Chapter 45
Prickling tendrils of envy slowly wound their way around Aneera's heart as she watched Sana from her table across the great hall, laughing and smiling as if she wasn't a giftless servant.
Sana wasn't supposed to be happy.
Her life in the north was supposed to be dreadful. Their father said if she was lucky enough to make it to Darcanos, Lord Rhyel would surely make her life unbearable to live.
Yet, there she was, dressed in a beautiful gown dripping in extravagant jewels, sitting beside Lord Rhyel as his fiancé and future Lady of Darcanos.
Aneera gripped her glass and took a slow, seething drink of the bittersweet wine. She didn't like that Sana was seen as her equal, nor did she appreciate the way Lord Rhyel looked at her as if she was something special.
She'd only met him once during her debut and she didn't remember him looking so dashing, in a beastly sort of way, of course.
All that thick dark hair, his neatly trimmed beard framing his firm jaw and his tall burly stature stirred something lustful within her as he draped his arm around Sana as if she were something to be treasured.
Heat traveled up Aneera's arms as she sneered at her sister. It was a disgrace that Sana was even dining in a place as grand as this. She didn't deserve the grace she was being given by the nobles, and she certainly didn't deserve the flattery of Lord Rhyel, either.
Didn't he know Sana killed her own mother? Couldn't he see that she was a monster who deserved to live under the bottom of his shoe?
A sinister grin curled over her lips. If Lord Rhyel didn't know the truth about that useless imposter sitting next to him, then, as a respectable daughter of House Lightbourne, she would just have to do the honorable thing and inform him.
It may damage the alliance her brother brokered with House Darcanos, but that was a risk she was willing to take to ensure her sister went back to where she belonged.
Lord Rhyel curled his fingers around Sana's shoulder and his gaze swept across the ballroom before his azure blue eyes fell on Aneera. A chill ran down her spine and a blush burned up her neck as she looked away from him to the uneaten food on her plate.
Goodness.
That cold, menacing gaze was what she remembered about Lord Rhyel and why she never dared to approach him or couldn't understand why so many Ladies tried to engage with him. There was something savage that lurked behind his bright eyes that unnerved her, and yet...
She dared to raise her head to look at Rhyel again, and her heart sank that Lord Oberon drew his attention away from her when he stood at a gilded podium to address the room.
She didn't want someone like him.
She was happy as one of Zehev's main wives, but she'd rather turn Lord Rhyel's attention away from her sister than allow Sana the pleasure of feeling better than she was.
And she would ensure her sister was back on her knees in tattered rags like the foul peasant she was.
A smile tugged at Rhyel's lips as Sana and Zena were whisked away by Galia and Nori after dinner to give them a tour of the palace.
He was glad they took Sana under their wing.
She'd need allies like his cousins to help her navigate the social circles of the nobles, especially since her sister harbored ill will toward her.
The smile on his face fell as he eyed Aneera leaving the great hall with her wife-kin. He wasn't as proficient at feeling or reading auras like Zena, but it wasn't hard to see through Aneera's sweet facade and she certainly gave herself away when she was sneering at Sana during dinner.
Jealousy hummed around Aneera and he'd find that amusing if it were any other Lady harboring those feelings for Sana, but because it was her sister, it felt dangerous.
"If you'd like, my Lord," Loic murmured next to him. "I can keep an eye on her for you."
Rhyel nodded. "Be discreet."
"Of course," he said, bowing his head. "I'll take my leave of you. I'd like to find my room, and I believe Lady Elalia would like to have a word with you."
"And you'd be right, Sir Loic," Lady Elalia said, smiling as she snaked her arm around Rhyel's. "I hope you don't mind."
"Of course not," Rhyel said, looking down at his aunt. "I suppose we have some catching up to do."
"Yes, and this will be my only chance to steal you away before you're dragged into the games Oberon and Rivo love to torture you all with."
Loic laughed, nodding. "Which is precisely why I need to get some rest," he said, bowing to them. "Enjoy the rest of your evening."
"Come now, let's take a walk by the sea," Elalia said, patting his arm as they walked through the great hall to the open doors of the terrace. "I want to know how Lady Sana stole that stubborn heart of yours."
"I'm not that stubborn." Rhyel chuckled as they walked along the marbled path away from the groups of people enjoying their after-dinner drinks under the moonlit terrace. "But I'm quite fond of Sana."
"Yes, I think everyone can see that." Elalia laughed softly.
"And you are stubborn. Zena and I tried for ages to get you betrothed, but you were so hung up on finding your true mate to even allow anyone to get close to you," she said as they strolled along the promenade beside the gentle waves crashing against the shore.
"So, what's caused this change of heart, hm?
Does it have anything to do with Sana being chosen by a moth? "
"Yes and no," Rhyel said, sighing. "I've pledged my loyalty to her as required by her moth, but even before she was chosen, I felt a sense of duty to protect her."
"Mm, I see and I'm assuming after you returned from your quest that yearning for a true mate subsided and that feeling of protection grew into something you weren't expecting."
"It did." A blush burned over Rhyel's cheeks as he nodded. "I never thought anyone could stop me from wishing for a true mate that would never come, but I'm fairly certain Sana has my heart and I'm happy for her to have it."
"Well, I would hope so, since you're wearing a warrior's charm," she said, sliding her fingers over the woven leather on his wrist. "Did Sana make this for you?"
"She did, but she thinks it's just a gift for my protection and I haven't told her the true meaning of it yet."
Elalia raised an eyebrow. "And why not?"
Rhyel laughed softly. "Because I don't want to overwhelm her. We've only just admitted that we care for each other and I want to take things slow with her."
Elalia let out a bark of laughter. "My goodness, where has my brooding nephew gone?
" she said, looking up at him with her blue eyes shining with joy.
"I'm proud of you, Rhyel. I was worried you'd never open your heart to anyone and you'd resigned yourself to that curse your father left you with.
You deserve someone to share this life with, and Sana must be special for you to want to share it with her. "
"She is," he said as he looked out at the moonlit sea as a smile tugged at his lips. "I just want to make her happy."
"You will and from what I've seen tonight," Elalia said, patting his arm. "Sana looks very happy to be with you. You're a good man, and a fierce Alpha. All you need to do is keep showing her your best self."
"Thank you, Aunt Elalia," he said, sliding his hand over hers. "That means a lot to me."
"You're welcome," she said, squeezing his arm. "And you know what would mean a lot to me?"
"What's that?"
"If you indulged your old auntie with a run under the full moon," she said, grinning as her eyes glowed in a soft hue. "Would you do that for me?"
"Of course."
Rhyel and his aunt shifted in a flash of light before they were running as wolves along the sandy beach. They didn't run for miles along the coast like they used to when he was a child, but it had been a long time since he felt happy to be running alongside his aunt without his father.
And as he and his aunt walked through the halls of the palace after their run, he realized it had been a long time since he felt comfortable being in Grensea, too.
"Thank you for indulging me," Elalia said, leaning up to kiss him on the cheek. "I don't get to do that very often anymore."
"You're welcome," he said, giving her a hug. "I'm glad I'm here."
"Me too. I've missed you," she whispered. "Good night, Rhyel."
"Good night. I'll see you in the morning."
"Yes, rest well," she said, laughing softly as she continued down the hall. "It's going to be an exciting few days."
"Oh, I can imagine," Rhyel murmured, shaking his head as he opened the bedroom door and his heart froze at Sana sleeping soundly in the bed.
A blushed burned up his neck and scorched his ears as he cursed under his breath. His aunt did this on purpose, and it was too late in the night to go searching for a separate room.
He closed the door softly behind him and slipped off his boots before scanning the dark room for somewhere to sleep.
Just sleep in the bed with our phoenix. I know you want to.
Kal teased, filling Rhyel's mind with his annoying rumble of laughter.
Shut up. I'm not sleeping in the bed. You know I can't do that.
Rhyel huffed as he pushed two higher backed chairs together and stilled as Sana stirred.
But maybe if Sana were next to us, we wouldn't dream of that witch.
Rhys murmured as Rhyel crossed the room to the bed.
Maybe, but tonight isn't the time to try that. Not without Sana's permission.
Rhyel said, pulling the blankets back around her and tucking a few escaped curls into her bonnet.
That is very true.
Kal yawned.
Shall we ask for permission in our dream?
Rhyel rolled his eyes as he padded back to his makeshift bed in front of the fireplace.
No. We're not doing that.
Stripping down to his trousers and tunic, he curled up on the chairs and let out a yawn before closing his tired eyes.
I'm not bringing up sleeping in bed with her unless she does.
Brother, you ache to lie beside her.
Kal and Rhys' laughter filled his mind as he drifted off to sleep.
You can't hide your desires from us.