Chapter 21
Rhyel rubbed a hand over his chest as he stared at the early morning light cascading across the wooden beams on the ceiling.
He was in Sana's dream and she opened up to him. Well, to his dragon, but how was that even possible? He'd never been able to do that with anyone before. He didn't have the gift of sight like his mother's kin.
We don't have the gift of sight, but we do have the gift of connection to those with the blood of a phoenix and now we know a little more about Sana's past. Aren't you pleased with me?
His dragon rumbled in his mind.
Not really. She didn't know it was me or us. She thinks Kal is a figment of her imagination.
His dragon chuckled.
True...but maybe it will help her trust you in her waking life.
Rhyel shook his head at his sly dragon.
Possibly, but why has this connection with her only developed now? Sana has always had phoenix blood. Why have you laid dormant inside of me for so long?
His dragon sighed.
Because you weren't ready. You needed the quest to understand where your loyalties lie instead of a true mate you were never going to meet even before our father cursed the fate of your wolf.
Rhyel's eyes grew wide.
What do you mean?
Yes, I'm intrigued by this news as well. What are you on about, dragon?
His wolf murmured.
Exactly what I said. You never had a true mate. As a dragon and a Barshaa, your purpose is to protect the phoenix.
Rhyel closed his eyes as he dragged a hand over his hair.
You told Sana the love of a dragon for a phoenix is something no being can fathom to match or understand. Are you in love with her? Is she...your mate?
His dragon was silent for a moment while he stretched inside of him.
That is not a question purely for me because I am you, but my instinct is to protect the phoenix blood she carries. Why? Do you want her to be our mate?
Rhyel sat up and looked across his room at his empty bed with a blush burning over his cheeks. He couldn't fathom sleeping in his bed for fear he'd somehow conjure the witch who claimed to be his mate, but did he want Sana like that?
Did she want him like that?
I...I don't know. How would I know if Sana is my mate?
If the blood of a dragon or a phoenix is strong enough, they will call you to them.
The bond is not like a wolf and cannot be rejected or tampered with like the witch from your quest. It is all-consuming and timeless.
We would be mated to their soul in this life and the lives that follow after it.
Rhyel's heart sank as he rubbed a hand over his chest.
Then it couldn't be Sana.
Fire raced through his veins as the claws of his wolf and dragon raked against his insides, throwing him off the sofa in a painful attack.
Why would you say that?!
They roared in anger.
"Because!" Rhyel yelled as he pushed himself up from the floor. "I would've felt it by now. How is it that Jezel could smell the phoenix in her blood, but I never have?"
That's not true. I wouldn't have awakened again if we didn't sense it.
His dragon growled.
Whether Sana is our mate is yet to be seen.
She doesn't know about her phoenix blood.
She doesn't believe that her mother was a phoenix either.
I'm convinced her mother did something to her to keep her hidden and that's why she died, but I'm not certain of this yet.
The best thing we can all do is continue getting to know her and learn about what happened to her mother.
Agreed. Pull yourself together, brother.
His wolf huffed.
Sana is still our purpose and she specifically asked to meet me, so I'd like to show her a good time today.
"Fine. Fine." Rhyel sighed. "You're both right."
We know.
His dragon grumbled.
Now go have tea with Sana. I'm sure she's waiting for us and give her the dragon's breath necklace. She needs it.
"Alright," he said, shuffling across his room to shrug on his robe hanging beside his bed. He picked up the necklace and gazed at the shimmering minerals inside the black gem. "How will this protect her?"
The gems are infused with the blood and power of our dragon ancestors. If Sana is ever in danger, it will create a weave of protection around her until she is safe. She must always have a dragon's breath stone on her.
"That makes sense," Rhyel murmured as he slipped the necklace in his pocket. "I'm sorry that I don't understand much about the dragon side of me."
That is understandable. Our mother thought you'd be more wolf than dragon when she gave birth to us. I don't think she thought her dragon blood was strong enough to awaken in you even when she had the vision of your future, I was nowhere to be seen. That's why she never spoke of it.
"Then I think it's time I know more about this side of myself."
His dragon chuffed in amusement.
I would hope so...brother. You have a lot to learn about our connection to the phoenix. For now, you and our brother wolf should enjoy your time with Sana.
A smile tugged at Rhyel's lips as he went into the bathroom to wash his face and tie his tousled hair into a bun. He felt a sense of pride that his dragon accepted him as a brother, and he was eager to learn more about himself as a dragon.
He eyed his empty bed again as he padded across his room to the door. He still wasn't sure about Sana being his mate, but if she was...
A blush scorched his cheeks at the thought of her smooth brown skin in a glittering maidenhood gown with her red hair spilling across his chest and her violet eyes full of desire for him and only him.
Biting his lip, he shook his head as he left his room. He shouldn't think of her like that, but she was already the only woman he would ever care for in this life. So if he was blessed to have her as his mate, he would welcome the gift of his soul being tied to hers for all eternity.
That was the kind of love and devotion he'd always wanted and always yearned for.
His dragon's rumbling chuckle filled his mind.
You are more dragon than you think, brother.
The castle was still relatively quiet as Rhyel neared Sana's room, and he wondered if she'd be awake. She did drink quite a few glasses of mead last night, and she didn't even stir when he carried her to bed either.
"Oh, my Lord. Good morning," Eula said, bowing as she opened Sana's door. "Have you come to have tea with, my Lady?"
"I have. Is she still sleeping?"
"No, she's out on the balcony," Eula said, gesturing for him to come inside. "Kezi and I came a bit early this morning to check on her."
"We heard my Lady had a few drinks last night, but she's fine," Kezi said, smiling as she swept up the ash around the fireplace. "She was up early with Sune reading about the ancients."
"Ah, I see," Rhyel said. "Thank you for coming early to check on her."
"Of course," Eula said, nudging him to the balcony. "We made you a big pot of tea this morning, and I'm sure Lady Sana can't drink it all on her own."
Rhyel nodded as he crossed the room and his heart thumped as he opened the balcony door to find Sana brushing a wayward curl from her face while she read from the thick book of ancient beings, with Sune sitting on the edge of the book.
Her brows were furrowed and her lips were pursed as if she were in deep concentration and he couldn't help but to find that look on her face adorable.
Rhyel cleared his throat and squeezed the necklace in his pocket. "Good morning, Sana."
Sana looked up from the book, and a smile tugged at her lips. "Good morning. I...I wasn't sure if you were going to come down this morning."
"Why would you think that?" he said, taking a seat beside her and pouring himself a cup of tea.
I think I'll take my leave of you both.
Sune said as he fluttered up from the book and slipped inside.
Rhyel frowned, looking after the retreating moth. "Have I done something wrong? Sune hasn't spoken much since yesterday."
"No, no. You haven't done anything," Sana said, shaking her head. "He thinks we should spend our time together without him hovering around me. He thinks we need privacy."
"Oh." Rhyel chuckled softly. "Well then, why did you think I wouldn't come down to have tea with you?"
Sana looked down at the book and picked at the pages. "I just thought maybe I...embarrassed you yesterday with how much I drank," she said, biting her lip. "Or that I spoke too much and too freely for your liking."
"You did no such thing," Rhyel said, sliding his hand over hers. "You were fine. You could never embarrass me, Sana. I just wish you'd speak more freely like that without drinking."
"I wish I could too," she whispered.
"Why don't you?"
"Because no one ever cares about what I have to say," she said, pulling her hand away from his. "I'm an ungifted Lightbourne. I don't matter."
"That's not true," he said, slipping his finger under her chin and lifting her face to his. "You matter to me, and I'll always care about what you have to say."
"Even...even if I drink too much and can't remember how...how we got home?"
A laugh burst from Rhyel's lips as he nodded. "Yes, my Lady. Even then," he said, letting his hand fall from her chin. "So you don't remember asking to see my wolf?"
Sana gasped as her eyes grew wide. "I did?"
"Mm-hm, would you still like to see him today?"
"Oh my goodness," she said, sliding her hands to her cheeks. "I would, yes, but I can't believe I asked you."
"It's alright," he said, taking a drink from his cup. "I'm glad you asked."
"You are?"
"Of course." He nodded. "We're getting to know each other and my wolf is a big part of who I am. I'd love for you to meet him and he's eager to meet you too," he said, slipping his hand in his pocket. "But before we do that, I need to give you something for your protection."
"Why?" Sana frowned. "Will it be dangerous to be with your wolf?"
"No, not at all," he said, taking the necklace from his pocket. "But this dragon's breath gem will keep you safe if you're ever alone and in danger."
"It's...it's beautiful," she whispered. "But will that ever happen?"
"It's unlikely, but that doesn't mean it can't happen and it's important that you wear this all the time," he said, holding the slim black-chained necklace up to her. "May I?"
"Y-yes, of course," she said, holding up her hair as he leaned forward and clasped the necklace around her neck.
The chain hummed against his fingertips and the gem gave off a soft, fleeting glow as it rested against her exposed skin in the 'v' of her robe.
"It's so warm," she said, grazing her fingers over the gem. "This is...no one's ever given me anything like this."
His heart thumped as she looked at him with her violet eyes glossy with unshed tears and a smile curled over her lips. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," he whispered, catching a tear that rolled down her cheek on his thumb. "I didn't mean for this to make you cry."
"I'm sorry," she said, laughing softly. "I'm still not used to being treated with such kindness from someone like you."
"You deserve to be treated with kindness, Sana," he murmured, caressing her cheek. "From everyone. Not just from me."
"I'll...I'll try to remember that."
"You should," he said, clearing his throat as he slid his hand from her cheek and leaned away from her. "I'm glad you like the necklace."
"I do," she said, smiling. "I'll cherish it always."
"Good," he said, taking a drink from his cup as he eyed the book on the table. "So, why are you up so early reading about the ancients?"
"Oh," she said, glancing at the book. "It's silly, really."
"I'm sure it's not. Tell me, what ancient being were you reading about?"
Sana bit her lip as she pulled the book toward her. "Well, I had a strange dream about a dragon last night and I wanted to know more about them, phoenixes and something called a badinga...no a—"
"Basdringas?"
Mm...forgot I mentioned them.
His dragon chuffed.
Of course you did.
Rhyel murmured and mentally rolled his eyes at his sly dragon. There was no need for Sana to be concerned with the basdringas. They hadn't been seen in over a millennium.
"Yes, that's it, but I can't find anything about them in this book.
So, I'm sure it was just my imagination running wild," she said, turning the pages to where she left a slip of fabric to mark a page.
"But the history of dragons and the phoenix covens they protected when Tsidia was a young realm is quite fascinating. "
"Mm, I see," Rhyel said, sliding his chair closer to her to read the inscriptions on the page. "And what have you learned?"
Sana looked over at him as if she were surprised that he'd asked and a smile tugged at her lips before she told him about the first dragon clans and the first phoenix covens.
And that was how he learned that Sana loved history and the folklore of the ancients.
And he enjoyed watching her light up with wonder at the old inscriptions and tales of Tsidia.
If he was honest with himself, he'd know that he just liked watching her.
Sana was truly an intriguing woman.