to sit down or do we need to step outside?”
He smirked and met Mythos in the eye. “She is a ball of fire, this one, is she not? You have chosen wisely for yourself, son. She will make a fine Queen and indeed keep you on your toes.”
Mythos smiled at their Patryarch’s assessment, “Indeed.”
Devyn met her in the eye and nodded, “At your bequest I will hear them out, my lady, out of respect for both your station and your lineage; not to mention my old friend who indeed I suspect you channel. You are perhaps right that I am out of line, but it is only my concern for the safety of these lines as well as the entirety of our species that guides my ire. There are indeed better ways to discover the truths that lie herein, I suppose. You and I, however, my lady? We will indeed be sparring before I take my leave. I wish to know if you have prowess to match all that fire you assert.” He bowed to her in reverence.
“I will welcome the challenge, Commander.” Stephynia stood firm holding his gaze until he took a seat in an armchair by the fireplace.
Mythos guided her to her seat and sat beside her before leaning into her ear. “Well done, my Queen.” She squeezed his hand but remained focused on Devyn knowing full well he was still on edge despite appearances.
Marcus and Cymeryn guided Reyana back to the couch, comforting her and whispering in her ear. He knew they were trying to convince her to retire to their chambers so she would not have to endure anymore of Devyn’s scrutiny. He wished she would listen to them but he knew she would not. Reyana felt a responsibility to see Devyn’s concerns eased, but none of them welcomed the toll that this stress might take on her.
Mythos cleared his throat, “Lucerna has revealed the hidden history of the Fae through Alysse. The information was not included in the communicaes as it would be impossible to ensure the security of the information. It is not something that we want openly revealed to the Shade, though we are more than suspect that Lazurys is fully aware of it.”
Devyn’s eyes narrowed. “Then by all means, my lord, it is time that you proffer this information and I suggest you leave out no details. My patience for all of this has grown thin, if you have not been able to discern, and my concerns are great and many.”
“I can understand and respect that, Devyn, in the same regard we have never disrespected you in such a way as you have done since you entered this room. We had full intention of ensuring you had every detail this morn, but you never gave any of us the option to speak.”
Devyn sighed heavily, “You are right, Mythos, but I must admit my concerns have been mounting and I have been unable to get here until now.” He shot Cymeryn and Demytria harsh looks. “You cannot fault me for my misgivings.”
�
�No, perhaps not, but I do fault your behavior. I understand that it is difficult to understand and I will say that at first I shared your concern and confusion on these matters, but I would not act so hastily, Devyn. This you should already know,” Mythos admonished.
He needed to reach his old friend, his cousin in truth. If he would not hear them then he had no idea how they would convince him of this and their subjects would look to Devyn perhaps more than any other to ascertain if this could be trusted. They might have faith and believe in the Lucerna Lines but if Devyn refuted this, many may well follow his example.
Devyn nodded folding his hands in his lap. “No, you would not. You have always shown patience and the ability to debate all possibilities. Even when I do not agree with your actions I have never been able to find fault with the logic and reasoning that supports them. I apologize, my lord. To you as well, Reyana. I cannot promise that I will simply accept your explanations, or your actions, but I will listen and hear what you have to say before I pass further undue judgment and I will hold my temper.”
“It is all we ask, Devyn,” Mythos replied hoping it was the truth. He had never been a Fae of patience.
Marcus watched as Devyn sat quietly and took in everything they said. He seemed a bit taken aback by it all which was understandable. It was a lot to swallow, even having lived it. The histories of Lunya alone were difficult to handle. He had listened to Mythos, Reyana, Marcus and even Cymeryn as they had disseminated the information. They now waited for his reaction. None of them knew what to expect.
“Many of your points and details align and are indeed compelling,” Devyn reasoned, “but how can such things be trusted? How am I to be sure the Gray is not simply another form of the Taint?”
“Devyn, I can sense your apprehension and I am more than aware that the majority of it revolves around me. I am prepared to open myself to you and allow you free rein to sense me, but would it even help to dissuade your distrust?” Cymeryn requested levelly.
It was something they were all aware that neither as Fae or Shade his brother allowed willingly. None knew the mind of Cymeryn, not even those he held favored, none except Marcus, and knowing what he did in doing so, he wasn’t sure that this was a good idea. Cymeryn wasn’t as able as he thought to hide the pain he suffered. He had placed blocks in his own mind just to be able to endure it. Marcus doubted Devyn would respect his twin’s privacy nearly as much as he did but his brother was set on this course.
Devyn studied him closely raising a brow at the offer. “It would depend on what I find. I will not deny that I trust you least of all.”
Marcus tried to reason some way around this. “You do not have to do this, brother. We will find some other manner to convince him.”
“Marcus, I have been the Fae’s enemy for a century. He sensed Darkness in me even in my youth. There is no other way. Besides, I have already made the offer.”
“You were never Dark in your youth, you know that. Night is not Darkness, Cymeryn. Devyn merely assumed because of the separation of Alysse and Alayne that one of us would also fall and you were withdrawn, secretive and calculated even then. That does not mean you exhibited Darkness.”
“Perhaps not but he was right. I am not saying that the same fate will befall our twins, but it is clear that any set of twins born will be at risk to the Dark Lord. Not because of a weakness or susceptibility, but because he will certainly target them. Devyn understood this, as he understands that the Shade are malicious and devious. He is not wrong to believe that I would be capable of such deception were I still Shade. If I am ever to gain some semblance of trust with the male, some semblance of an accord in the least, this is necessary brother. Aside from that I owe him this after all the pain I have caused him.”
Marcus cursed under his breath but nodded. Cymeryn was right but that didn’t mean he had to like it. This was something his brother needed to do to atone and bridge the gaps between he and the Commander, but it was still risky. Devyn was a ruthless adversary and there was no question that he viewed Cymeryn as nothing less.
Cymeryn kissed the side of Reyana’s head, comforting her before he rose. Devyn forced himself to bite back the grimace he felt cross his visage. It was an interesting dynamic that existed between the three of them but it was something he felt unnatural and uncomfortable. The Fae were to mate only their one, one true mate. The very idea that she was pregnant with both of their young; that she was bonding to them both, went against the very fabric of their society. He did not know that he would ever be able to accept it.
Cymeryn crossed the room to sit before him and settled into a serene meditation. When Devyn felt his barriers fall he reached out and delved deeply into the former Supryn’s psyche. He knew he was all but assaulting his mind but he assumed there were hidden barriers that he would need to break. They were there, but what he had found hidden behind them he could only hope he would one day be able to forget. Cymeryn had suffered greatly these years and the things he had witnessed, the guilt he hid, and the pain in his soul for what Reyana had endured were almost crippling. It did not absolve the male of his sins in the least but it did give Devyn pause. He needed time to wade through his feelings on this. Once he had delved thoroughly through every corner of his mind he released his hold.
Cymeryn glared up at him but remained silent. Devyn said nothing. After all he had done, the atrocities he had committed? He felt no remorse for the pain his probing had caused. He watched as the male gingerly pulled himself to his feet.
“If you will excuse me…” Cymeryn spoke in a hoarse, barely audible voice before misting from the room. Devyn noticed he did not make eye contact with anyfae.
Reyana moved to follow him but Marcus gently grabbed her hand. “Give him a few minutes, love? He will let you know when he is ready.” She nodded and settled in beside him resting her head against his chest as he turned and regarded Devyn harshly. “Was that really called for, Devyn? You could have caused serious damage to his mind were we not so resilient as Sacred Borne,” he all but snarled.
“Indeed it was, Marcus. You may be aware of the damage your brother has caused in the realms but I have witnessed it firsthand. I know how strong of mind the Shade is.”
“He is not Shade, Devyn. That is the point you are missing. You sensed him yourself and you have eyes. Surely after that assault on his mind even you cannot question the Light in his heart!” Marcus shook his head in exasperation.
Devyn knew he was seriously pushing boundaries, but he would do what he felt necessary to garner the truth and protect the Fae. “Perhaps he is not Shade, but that is what he has been for a hundred years and if you expect me to believe that just because he now has some Light in his soul that he is in suddenly a saint, well…” Devyn shook his head. “Perhaps I need to question if you actually did give into the Taint in your soul after Reyana’s death.”
He jumped forward but Reyana’s hand on his arm halted him immediately. When he met her eyes the anger he saw there caught him off guard. She had never allowed anyfae to rile her so much. She rose to her feet but motioned for Marcus to sit back. Hesitantly he sat, keeping close watch on her. Devyn could see how fiercely protective he was of her, but then he had always been thus...as had Cymeryn.
“I have had quite enough of your accusations and attacks, Devyn.” She began slowly. “You have insulted me, attacked my mates, overstepped your bounds and it will end now.”
“With all due respect my lady…” Devyn began to retort.
“No, I will hear no more of your reasons and excuses. This is my realm, my Palace and my kingdom. The Kings of Balance rule here at my side and you will respect our rule or I will have you escorted out.”
Essence flowed over her skin as the strength of her power rose. Marcus beamed with pride beside her. The sheer strength of her, the power that laid restrained beneath that beautiful, enchanting form? Everyfae could see it, feel it in her. Many had professed witnessing it and bowed to her rule expressing their respect and devotions to i
t. Devyn had not been sure he believed it but now witnessing it before him as it surged he could not deny the touch of the Divine he felt.
“While it is true you have the wisdom of experience, you lack it here. I can understand your concerns, Devyn, but I’ve had quite enough of your lack of respect for myself and my Kings.”
Devyn rose a brow as he studied her. “Perhaps I have underestimated you, my lady. I cannot deny the strength I sense in you now. It is not your power I question however, but your judgment. I am the eldest amongst us, Patryarch of these lines and while you may rule, it is still my first priority to see to the safety of the Lucerna Lines. I will admit some of your arguments are compelling but how am I to know that what you call the Gray, Redemption, is not merely a new form of this Taint. That it is not merely a new tool of the Darkness to overtake the Light?”
“How is it you hope to protect us in this manner, Devyn? By alienating all of us? Because I can assure you that’s all you’ve accomplished. We, all of us, have been living these changes these past few months while you have merely been hearing about them.” She sighed, “I can understand your concerns but you aren’t even giving us a chance to address them. We are not your enemies, Devyn.”
Marcus reached up and took her hand. “Reyana, my love, please sit. I know how you are feeling, but you must remember you’re supposed to be taking it easy. If you plan on attending the meetings and banquet I think it would be best if you at the very least rest your feet,” he offered her an apologetic smile and gently pulled her to sit beside him.
He smirked in amusement as he felt her reach across their link. “He is just so infuriating, Marcus!”
“I know, Reya, but all this stress is not good for you and the young. I’m very close to sweeping you up into my arms and taking you to the grove so Cymeryn and I can ease that tension I feel growing in you.”