Chapter 19
"I should warn you, Sana. It's going to be busy today. The people will be eager to get a glimpse of you and I together," Rhyel said as their carriage stopped just inside the city walls. "Just tell me if you feel overwhelmed and we'll go home."
"Okay, but I...I think I'll be fine," Sana said as she took a deep breath. "I've never been on an outing like this before."
"I had a feeling that might be the case," he said as the coachman opened the carriage door. "We'll just take our time, but please don't be afraid to tell me if you've had enough." He stepped out of the carriage and held out his hand to her. "Are you ready?"
Sana nodded, slipping her hand in his. "I'm ready." Her violet eyes widened as she carefully stepped out. "The city...it's so...so big," she said, gazing at the people bustling to and fro into the shops lining the cobbled pathways of the city.
Rhyel chuckled as he tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. "The city of Darcanos is actually quite small compared to the other major cities we'll see during the festive season."
She looked up at him in awe. "Really?"
"Mm-hm," he said as they strolled through the cobbled square past the black marble statue of Accalia howling at the sky. "The city of Luath, where you're from, is twice the size of Darcanos."
"Oh," Sana murmured, looking away from him. "It's...embarrassing that I don't know that."
And we were doing so well, brother. Stop making her feel like she doesn't know anything.
Rhyel's wolf hissed in annoyance, and he cringed at his stupid remark. He didn't want her to start their time together feeling inadequate.
"Don't be embarrassed. I'm just glad I can be the one to introduce you to these new experiences," he said, patting her hand. "Since this is the first city you've been to, I hope that means it'll become your favorite place to be."
A small laugh left Sana's lips and it warmed his heart as she looked up at him. "Maybe it will if you show me a good time, my Lord."
Rhyel grinned. "My Lady, was that a bit of banter?"
Sana's head shook while her eyes widened in embarrassment. "I'm so sorry."
"No, no, please, Sana. Don't apologize." Rhyel chuckled. "I liked it and I'd love it if you do more of it," he said, nodding to the bustling streets. "Come. Let me show you what this great city has to offer."
"I'd like that," she said as they continued to stroll through the square. "Do you come to the city very often?"
"I do," he said, waving to a few gawking merchants peddling their fruit and vegetables on the street. "I visit the city at least once a week to check on the people and merchants living within the city walls to make sure they have what they need to prosper."
"It seems as though the people who live here are thriving," Sana said, looking around in awe. "This isn't at all what I expected."
"My Lord," an elderly woman with thick gray braids and honey brown eyes called from the steps of her shop of glittering jewels. "Might I be bold and ask if you'd like to treat the beautiful Lady Sana to some of my exquisite jewelry?"
"Ah, Miss Jezel, you are indeed bold," Rhyel said, looking down at Sana. "Would you like to take a look?"
"Yes." She nodded. "I...I think it would be unkind if I didn't."
"Oh my Lady," Jezel said, smiling as Sana and Rhyel walked up the short steps into her glittering shop. "You are as humble and sweet as we've all heard."
"You've heard about me?"
"Why yes!" Jezel said with a wide grin, accentuating the deep wrinkles on her tawny face. "The city has been buzzing with excitement when we heard you'd be gracing us with your presence."
"Jezel has been a jeweler and a staple of Darcanos for a very long time," Rhyel said, wrapping his arm around Jezel's shoulders. "She's also Zena's mother."
Sana gasped. "Oh, my goodness!" she said, taking Jezel's hands. "It's such an honor to meet you. Zena has been so lovely and so helpful to me since I arrived here."
"My Lady, you honor me with your kind words for my daughter. She speaks very highly of you too," Jezel said as her brown eyes glowed in a golden hue of joy. "Why don't you have a look around? I need to have a word with Lord Rhyel, if you don't mind?"
"Oh, no I don't mind," Sana said, squeezing Jezel's hands. "There's so much to look at here."
Jezel bowed her head. "Thank you, my Lady."
"I promise I won't be long," Rhyel said, sliding his hand to Sana's waist. "Pick out whatever catches your eye."
"I...I will," she said, looking up at him. "Take all the time you need. I'll be fine."
"Alright," he said, squeezing her side before he turned to Jezel. "Where would you like to have this talk?"
"In my workshop. Come with me, my Lord."
Rhyel followed behind Jezel, but not before he looked back at Sana wandering further into the shop and delicately trailing her fingers over a diamond encrusted necklace.
"You smell different, my Lord," Jezel said as she closed the door to the workshop before she turned to him with her brown eyes glowing again. "Your dragon has awakened again, hasn't he?"
"Yes," he said, frowning. "Is it that obvious?"
"No, but even in my old age, my wolf still has a keen sense of smell," Jezel said as she slipped a ring of keys from her hip and opened a short mahogany cabinet.
"It's peculiar that your dragon has awakened after all these years.
Would it have anything to do with Lady Sana's moth or that faint scent of phoenix in her blood? "
Rhyel's heart clenched. "Jezel..."
"Don't worry, I won't tell a soul. I'm probably the only wolf in Darcanos who can smell that in her," she said, and his dragon stirred as she took a black box out of the cabinet. "And she doesn't seem to know what runs in her veins, does she?"
Rhyel shook his head. "No, she doesn't," he said as his dragon growled and snarled as Jezel sat the box on her workbench.
"Mm, that is very peculiar," Jezel murmured. "I'm sure you, your wolf and your dragon are well aware that even though her phoenix blood is faint, she requires your unwavering protection."
"We do," Rhyel said, wincing as he slid a hand over his heart. "My dragon is reacting to whatever you have in that box. What is it?"
"As he should. These are jewels I crafted from dragon's breath stones," she said, opening the box and his dragon growled at the sight of the glossy onyx gems with jagged ripples of red and purple flowing through them.
Those belong to the phoenix. How has a wolf acquired them?
His dragon grumbled as heat spread through Rhyel's veins.
"Where did you find the gems?" Rhyel said, reaching out to trail his fingers over a necklace with a charm in the shape of an oval and a brilliant burst of red and purple spreading out from the center of the darkened gem. "My dragon is concerned that you have them."
"My apologies to your dragon, my Lord," Jezel said, bowing her head.
"Zekiel found these beyond the wall years ago.
I knew what they were and brought them to your mother for safekeeping, but she told me to craft these jewels for you and give them to you when you found the one they belonged to.
I believe she was referring to Lady Sana. "
She was. They belong to our betrothed. They will keep her safe when we cannot.
"Would you like to give her the necklace now and I will deliver the rest to the castle?"
"Yes," Rhyel said, taking the necklace from the box. "But there's no need for you to deliver the rest." He placed his hand over the box and a bright glow of magic engulfed it and shimmered away. "My dragon wouldn't want them here any longer than they have been."
"Understood, my Lord." Jezel bowed her head. "I'm sorry for keeping them from you for so long."
"It's alright," Rhyel said, placing his hand on her shoulder. "You did as my mother asked of you, and she always had her reasons for doing things."
Jezel chuckled. "Yes, she did. She used to drive your father and my Zekiel insane with her antics, but oh, Lady Aloysia was truly a blessing to Darcanos just like Lady Sana will be," she said, patting her hand on Rhyel's arm. "Come. I promised her I wouldn't keep you long."
Rhyel nodded as he tucked the necklace into the pocket of his tunic and followed Jezel back into the shop where Sana was gazing at a dress made of sapphires and diamonds. A blush burned over Rhyel's cheeks as his dragon and wolf stirred at the intimate garment.
Sana longs for mating attire...
His wolf murmured while his dragon chuffed in amusement.
Shut up, you two. I doubt she knows what it is.
"Ah, my Lady," Jezel said, grinning from ear to ear. "That is a lovely maidenhood gown."
Sana's eyes grew wide as she stepped back from the glittering gown. "A m-maidenhood...?"
"Yes, these are very popular in Darcanos." Jezel nodded. "Would you like to try it on?"
Rhyel choked on his spit and turned away from Sana and Jezel with his cheeks burning from the thought of Sana dressed in the scantily clad gown with her lithe body on full display.
"N-no, no. I don't think I could ever—"
"You could," Jezel said, holding up the dress to Sana's waist as if the cheeky woman were baiting him. "But maybe another time." She winked at Sana. "When you come back with my Zena."
"O-okay." Sana laughed nervously as she took a step back from the salacious garment. "I'll...I'll do that."
That is promising...
Rhyel's dragon rumbled a lusty growl, and Rhyel was sure his face was as red as a bloody beet. He cleared his throat, hoping to shake the arousal slithering through his veins. "Sana, was there anything else you liked?"
"Um," she said as her eyes flicked to a shimmering moonstone hair pin with a silver butterfly clasp and shook her head. "No...I don't need anything."
"Mm, is that so?" Rhyel said, plucking the hair pin from its display. "I think this hair pin would suit you." He turned to Jezel. "Could you wrap this up for Sana?"
"Of course." Jezel nodded. "I'll be right back."
"Rhyel," Sana said, grasping his arm. "You don't need to get me anything. I-I was happy just to look."
"I know, but I couldn't ignore the way you looked at that hairpin," he said, sliding his fingers to her chin. "You deserve to have beautiful things, Sana, and while I'm showing you a good time today, I'm going to treat you like you always should've been."
"Thank you," Sana said, biting her lip. "I'm not...I'm not used to this."
"I know." Rhyel chuckled softly, his fingers falling away from her chin. "But I hope one day you will be."
"It might take a long time," she murmured, squeezing his arm. "I hope you'll be patient with me."
We have an ocean of patience for you.
Rhyel's wolf and dragon announced in pride, and he fought the urge to laugh at their chivalrous response.
"Always," he said as they walked through the shop where Jezel was wrapping up Sana's hair pin. "Being with you like this is new for me too, you know."
"Is it?" she said, raising an eyebrow. "But you've been betrothed before."
Jezel let out a bark of laughter. "Not for more than a day, my Lady. This is a rare sight to see Lord Rhyel out and about with his betrothed," she said, holding out a small black gift bag to her. "I hope you come to the city more often together."
"Thank you, Jezel. I'm sure we will."
"That's good," she said, looking up at Rhyel. "Now you make sure you visit Zekiel. He'll be mighty upset not to meet Lady Sana."
"I wouldn't dare leave the city without taking Sana to see him," he said. "It was good to see you, Jezel."
"You as well, my Lord. I'm glad you're back," she said, patting his arm. "You enjoy yourselves today."
"We will." Sana smiled. "Thank you again," she said as Rhyel guided her out of the shop. "Who's Zekiel?"
Before Rhyel could answer her, a crowd of children dressed in their bright blue school robes formed around them and broke out in a song directed by their head teacher welcoming Sana to the city.
"Oh my," Sana whispered, clutching his arm as she stood closer to him.
"We are Darcanos!" The children sang. "We are strong, we are brave, we are wolves!" They howled to Sana's delight. "We welcome you, our Lady Sana!"
The bustling crowd moving through the streets stopped to cheer and applaud the children's lively serenade of Sana while a few children approached her with bouquets of bright yellow mums and lavender dahlias.
"Thank you so much." She smiled, taking the freshly picked flowers.
"I feel very welcome now," she said as the children giggled before running back to their group.
"Forgive the abruptness, my Lord, my Lady," the raven-haired school teacher said, bowing as she approached them. "I couldn't get them to do anything today until we sang you their song, Lady Sana. They've been preparing for a few days. I hope you don't mind."
"I don't mind that at all," Sana said, shaking her head. "That was really lovely. Thank you."
"You're welcome, my Lady and it's wonderful you're back, my Lord. The children were worried when you hadn't paid them a visit the past few weeks."
"Well, I was on a very important quest," he said, waving to the young children. "But I'll make sure to visit them now that I'm home."
"Wonderful," the teacher said, bowing her head. "We look forward to it and Lady Sana, you're more than welcome to visit the school. If...if that's something my Lady is interested in?"
"I'm still learning all about Darcanos, so yes. I'd love to visit the children. Maybe I could learn something from them."
The teacher's green eyes widened with surprise and a bright smile spread across her pink lips.
"My goodness, they would love that," she said, clasping her hands together.
"Well, please don't let us take up any more of your day.
I'm sure you have plenty to see." She turned away from them and waved her arm over the children.
"Let's go! You've had your fun! Back to class, my darlings! "
"Bye, Lord Rhyel! Bye, Lady Sana!" A few children waved as they formed two lines and walked behind their teacher while chanting and singing their song down a cobbled street to their school in the distance.
Rhyel's heart thumped at the dazzling smile on Sana's face, and her violet eyes full of genuine joy. He wasn't sure if he'd ever seen her look this...happy and she was...she was...
Beautiful.
His dragon and wolf whispered as if they were just as stunned by the crimson-haired woman standing beside them glowing in delight.
She looked up at him and her radiant eyes and smiling red lips punched him in the gut as his heart churned with need, as if he'd only just realized that Sana was more than someone he needed to protect.
What was this feeling?
You are far from understanding that.
His dragon huffed.
"Thank you, Rhyel."
"For..." he cleared his dry throat. "For what?"
"For this," she said, slipping her hand into the crook of his arm. "I don't think I've ever enjoyed myself like this." She looked away from him to the shops, the people smiling and bowing their heads to them as they passed. "Or felt free enough to enjoy myself. So, thank you."
Rhyel slid his hand over hers. "You never have to say thank you for that," he said, leaning down to her ear.
"You're free to do as you wish here. I'll never keep you in a cage," he whispered and nearly sealed that promise with a kiss to her cheek, but quickly righted himself and cleared his throat again.
"Why don't I...I carry your flowers and your bag for you? "
"Yes, thank you," Sana said, giving him her flowers and the gift bag from Jezel. "And I...I do feel free here."
"I'm glad you do," he said as they continued down the high street. "And do you promise to tell me if that feeling ever changes?"
"Yes, I promise," she said, laughing softly as she looked up at him. "Forgive me for asking this, Rhyel, but is this protective nature of yours the reason... the others left?"
"I don't mind you asking and the others left was because the north wasn't what they expected. It was too slow and too simple for them," Rhyel said as a smile tugged at his lips. "And it would seem my protective nature is only reserved for you, my Lady."
"Oh," she said, leaning closer to him. "I...I like that," she whispered, and his heart soared at her admission.
"Could we go in there?" she said, pointing to a colorful display of fabrics in a shop window. "I know it's not proper, but I'd like to sew some things for...for myself."
"Never worry about what's proper, Sana. We can do whatever you like," he said, guiding her to the shop.
He wasn't sure if Sana being his purpose meant buying her whatever she desired, but he knew for sure he'd do anything to keep that joy and happiness glinting in her beautiful eyes for as long as he could.