Chapter 27
It was early morning before Sune woke Kal with the news of Zena and the soldiers returning from their victorious battle, sealing the breach and neutralizing the wraiths that dared to break through.
I'm glad that's over.
"So am I," Kal said, tucking Sana into her bed after taking great care in fashioning a dry nightgown on her, brushing and drying her mane of crimson hair before plaiting it into a thick braid to protect her curls. "But the wraiths will continue to hunt her now that they've sensed her."
Yes, but you've awakened now.
Sune curled up on Sana's shoulder.
You can shield her from the attacks now.
"Yes, as long as Rhyel is willing to merge as one," Kal said as he held her dragon's breath in his palm and listened to the quiet hum of its power.
I will do anything to protect Sana.
A smile tugged at Kal's lips, at Rhyel's determination as he laid the jewel back against Sana's chest.
I'm glad you will, but what about Rhys? Does he understand what this means?
I do.
Rhys murmured, stretching his claws.
It will take me time to accept it, but if this is what it means to be loyal to Sana, I will oblige.
Kal held a glowing hand over Sana's head. The dragon scales affixed to her forehead fluttered as they floated up to his palm and dissolved into his skin.
Good. Once I've rested, we will begin the merge.
Kal closed his eyes as his wings and scaled skin faded from his body. Rhyel sucked in a deep breath, opening his eyes and flexing his hands that were no longer the claws of his dragon.
He looked down at Sana resting peacefully and slid his hand to her cheek. Needing to feel the warmth of her skin to reassure himself that she wasn't suffering the clammy chill of another attack.
He'd never been so scared to lose someone since his parents' deaths. He was helpless when the wraiths attacked his mother and his father succumbed to the madness of her death.
He hated how powerless he felt when Kal took control of his body. He wouldn't be a bystander watching behind his dragon's eyes, unable to protect her and dependent on Kal to shield her pain or care for her.
He couldn't do that again.
Not when his heart felt as if it only beat for her now.
Of course it does. A dragon's highest purpose is the protection of the phoenix.
Kal yawned, shifting and curling his body into a ball.
Sana will wake soon, but her body needs more time to rest. For now, you should let Sune and Sana's maids look after her while you tend to the aftermath of the breach.
Rhyel shook his head. "I'm staying right here."
I know how you feel, but we are still the Alpha of Darcanos. We have to know how this breach happened and we have a duty to Sana and our people to make sure it doesn't happen again.
Rhyel grit his teeth, hating that his wolf was right. As much as he didn't want to leave Sana's side, he couldn't ignore his duties any longer. Zena and Oziel would be looking for guidance and the soldiers would need reassurance that he had a plan to prevent further breaches from happening.
Sighing in defeat as he caressed Sana's cheek. She wouldn't want him to ignore his duties for her, either.
"Sune," he said, eyeing the moth, cuddled up in the crook of Sana's neck. "You will tell me the moment she wakes."
Of course.
Rhyel nodded as he leaned down to Sana's ear. "I'll be back soon," he whispered before standing from the bed with his heart still loath to leave her.
She'll be fine, my Lord.
"I know," he said, sliding his hand over his heart. "It's just...when I gave my life and my loyalty to protect her, I didn't think I'd ever feel drawn to her like this."
You've always been drawn to her. You just didn't realize it. You will understand when you become one soul with your dragon.
Sune pointed his antennae and waved his tiny black feet toward the door.
Your duties await you.
A golden hue swept over Sune's white form as the moth's eyes grew wide.
And a seer has come.
Rhyel frowned. "What?"
A soft knock tapped against Sana's door before Zena slipped inside, holding a shirt and tunic over her arm. "Forgive me for intruding, my Lord." She bowed. "But Lord Dante has arrived with a vision."
Rhyel's heart clenched. His uncle must've seen what transpired here, and his vision must be urgent for him to travel this far unannounced to see him. "Did he travel alone?"
Zena shook her head. "No, he's come with a calvary of soldiers and crates of dragon's breath stones," she said, looking up at him and her golden brown eyes softened as she gazed at Sana. "Is...is she okay?"
Rhyel looked back at Sana and nodded. "Yes, she's alright now."
"Thank the Gods." Zena sighed, pressing a hand over her chest. "Everything happened so fast last night. I saw you carrying her to her room from your flight, but...but since when can you shift into your dragon?" she said, approaching the bed and a frown knit her brow. "Why does she smell different?"
Rhyel took the clothes from her hands. "It's hard to explain," he said, tugging the white shirt over his head and shrugging the black and silver trimmed tunic over his shoulders. "And now isn't the time."
"I know, but you will tell me, won't you?" Zena said, looking around him at Sana. "I'm worried about her."
"I know you are," he said, tying the threads of his tunic before sliding his hand to her shoulder. "I promise she's fine, but right now we need to speak with my uncle. It's not like him to travel out here like this and you need you to tell me what happened at the breach."
"Of course, my Lord," Zena said, standing at attention with all the softness gone from her eyes. "I'll tell you on the way."
Rhyel followed Zena out of the room, but not before he looked back at Sana and Sune's words whispered in his mind.
You've always been drawn to her.
Had he? And what did it mean that Sana was carrying Erius blood? What was an Erius phoenix?
He didn't understand anything that was happening at the moment.
Curling his hand into a fist. His uncle orchestrated his betrothal to Sana. He had to know something about the kind of phoenix blood she was carrying. He wouldn't travel to the north with a cavalry just to tell him about a vision.
"Rhyel, I'm so sorry to show up here unannounced," his uncle said, standing as Rhyel entered his office with Zena and Oziel in tow. His uncle's deep purple robes swished against the floor as he bowed. "I'm sure you have many questions for me."
"I do," Rhyel said through gritted teeth as he turned to Zena and Oziel. "Leave us. I need to have a private word with my uncle."
"Yes, of course my Lord," they bowed, leaving the room.
Rhyel held his hand over the door, weaving privacy over the room before he turned a deadly glare on his uncle who calmly sat in the chair. He folded his robes over his lap and raised a hand to Rhyel. "Come now ask me that burning question on your mind."
Rhyel stalked across the room and slammed his fist on his desk. "Don't be so smug, Uncle," he seethed. "I know you haven't come just to share a vision with me."
"Of course not," his uncle said, piercing him with a glare as his brown eyes sizzled in a golden hue. "You have a question. Ask it."
A snarl curled over Rhyel's lips. "Did you know what kind of blood Sana carried? Did you know the wraiths would hunt her like this?"
"Yes, and you will keep this knowledge from Sana."
"I absolutely will not." He scoffed, shaking his head. "She needs to know what she is."
"Sit down," his uncle said, flicking his wrist as Rhyel flew over his desk and slammed into his chair.
"Uncle," Rhyel said, clenching his chest where his uncle punched him with his magic. "You are out of line in my House."
"I don't care that you are Lord Rhyel, Alpha of Darcanos," his uncle said, standing from his chair as his graying black hair wafted around him in an ethereal breeze.
"I have been protecting Sana all her life and she is not ready to know she's an Erius.
" He seethed. "And you will not hinder her awakening. Do you understand me?"
I don't like this.
Rhys growled, baring his fangs.
Neither do I, but I've never seen our uncle like this.
"I'm willing to listen to any explanation you have before I agree not to tell her anything."
The ethereal wind blowing around his uncle subsided and his eyes returned to their calming brown state. "Fine," his uncle said, sitting down and folding his robes over his lap again. "I'm sorry for being so forceful with you, but Sana is..." He sighed, wiping his brow. "She's special."
"Yes, she is," Rhyel said, leaning up in his chair. "Now tell me what you know about her. I want to know everything."