by Quinn Loftis
“What are you doing?” Cyn asked him, looking up at him with wide, searching eyes.
“Touching you,” Thalion answered with no shame whatsoever. “I only have you for a limited time, and I will not waste any of it. Now.…” Thalion took a deep breath and let it out. “Tell me something about you that no one knows.”
Her face scrunched together in a deep frown. “That’s a little invasive.”
“Perhaps. But I want to know everything about you.” When she didn’t respond, he grinned. “Fine, I will start. I’ll tell you something no one knows about me…” He trailed off as he thought about his own question. “I do not like to sleep in absolute darkness.”
Her brow rose. “You’re afraid of the dark?”
He shook his head. “No, not so much afraid of the dark as much as I am shaken by the way it closes in on me. When there is a lack of light, I feel as though there is a lack of space, as well.”
“So you don’t like small, enclosed spaces?”
“Not particularly, but the dark is worse because I can’t see how small the space is. Even if it’s only in my mind,” Thalion explained.
“The mind can hold great power over a person,” Cyn said, her eyes loosing focus as she seemed to drift off to some other place.
“What power has your mind held over you, beautiful?” He leaned close to her ear and whispered.
“It seems I am unable to change my way of thinking.” Her voice was soft and as she talked, Thalion could see the tension begin to ebb away. “I have been taught for so long that I am a warrior. The idea of not being a warrior seems to throw my mind into a frenzy. Like throwing raw meat before a pack of wolves, it simply attacks me. No matter how I attempt to fight back, my mind wins. So you see…” She turned her head slightly to look at him. “It is powerful. It holds me captive to the life I have, and I don’t know that I could ever walk away. Not even for you.”
Thalion slid his body closer to hers until he was pressed against her side. He slipped his hand across her stomach to her side, gripping her hip as he tugged her even closer. “Who says you would have to stop being a warrior for me?” he asked. “I love you because of who you are. You’re right, Cyn. You are a warrior, and a very good one, from what I gather. I do not wish to take you from that.”
“How can I be with you and still perform my duties?” Cyn asked him.
The earnestness in her voice gave him hope that maybe she truly did want to find a way to be with him.
“We will figure it out, love. You don’t have to be with me every waking moment. When the council needs you, then you go. I would, however, like to request that you at least make it home to our bed every night.”
A brow rose on her forehead as her lips pursed.
He shrugged. “I know that after tonight, not having you in my arms while I sleep will be torture.”
She let out a long sigh. “I wish to talk about something else.”
Thalion wanted to press the issue, but he didn’t want her to run off again. He feared that if he pushed her on their relationship, she’d be gone before his next breath. “Can you tell me something no one else knows about you?” he asked again.
“I do not remember my sire and mother,” she said after several minutes of silence.
“Are they still in this world?”
“I have no idea,” Cyn admitted. “I don’t even remember what they look like.”
“I know I am probably going to regret saying this, but … well … you have been alive a very long time. There are probably many things that you do not remember.”
A mischievous twinkle lit up her eyes. “Are you saying I am old, Prince Thalion?”
“Would I be able to redeem myself if I said you didn’t look a day over 500?”
She laughed and the sound made his heart swell. This was what he was missing in his life—her. Her laughter, her smiles, her ability to stand up to him and throw knives at him. His existence was empty without her in it.
“I might choose to let your slight against me go for such a compliment,” she teased.
“I like this.” he motioned between them.
“What?”
“This, us, together like this. It’s just … right.” Before she could argue, he pressed a quick, firm kiss to her lips and then nipped them playfully as he pulled back. “Now, tell me your favorite memory.”
“The first time I saw you,” she answered without pause.
“Intriguing.” Thalion purred. “What did you think?”
“I thought, why is that pompous elf standing in the rain?”
Thalion threw his head back and laughed. He loved that she was allowing him at least a small glimpse into her true self. Cyn was rarely playful and when she was, it was a gift. “I will admit that I was a bit preoccupied to notice the rain. A certain lovely fae had caught my attention.”
“What is your favorite memory?” Cyn asked him.
“This one,” he said quietly as he reached up and ran a finger across her lips. “I will look back at tonight and remember it as the night you let me in, even if only for a little while.”
The night continued on much the same. He would ask her a question, and she would tease him or give him a serious answer. Periodically, he would leave her breathless after capturing her mouth and kissing her until he had to make himself pull away. It was the best night he’d had in a very, very long time.
It was much later that Thalion held a sleeping Cyn in his arms. His own unwillingness to succumb to sleep was due to the fact that he knew his time with her was slipping away. It wouldn’t be long before the morning sun would break over the horizon and he would have to say good-bye. For how long? He had not the slightest idea. Cyn was as predictable as the weather. One day she might be biting cold and another as warm and inviting as the first days of summer. But whatever she was, she was his, and he hated knowing that she was still resigned to walking away from him.
When the inevitable finally happened, Thalion reluctantly released her from his arms as she sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Cyn seemed unable to want to look at him, but he wasn’t about to let her off that easy.
“Don’t even think about flashing out of here without talking to me,” he warned.
She took a deep breath and then stood. When she turned around, Thalion could see the wall she kept up between herself and the rest of the world was already back in place.
“Will you keep your end of the bargain? I have kept mine.”
“What do you think?” he asked her, challenging her to trust him, to take him at his word and admit that he is a man of honor.
“I believe you will,” she said after several heartbeats of silence, then added, “I won’t lie. I enjoyed last night, but it can never happen again.”
Thalion sat up, pushing himself to the edge of the bed. He rubbed his hand over his face, attempting to shove away the frustration he knew was evident in his eyes and in the tightness of his mouth. The infuriating woman just wouldn’t give in. “Are you saying I will not be seeing you again? Fae warriors will be coming here to train. Will you not join them?”
She shook her head. “I am needed elsewhere.”
He walked over to her and took her face in his hands. He saw her skin flush at his touch and her eyes widen as he lowered his head. Thalion’s lips moved across her in a sensual dance, coaxing her to open her mouth so he could deepen the kiss. As his tongue delved in and her tasted bombarded him, he attempted to make it last so that he could memorize her taste, the feel of her skin, and her alluring scent. He finally pulled back. Cyn had her eyes closed.
He almost missed her whisper, but he didn’t miss the tear that slipped down her cheek.
“I’m sorry.” She was gone before he could respond.
“She was as broken as you were,” Reeve told him as his story came to an end. “When did you see her next?”
“Thirty years later, she came to me with the warlock king and a human in tow. It was a blessing and a curse. I was thrilled but I
was also brimming with anger,” Thalion admitted none too proudly.
“She needed your help?” Reeve asked.
Thalion nodded, his mouth set in a grim line. “The world was falling apart at the hands of a witch no one new still existed. I had no idea the danger she had placed herself in, while I sat protected behind the walls of my castle. It was then that I decided I could no longer keep from interfering. I won’t lie.” He let out a sigh. “At first it was only for her. But she’s taught me that I should be willing to help those in need because it is the right thing to do.”
“She’s good for you.”
“Yes, she is.”
They sat in silence, both lost in the past. It was nearly a half hour later when Reeve spoke again. “If you find a female that is your equal, but also has strengths where you are weak, she is worth fighting for. She is worth following, no matter what.”
“Even beyond death?” Thalion couldn’t help but ask. He didn’t want to lose his friend, but he understood why Reeve wanted to leave this life.
“Even beyond death,” he confirmed. “I belong by her side and she by mine. Being separated from her has been a torturous existence.”
Thalion reached forward and laid his hand on Reeve’s forehead. “May I?”
Reeve nodded.
Closing his eyes, Thalion let his friend’s memories fill his mind. Few knew that Thalion was capable of such magic, and he rarely used it. For some reason, he needed to see and experience what it was Reeve was so willing to die for.
The emotions that filled him were powerful and complete. There was no doubt, no place of weakness. He watched as Reeve and his mate shared their lives, laughing, fighting, yet always loving and forgiving. The way Reeve looked at her and she at him was so incredibly intimate that Thalion pulled back, fearful of intruding further.
“I understand,” he whispered to him.
“It won’t be long now,” Reeve told him. “I grow weaker even as we speak, but I am thankful for your company in my last days”
“Then I shall sit with you until you pass over,” Thalion assured him.
“And when I’m gone,” Reeve said, his voice raspy and weary. “Will you promise to fight for your fae? Will you pursue her as she deserves?”
“I will,” Thalion answered without hesitation. “I will follow her through the seven realms of hell and back again if that’s what it takes.”
Chapter 11
“I feel as though I am on the cusp of something great or terrible. I do not know which. Regardless of what comes, my life will never be the same.” ~ Cyn
“You slept in his bed and kept all of your clothes on?” Peri asked. “I’m impressed with your self-control.”
Cyn shook her head. “I could not have given myself to him. If I had, I would have never left him. It would have deepened the connection.”
“Please tell me that pun was intended,” the high fae said with a grin.
“I think we need to limit your time with Jen,” Alina told her.
“It wouldn’t help. She’s already warped me.”
Alina turned back to Cyn. “You left him with the intention of never seeing him again.”
“Yes, but then Desdemona happened and the warlock king and Lilly. We needed help and I knew he could help. The only thing I didn’t know at the time was whether he would help.”
“How long had you been apart?”
“Thirty years.” She smiled. “He wasn’t too happy.”
“I imagine not,” Alina agreed.
“So in the midst of all the hell that had broken loose, he asked you to be with him and you agreed?” Peri asked as she stood up and brushed her clothes off.
“Yes.”
“And then you freaked out?”
“I did,” Cyn said through gritted teeth.
“Well, it’s time to grow a pair and claim him and let yourself be fully claimed by him in return.” Peri stared down at her, her arms folded across her chest. “You are a guardian and warrior. You have been trained to be one of the best, not just in your own species, but all of them. Do not bow to this new challenge. Take a leap of faith. The love Thalion has for you is not something that comes around every day. It is rare and precious and you deserve it.”
“And what of your mate, Peri?” Cyn retorted. “Will you be claiming yours?”
“My mate has not been the topic at hand and, as I am not seeking your council, is also none of your business.”
“I agree with Perizada,” Alina said as she too stood up. “It is ultimately your choice, but if you are seeking our council, then we advise you to claim your mate. Now, Peri, if you would be so kind as to return me to my own mate. I believe we’ve given Cyn enough to think about, and she probably needs to process it all.”
“No pressure,” Peri chided. “But if you chicken out, I will make sure you spend the rest of your existence as Jen’s personal servant.” Peri winked at her and then grabbed Alina’s arm. She flashed as she laughed at the shocked look on Cyn’s face.
Cyn had no doubt that Peri would follow through with her threat.
She stayed in that spot, meditating and reliving her past with Thalion over and over. The only time she moved was to get sustenance and then return.
Could she see herself without Thalion in her life? Yes, but it was a bleak outlook she didn’t want to examine too closely. But she made herself do it anyway. Cyn forced herself to look into the future of a life absent of her elf prince. Her heart clenched and her eyes filled with tears as the pain of such a fate overwhelmed her. She felt as though all of the oxygen had been sucked from her lungs, and air was a precious need she could not obtain. Thalion was her air. He was what breathed emotions into her world. Cyn had been an empty shell before she’d met him, simply living out her purpose without the hope of something more in her life.
Her fists clenched as they pressed into her thighs with bruising force. Without Thalion, she would miss out on the precious touch he gave so freely to her. She would miss out on his laughter and the mischievous glint in his eyes. Without him, she wouldn’t experience the passion, joy, and friendship that only came with a mate. She would be giving up so much while gaining nothing.
She knew without a doubt she could not accept that fate. She could not walk away from a man who was offering her every part of himself. And though accepting him would mean much sacrifice, it would not be for naught. For she would be gaining him. Her mind made up, Cyn stood, closed her eyes, and flashed.
Chapter 12
“The counsel of others is priceless. By their wisdom we are often able to find our way back to the path from which we have strayed. By their guidance we are able to avoid the pain of mistakes. I am on the path that I have no doubt leads to you, and I will not stray, not ever again. I will wait if I must, but I am hoping someone guides you back to the same path that will lead you to me.” ~ Thalion
Considering elves lived so long, grief was not something with which Thalion often had to contend with. And so when he did experience it, the shock of the pain was like a knife to his gut. He had sat beside his friend for a week, watching him slowly fade away until he’d finally drawn his last breath.
The elf prince knew it was what Reeve had wanted, but that did not make the loss any less painful. As with all death, it is the realization that something so incredibly final crashes into the lives of those who are still living, still moving forward, creates an agony so deep they wonder if they will ever be able to have joy again.
And, as it is with many things, the only healing there is for such loss is the passing of time. Time that seems to fly by at the speed of light when life is smooth and pain free but crawl like an injured snail when grief overwhelms. Thalion knew that his own grief would ease, but the hole left in their people by the loss of Reeve and his mate would forever remain.
He sat back in the chair of his library and closed his eyes, wondering what his lovely Cyn was doing at that very moment. He had longed for her to by his side while Reeve crossed over, but he h
ad promised to give her time and he wouldn’t go back on his word. With Reeve gone, and Thalion’s story shared, he found he craved her even more. Theirs was a story worth telling their children one day—a story of love and loss, of joy and pain. A story that proved that, regardless of one’s fate, or destiny, life requires choices. Destiny didn’t live itself out. Just because it was the written story for your life did not mean there would be no bumps or trials along the road. He was ready to begin his journey with Cyn. He yearned for them to move down their own path, no longer alone, each navigating the terrain by themselves. Instead, they would be together helping each other along, encouraging one another, rejoicing with each other, and crying when life overwhelmed them. He was ready. He hoped that she would soon come to that same place, prepared to stand beside him.
“She hasn’t come?” Peri’s voice filled the silence.
“Is there a policy against knocking for the high fae?” Thalion asked her as he turned to face her.
“No policy,” Peri denied. “But knocking just seems to waste precious time. Now, onto more important matters. Have you heard from Cyn?”
He shook his head, trying to cover the sadness his answer brought.
“She will choose you,” Peri assured him. “She’s too intelligent to walk away.”
“You’ve spoken with her, I presume?”
“Yes, and for once it wasn’t like pulling teeth. She actually handed them over willingly. Okay, that’s a disturbing picture—a toothless Cyn.” She chuckled.
“Yes, thank you for that,” Thalion muttered. “Did she tell you that she’d made a decision?”
“No, but I know her very, very well. And since I know she will choose you, I feel it is my responsibility to give you the whole I’ll kill you if you hurt her speech.”
“By all means,” Thalion invited with a wave of his hand.
“Thalion, prince of the elves, mate to Cyn of the fae, I name you.”