Chapter 10
"This is the sanctuary," Rhyel said, pushing open the wide stained glass doors of the circular room bursting with overgrown greenery.
Bright-colored flowers covered every inch of the space and reached up to the ceiling, shining with artificial sunlight.
"Butterflies haven't hatched here in years, but there's still nectar and sap in the workshop. I'll go get some for your moth."
"Okay, I'll get him settled in with some leaves on that knoll over there," Sana said, weaving her way through the cobbled path to the grassy knoll around the small pond in the center of the sanctuary.
Rhyel ducked under a low hanging vine of ivy as he found the old workshop where his mother used to make her concoctions of nectar and healing sap for her moth and butterflies.
He plucked a few dusty vials from the old glass cabinet and weaved his way to the knoll.
Sana sat beside her moth, gently petting its graying fur and whispering softly to it.
She was apologizing for not looking after him, for not being the powerful being he was accustomed to, but promising to do her best to care for him.
Rhyel shook his head as he sat beside the moth lying on a thick green elephant leaf. "Tsidian moths don't make mistakes when they choose you," he said, dabbing a few drops of nectar and sap on the leaf. "He knew what he was doing."
"That's what Eula told me," Sana said, watching it slowly suck on the nutrients. "But if that's true, why is he suffering like this?"
"Have you given him a name?"
Sana shook her head. "I'm not sure what to name him."
"Well, names have power," Rhyel said, wrapping his arms around his knees. "He might be suffering because you haven't named him and accepted him as your own."
"Kezi and Eula said your mother had a moth," Sana said, clasping her hands in her lap. "What did she name hers? If...if you don't mind me asking. It might give me some ideas."
"I don't mind." Rhyel smiled. He liked that she felt comfortable enough to ask him something personal like that. He wanted her to get to know him more than just someone she was arranged to wed. "My mother named hers Leko."
"Leko is a strong name," Sana said, looking down at her moth. "You need a strong name, too."
"His name should mean something to you as well. It'll make your connection stronger."
Sana nodded. "What did Leko mean to your mother?"
"My mother was a seer and she told me that the first time she saw into the netherworld, she met an ancient warrior named Leko who became her spirit guide. So, she named her moth after him."
"That's amazing." Sana sighed. "I'm not sure I have anything insightful or powerful like that to name my moth."
"It doesn't have to be anything like that. It could be your favorite food or color." He shrugged. "It just needs to mean something to you and no one else."
Rhyel's heart clenched as tears welled in Sana's violet eyes. "I'm sorry if I said something to upset you."
"N-no. No, you haven't. I'm sorry," she said, wiping a stray tear from her cheek.
"It's just that I... I wasn't allowed to have a favorite anything.
My brother has his swords and my sisters have their jewelry and dresses, but I.
..I had—" she gasped as a single blue butterfly flew across the sun glittering pond and landed on her knee. "I had butterflies," she whispered.
Rhyel's eyes grew wide as a few more butterflies of vibrant reds, blues, and yellows fluttered across the pond and circled around them. "I believe you still have them, because they've never hatched like this for anyone in over a decade."
His heart stuttered at the beautiful smile that spread over Sana's lips and the tears threatening to roll down her cheeks dried up as her eyes dazzled with joy.
"I know his name. I'm going to name you after my mother's sanctuary," she said, looking down at her moth and petting its fuzzy mane. "Your name is Sune."
The moment that name left her lips, Sune spread its wings, shedding the last of the gray taint on his body. He fluttered up to Sana and pressed its face against her forehead as if he was giving her a kiss.
A red and gold hue enveloped Sune before he shot up to the ceiling, embracing the artificial sun. The butterflies fluttering around them followed the rejuvenated moth.
Sana stood, giggling as if the shell she'd been hiding in cracked just a little as more butterflies hatched from their hidden cocoons and swirled around her before flying up to the ceiling to greet the glowing being.
"I think he likes his name," Sana said, looking down at Rhyel and his wolf stirred inside of him at the sight of her joyous face and the power emanating from her moth.
"Yes, he does," Rhyel said, standing and fighting the urge to shift and howl with pride at the small subtle change in her. "And I believe this sanctuary is yours, my Lady."
Her eyes grew wide and the light dimmed in her eyes as if her shell had closed up around her. "N-no, you can't give this to me."
"Why not? You're the only one who's made this place come alive in years," he said, taking her hand. "It's yours, Sana."
"But I-I've never looked after a sanctuary by myself before. I don't want to ruin it."
She started to pull her hand away from his but Sune flew down from the ceiling as if he'd sensed her uncertainty and landed on her shoulder while the butterflies fluttered around her.
Rhyel's wolf stirred again at the energy pulsing in Sune's piercing black gaze, as if to urge him and his wolf to make Sana see her potential.
And he would never disrespect the wishes of an ancient being.
"You want me to look after this place, don't you?" she whispered, gazing at Sune.
"He does, and you won't have to do it alone. I promise to make sure you have the support you need to look after your butterflies. You could never ruin this place," Rhyel said, squeezing her hand. "I would be honored to give this sanctuary to you, my Lady."
The rainbow of butterflies hovered around her while Sune fluttered and flashed his red and gold hued wings, waiting for her reply.
Rhyel clenched his hand at his side, fighting a wince as his wolf dug its claws over his insides, anxious and worried as if it were paramount to his wolf's well being for her to accept his offer.
"I... I would be honored to have this sanctuary," she said, bowing her head. "It...it means a lot to me."
Sune nuzzled his head against her neck before he flew away from her to flutter in glee with the rest of the butterflies, while Rhyel's wolf roared in pride inside of him.
He hooked his finger under Sana's chin, lifting her head. "I'm glad I can give you something to cherish as your own."
A tear rolled down her cheek. "Thank you for your generosity, Rhyel."
He caught her tear on his thumb. "You're welcome, Sana."
"Goodness, there you two are!" Zena said, weaving her way into the sanctuary. "What are you doing in this old... place?" Her eyes grew wide as she gazed up at the butterflies flying around the pond behind Sune. "The butterflies hatched?"
Rhyel chuckled, slipping his hand from Sana's chin. "They did," he said, turning to Zena. "Lady Sana and her moth, Sune's presence, awakened them."
"Oh my, that's wonderful," Zena said, grinning with pride. "And you've named your moth, too."
"I...I did. Rhyel helped me name him," Sana said, looking around the sun-filled space. "And kindly gifted me the sanctuary."
"I see," Zena said, flicking her gaze to Rhyel as her smile grew and he nearly rolled his eyes at the knowing look on her face. "Well, I'm sure you'll do well to honor this sanctuary, and I'm sure you have plenty of ideas about this place. Why don't we talk about that while we have lunch?"
"Oh yes, I'd love to." Sana nodded. "Let me just get my books," she said, bending down to pick up the books sitting in the grass while Sune flew away from his new friends and settled on her shoulder.
"Come along now. The chefs wanted to honor your arrival," Zena said, slipping her arm through Sana's. "They've prepared you a southern dish of shrimp and okra soup."
"Oh, that's... that's so nice of them. They didn't have to do that."
"Of course they did. They want you to feel at home here."
A smile tugged at Rhyel's lips as he followed behind Zena and Sana. The butterflies had been dormant since his mother died. He'd always felt guilty that he neglected the sanctuary, but something about Sana made it come alive again.
Lord Rhyel, Alpha of Darcanos.
A deep voice boomed in his mind and his feet froze in their place as if a great power had fallen over him. The doors of the sanctuary closed behind Zena and Sana as a vision of Sune with his red and gold hued wings outstretched appeared before him with his black eyes peering into his soul.
Sana is my flame who must always be cherished. And you and your wolf are not ready.
Rhyel's eyes grew wide as he bowed his head to the ancient being. "I'm not sure I understand what you mean, Sune."
Your wolf knows what I speak of.
His wolf stirred and growled inside of him.
I do, ancient one, and we will be ready.
Rhyel's wolf answered as it stretched its claws.
I expect that of you. Do not return until you are ready to accept her.
"But I do accept her," Rhyel said, looking up at the hazy projection of the moth. "What are you two talking about?"
You cannot accept Sana if you still wait for a true mate and I won't allow you to hurt her with that hold on your heart.
The doors on the far end of the sanctuary opened, and a crisp breeze blew through the space. The call of the forest on the wind engulfed Rhyel, forcing him to shift as his wolf rose to greet it.
Now go and return when you're both ready. Sana will be safe with me until then.
As you wish, ancient one.
Rhyel's wolf bowed its head before turning to bolt out of the doors and into the forest. Rhyel struggled inside of his wolf. He'd never been trapped inside any of the creatures he could shift into. His wolf was always his primary form, but he always had control over him.
Relax, brother. This is for your own good.
Where are we going?
To see our mother and father.