Shades of Redemption (Mists of the Fae Book 3)

by Jaime Marks

  She looked around, cautiously rising to her feet. She watched him carefully as she paced around the room and he gave her the space and time she needed. “Are you really Byryn’s uncle?”

  “Not exactly.” He grimaced. “I was his Grandsire before he disowned his blood lines but as he and Staryana are betrothed we will be related in a respect once more.” He watched as her brow rose.

  “They’re getting married?” She gaped. “They weren’t even dating as far as I could tell a month ago!”

  He chuckled, “Things tend to work differently in our world. Judging by her age though it may be about four years before they are able to be bonded.”

  Crossing her arms the girl measured him skeptically, “Are you going to bother trying to explain any of this to me?”

  “I think perhaps, considering our recent visitor, explanations would be best tabled until after we are able to reach our destination.” He suggested offering her a hand.

  She stared at it. “Where is our destination?”

  “Someplace, my dear, where I am willing to bet you will feel more at home than you ever have here.” He smiled genuinely as she looked at him in question.

  It did not matter what any believed, he knew the girl was more than she appeared. She had to be unawakened, there was no other explanation for her ability to sense essence and her incredible insight. If it were dormant as Byryn had suggested she wouldn’t be able to sense remnants of essence on objects that had been untouched for years, even decades. He suspected she was masked, protected in some way. She knew Alayne was coming before even Cymeryn sensed him. Aside from that there was also something familiar about the girl.

  “Why would you think that?”

  “Because since you have been in my company you have taken notice to things that no ordinary girl would. I have no way to be certain of your lineage here, but there is someone where we are going who I believe will be able to sense if you are something more than you believe. There are answers, my dear, which we may offer you to questions that I suspect you have had for quite a while; answers that no one in your world can grant you.”

  Her hard exterior almost seemed to crack solidifying his suspicions and she looked away a moment, “Would they be able to tell me why I…”

  “Why you what Steph?” He studied her as he kept his hand extended. She needed to trust him if they were going to make it to the Realm of Gray. He was surprised he actually had the patience for this but he felt the need to protect her for reasons he could not yet explain.

  She met his eyes, “I don’t know, sometimes I see stuff that doesn’t make sense, know stuff that I can’t even verify is real.”

  “Perhaps, but there is no way to know until we get there.” He watched as she fought with herself. She was holding something back, but he did not have time to delve into it now.

  “Ugh, this is probably the stupidest thing I’ve ever done.” She groaned as she took his hand jabbing a finger in his face. “You had better not land me on the evening news as one of those tragic murdered teenage girls who basically took candy from a stranger or I am going to be totally pissed.”

  He smirked as she admonished him. If only she knew who he was, who he had been, but there was no reason to scare the girl. “Come on Steph, I think it is time that we finally go home.”

  Chapter 20

  Byryn burst into the suite in a panic. His heart was beating out of his chest. He needed to calm down, needed to focus.

  “Son, what’s wrong?” Grifyn asked grabbing hold of him, “What’s happened?”

  Marcus, Kato and Demytria were on their feet and Reyana looked up at him with fear in her eyes.

  “Sh-, She’s gone” He struggled to choke out. His whole body trembled. He couldn’t sense her in the realm.

  Marcus grabbed him, pulling him from Grifyn. He looked dead in his eyes and gave him a quick shake. “Byryn, listen to me, you need to calm down. You need to focus. What happened?”

  He took a deep breath “I-, I left Ryo guarding her, he was supposed to let me know the second she left the room.” He took another breath. “Ryo was unconscious, hit over the head, when I went to get her…she’s gone. I can’t find her anywhere. I can’t sense her, Marcus.”

  “He’s right, Marcus.” Reyana gasped her hand on her mouth, “I can’t sense her here either. I don’t think she’s in the Realm.”

  “Marcus, you said you believe Cymeryn is Gray, can he get in and out of the realm?” Kato demanded.

  “He didn’t do this Kato, I’ve been in contact with him on and off all morn as has Reyana. He isn’t even in the realm I would sense him.” Marcus insisted.

  Byryn shook his head, “He’s not here and I didn’t feel him enter the realm like…” He stopped short as Grifyn cursed.

  “Did any of you ever stop to think that Cymeryn is playing you and you gave him free reign to do as he pleases?” His Dad chided.

  “He can’t mask himself from me, Grifyn. I know how this looks, but I swear to you I would know.” Reyana insisted.

  “This isn’t helping!” Byryn roared shutting up everyone in the room. “You all need to shut the fuck up and get it together. It doesn’t fucking matter who took her, for all we know she took off on her own. None of you saw her this morning, none of you have seen in her head as I have. All that matters is that we find her.”

  “He’s right.” Demytria stood walking to the center of the room meeting each of them in the eye. “You all need to stop attacking each other and arguing over this. Maybe Cymeryn did take her, but maybe he didn’t. It doesn’t matter who took her, or if she left on her own. You all need to pull it together and go get her back.”

  Byryn nodded to her as he headed for the door. “I’m going to track her. She would head towards Earth. If she made it we have to reach her before Alayne or Syneous do.”

  “Wait son, we’re coming with you.” Marcus called grabbing his sword.

  “I’m coming too.” Reyana jumped up.

  “No, Reyana. You need to stay here.” Marcus responded.

  “But Marcus, I’m just as safe with you…”

  “No, think about your condition, Reyana. In fact I want you to go to the grove until I return. Shala!”

  A little ball of silver Light flitted around his head “Take her to the grove, ensure she gets there safely.” He commanded as he put his sheath on his waist

  “Marcus, she’s my daughter.” Reyana pleaded tears streaming down her face.

  He took her in his arms and kissed her chastely. “I know Reya and I will bring her back but I need to know that you’re safe. Go.”

  “Are you ready?” Byryn implored impatiently.

  “Yes, lead the way, we’ll follow. You have the strongest connection to her.”

  He raced down the halls and stairs as he tried to track her essence. He could vaguely sense the chaos that was warping her mind. If he lost her, he’d lose his very soul. They had to reach her in time.

  The branches gripped at her shirt as she tore through the woods. It wasn’t Dark. It was never Dark here though. She didn’t really know why she was running. She just couldn’t get away from the thoughts in her head and she couldn’t face the thought of what her Mother, Marcus…what they all would think of her if they found out.

  She’d just wanted to go for a walk. She just wanted to get some air but Ryo wouldn’t let her out of her room. He kept insisting that she should wait until Byryn came back but he had already been gone so long. The images in her mind had overwhelmed her, half with fear and half with a burning need to sate some hunger she couldn’t even understand. It repulsed her, she repulsed herself. What was happening to her? What was she becoming?

  She had grabbed something, she didn’t even know what and swung it with such force that the impact with Ryo’s head had sprayed blood everywhere. She had killed him, she was sure of it. She hadn’t meant to do it. She hadn’t even thought about it. She was just so enraged and overwhelmed that she had acted entirely on impulse and she had killed not just
her guard, but her friend.

  She had no idea how no one had heard the commotion, or how Byryn hadn’t sensed the shifts in her but she didn’t care. What would he think of her now? She knew his past, but she didn’t have the luxury of that excuse. She was becoming a monster and there was nothing he or anyone else could do because she knew he was coming for her. He had promised her that they would be mated soon and in her mind…they already had been. There was nowhere she could go, no place that he couldn’t reach her. If he couldn’t get to her physically he would reach her through her mind. He’d made it quite clear that she belonged to him and what he would do to Byryn if he caught her with him.

  She was lost and confused in her own mind. Nothing was making sense. All she knew was that she needed out. She needed something familiar. She was going home and nothing and no one was going to stop her.

  Up ahead she could see the slit in the air that would free her from the prison her new home had become. She stopped for a moment, hesitating at the point between this world and the next. She might have even stopped herself if she hadn’t looked down and seen the blood that was splattered all over the front of her gown. Ryo’s blood.

  Star turn and looked back one last time at the world that had offered her the perfect life. The place where she’d fallen in love, started a family. She took in the muted tone of the trees and the grass, the Gray sky above her, the soft mist that rolled over everything. It may have only been a month but she had thought for a while that this place was her salvation. That she’d found a peace and easiness here that she would never have been able to find anywhere else. From the moment she’d first entered the Palace Lunya she had no doubt that she’d been where she belonged, but when the nightmares came back? When they had intensified to such a point that she knew she would never escape them? She’d known that no place would ever be safe. There was nowhere she could run. No one could save her from the fate that she’d been told was hers since she was a little girl.

  When she was younger, she hadn’t understood what any of it had meant, and Marcus had always been there at night to comfort her. She hadn’t known that he was real at the time, but now looking back? She knew he had been there looking over her and protecting her all this time. No one had ever known about her nightmares, except her Dad. He had always told her that there were things when you were young that you couldn’t understand and they came out in nightmares, that she would understand when she was older. Now she was older and understood all too well the evil that they represented in her. Marcus couldn’t protect her. Byryn would only lose himself trying. She had no other choice. It was time to go home. Resigned to her fate, Star took one last look around before she stepped through the portal leaving them all behind.

  Alayne rose from where he was seated on the floor. He had returned to the home of his son after his visit with Cymeryn. It irritated him to no end that the Shade somehow had managed to be a step ahead of him in procuring the girl, but no matter. Staryana had been quite vulnerable last eve. He had decided perhaps it would be best to continue to apply pressure rather than to attempt threats and bribery that her family would never allow her to succumb to regardless.

  No, he needed to reach into her and push her past her threshold and he had done just that. He had always taken great pleasure manipulating her mind, showing her the pleasures and pains that awaited her upon their mated bed, but he had never taken any real liberties with her. It was something he typically preferred to do in the flesh, so much more vibrant and enjoyable in the flesh.

  He had known it would take more to push her over the edge, however, so he had ravaged her, pulled her to him and taken her, forcing himself upon her as the sensations flowed so strongly through her that she was unaware of what was real and what was fantasy. She had fought him so delightfully, at least at first, but he had been just gentle enough to invoke pleasure in her. She so badly craved to sate the desires that consumed her and such a pity that she had no outlet. He had but needed to push her just far enough and she gave herself over to it, drunk on his essence and the lust he had cultivated in her, which of course was the key.

  He could force it all he wanted, take her in the most ruthless debauchery to carnally sate himself, but that would not break her. No she was strong enough to resist that, strong enough to know that he had done it to her. She might have felt guilt and even perhaps self-hatred, but that would be a slow cancer and he needed more immediate results. Getting her to give in? To allow herself to enjoy and partake in the pleasures of the flesh? That had taken her right over the edge, in more ways than one.

  He smiled mirthlessly as he replayed the images in his mind of her body torquing off the bed as she writhed in pleasure as he drove her release over and over, not allowing it to ebb off. How delicious she was going to be to taste, to break. The poor girl would be utterly ruined before he was done but she would survive and be molded into the magnificent Shade she was always destined to become. His mouth watered at the thought of all he had planned for her, the power she would grant him. He could sense her. She was on the run. It would not be long now and he would be inside her, in the flesh. He could not wait to meet his favorite grandchild, what a wonderful success she was turning out to be, he thought as he misted to the safehold to prepare for her.

  Cymeryn was running at the speed of wind with Steph on his back, but the moment he had gotten to the woods he froze. He reached out with his senses but the essence was gone as quickly as it had come. He looked around scanning the area with his eyes, but he didn’t see the girl or sense any other Shade or Fae. He shook his head.

  “Is everything alright?” Steph asked close to his ear. She had been clinging to him for dear life. Apparently the speed made her nauseous but he had little choice. Time was of great importance. The longer they were here on Earth the more they risked discovery.

  “Yes, I just thought I felt someone. Someone who should not be here.” He murmured scanning the woods once more before continuing on their way. When he felt the familiar pull of the entryway he stopped to let her off his back. “We will walk from here. I will not be able to use my gifts in the realm we are entering anyway.”

  “So what else can you do? That guy at your place showed up out of thin air, can you do that?”

  He nodded and misted to the other side of her, chuckling when she cursed under her breath, “I apologize. I did not mean to startle you.”

  She shrugged, “My own fault for asking.”

  “Here, give me your hand, we are about to step through the threshold and I do not know if it will separate us otherwise.” He explained.

  They stepped through and he waited a moment for her to get her bearings before releasing her. He watched as she seemed to be stretching out her muscles. How very curious. Muscle aches and pains where one of the earliest signs of the awakening. They usually began when your body of Light began to emerge. He highly doubted the girl was a mere human. Perhaps that is why she and Staryana had been so close. They may have been simply drawn to one another sensing the similarities within.

  “Kind of drab.” She muttered.

  “Yes well, it is the Realm of Gray. The Palace will likely be more to your suiting though.” He scanned the area for patrols as he reached out to his twin. “Come on, we have a long walk and the gifted abilities do not work here so it will progress far more slowly.”

  “You never said anything about a Palace.” She looked him over. “You’re joking right.”

  “Not at all. You will see when we get there.” He shrugged.

  Sensing the area he felt multiple Fae approaching rapidly. He did not know how welcome his presence would be. “Steph, there are some…people coming who may not be too happy to see me. Do you know how to climb a tree?”

  She gaped at him, “You’re kidding? Do I look like I grew up in bumble fuck to you?”

  He glanced her over noticing for the first time her platform shoes and painted nails long nails. “No, I suppose not,” he shook his head as he scanned the area. “There, that group
ing of trees and bushes. Will you wait there for me please?” He pointed out the area for her.

  She shrugged, “Whatever, as long as they aren’t as freaky as that guy at your house, I’m good.”

  He watched her hide amongst the bushes and they camouflaged her just enough, though with the Fae they would likely sense her, perhaps it would give her some protection and distance from the altercation he suspected he would face when any save his brother found him here.

  Cymeryn stood patiently waiting his hands folded behind his back. His black hair whipped around his face and it startled him to see some brown tones reflecting in the Light of this world’s day. He was changing faster than he wanted to admit but he was not ready to concede just yet. If he were honest, however, he knew that his façade was indeed over. He had been lucky to skate by his interaction with Alayne earlier. He suspected if he had not had the girl it would not have been the case. It had set the Shade Priest off balance to find Cymeryn a step ahead of him.

  Out of nowhere, Byryn, Marcus, Grifyn and Kato appeared from behind trees surrounding him. Marcus gave him an apologetic look, but his weapon was drawn, nevertheless. His twin looked pained and fear gripped Cymeryn a moment. He reached out and felt Reyana and eased slightly. It was when he took in the pain, fear and anguish that Byryn carried with him that he knew he had not been mistaken earlier.

  “Where is Star, Cymeryn?” Grifyn spat. “Where have you taken her?”

  “I do not have her, Grifyn. I was unaware she was even missing until this moment.” He replied calmly.

  “What are you doing here, brother? I thought we were sticking to the plan.” Marcus asked his weapon far lower than that of the others.

  He reached up and removed his sunglasses and opened his eyes. “I had a close run in with Alayne. I thought it best to bring the girl straight away. There was no reason to risk her safety for my own foolish needs.”