Chapter 46
Sana's heart pounded as she kneeled before her father while her siblings stood behind him with smug grins splayed across their faces.
"How dare you look upon us as if you are one of us?" Her father seethed as he cracked a leather whip against the floor beside her. "You are not a true Lightbourne."
"For-forgive me father," Sana said, pressing her head against the dusty floor of the storage room. "I-I never meant to disrespect you."
"She did." Aneera pouted. "She made me bow to her in front of the nobles."
"N-no!" Sana shook head. "I-I didn't make you do anything."
"Are you calling Aneera a liar?" her father said, cracking the whip against her fingers.
Sana bit her cheeks to stop from crying out from the pain. She learned long ago not to show her father any signs of weakness when he beat her. It only spurned his anger toward her.
"No," she said, as tears pricked the corners of her eyes. She knew it was a mistake to think Aneera wouldn't find a way to punish her for being seen as her equal. "I'm sorry, father. I know my place. I know I'm not one of you."
"Mm, and you'll do well to remember that."
Sana tensed and clenched her eyes shut as she waited for the inevitable crack of the whip against her back.
"Stop." Kal's deep voice rumbled through the room.
Sana's breath hitched as she looked up to find Rhyel standing in front of her father just as the whip snapped and curled around his arm.
"Wake up, Sana," Rhyel said, looking back at her with his blue eyes glowing in a red hue. "I'm right here."
Sana gasped as her eyes fluttered open to find Rhyel gazing at her with worry etched on his beautiful face. "Rhyel?"
"I'm here," he said, caressing her cheek as he wiped away a stray tear from her face before handing her a glass of water. "I think you were having a nightmare."
"I...I was," she said, sitting up and frowning as she took a drink. "You told me to wake up and now you're here...why are you in my room?"
"Why don't we have tea on the balcony?" Rhyel said, leaning away from her as he dragged a hand through his tousled hair. "And you can tell me about your dream and I'll explain why I'm here."
"O-okay," she said, sitting the glass on the bedside table before slipping out of the bed and tugging on her robe. "Was Sune here when you came in? I'm surprised he wasn't the one to wake me up."
"He was," Rhyel said, holding the door of the balcony open for her. "But he left to find some nectar to indulge in while I was making tea."
Sana raised an eyebrow as she sat at the small table overlooking the waves crashing against the sandy shore. "You made the tea?"
"I did." Rhyel chuckled. "I can do such things, my Lady," he said, pouring her a cup of steaming bitter berry tea before sitting beside her. "Believe it or not, I can cook a full course meal too."
Sana laughed softly as she took a sip of the perfectly brewed berries. "I don't believe that, but maybe you can prove it to me someday."
"I would love to," he said, leaning back in his chair. "Do you... want to tell me what happened in your dream?"
Sana sighed as she gazed across the sea at the sun peeking over the horizon.
"It was about my family," she said, rubbing her thumb over the handle of her cup.
"Seeing Aneera yesterday brought up fears of being punished by my father for acting above my status.
" She shook her head. "It's...it's silly. "
"It's not silly and I can understand how seeing your sister again would bring up those fears in you," he said, reaching across the table and sliding his hand over hers. "But no one is going to punish you for being who you are. I won't allow it."
A smile tugged at her lips. "I know you won't," she said, curling her fingers around his. "I don't think you would've appeared in my dream if I didn't."
"I'm honored it was me you thought of," he said, caressing the back of her hand as his eyes filled with a teasing gleam. "Usually it's your dragon you dream of."
"He was there too," Sana said, laughing softly. "Well, his voice was, but you were the one who stopped my father from attacking me."
The teasing gleam in Rhyel's eyes fell away. "I hate that you dreamed of your father hurting you and I'm sorry being on this tour has brought up those memories for you," he said, shaking his head. "But if you ever feel like you don't want to be on this tour anymore, just tell me and we'll go home."
"No, no. It's not like that. I'm having a wonderful time," Sana said, squeezing his hand.
"Galia and Nori have been so lovely to me and they introduced me to some of their friends last night who were so kind to me, too.
I'm okay, Rhyel. It was just a dream. I know my family can't hurt me now that I'm with you. "
Rhyel's eyes softened again as he brought her hand to his lips. "I'm glad you feel that way," he said as tingles swept down her spine as he placed a soft kiss against her fingers. "Because I won't let them hurt you again."
"Thank you," she said, taking a drink from her tea as she gazed into his gentle blue depths. "Now will you tell me why I woke up to you in my room?"
Twin flags of red stained Rhyel's cheeks as he laughed. "Um, yes. About that," he said, letting go of her hand as he took a slow calculated sip of his tea. "I believe my aunt and uncle intend for us to share this room."
"Oh," Sana said, as a blush burned up to her ears. "B-but we're not married. Is... is that proper?"
Rhyel nodded. "It is in the eyes of my aunt. We're engaged, so it's close enough," he said, dragging his hand through his hair. "If you're uncomfortable with these arrangements, I can get another room. It was late last night, so there was no one around to make the adjustment."
"No, um, no," Sana said, biting her lip. "I don't want to trouble anyone and I guess in this situation it would look odd if we didn't share a room as a... a couple."
"Mm, I suppose it would," he murmured. "As long as you're happy to share a room with me, I promise to be a good roommate for the next few days."
"I'm... I'm happy with this arrangement," Sana said, taking another drink of the expertly brewed tea. "As long as you make the tea this delicious every morning."
Rhyel chuckled. "That I can do, my Lady."
My goodness! Some of the nectar in these flowers is so divine.
Sune exclaimed with glee as he landed on the table with his tiny legs covered in seeds.
We must grow them in the sanctuary for my butterfly friends.
"I'm sure we can do that." Sana laughed as she pet his furry head. "Have you had your fill now?"
Yes, I'm very full, little flame. I saw the palace staff setting up the grounds for the pitch ball tournament today. Are you ready to compete, Rhyel?
"I am," Rhyel said, picking up the tea pot and refilling Sana's mug before topping up his own. "I'm sure Zena has already picked out the soldiers who'll be joining us."
"She picked them out last night," Sana said, giggling. "Zena seems very determined to win the games this year."
"She would be. She's very competitive and the last time we were here, we had the fewest points of all the Houses because I didn't care to win anything, but not this time," he said, looking over at her with pride shining in his depths. "You deserve to raise the Grensea trophy for your debut."
Sana shook her head as a blush crept up her cheeks. "You don't need to do that. I'm just happy to be here."
No, my Lord is right. This is not the time for fading into the background, little flame.
Sune said, fluttering to her shoulder.
Winning the trophy will remind everyone of the strength of House Darcanos and you deserve to be seen as the Lady who will soon be one of its rulers.
"Well said, Sune," Rhyel said, nodding. "Not only that." He threaded his fingers through Sana's. "I think the trophy will be a nice courtship gift to show you how determined I am to make you proud."
"That's a really lovely gesture, but what if... what if you lose?"
Rhyel let out a bark of laughter. "No other House is equipped with the skill and talent of our House. We won't lose unless we intend to," he said, caressing her palm. "You will have that trophy, my Lady."
She wasn't competitive by nature, but something burned deep within her gut as her ring and dragon's breath hummed against her skin at the valor that smoldered behind his eyes.
She wanted Rhyel to battle the competition and bring her that trophy like the strong, formidable Lord everyone thought him to be.
A smile tugged at her lips. "Then I look forward to you winning it for me, my Lord."