Chapter 47
Aneera thread her arm through her sister Lyra's as they walked along the beach to the pitch ball field beside the palace. "I'm so glad you could make it. I've missed you."
"I missed you too, but you look wonderful." Lyra beamed. "The east seems to suit you. Are you happy?"
Aneera nodded. "I am. My wife-kin are lovely and Lord Zehev is a bit standoffish, but he's kind. What about you? Why didn't Troya come with you?"
Lyra smiled as she tucked a red curl behind her ear. "He's doing all the wedding preparations with Lord Dante and our father, but he didn't want me to miss the festive season, so I came with Kai."
"That's so sweet of him and lovely for me," Aneera said, laughing as she squeezed her arm. "Because I get to have you all to myself."
Lyra frowned. "But won't you be busy with Lord Zehev? Where is he anyway?"
"He's arriving this evening with Lady Kieka. She's his main wife while Amorette, Marceline and I are his primary wives," Aneera said, waving her hand. "The hierarchy is a little complicated, but basically I'm free to do as I please during the tour."
"I know you always wanted to marry a prominent Lord, but are you okay being one of many?"
"Of course. I told you I'm happy." Aneera laughed. "I wouldn't want to end up like—"
"Is that Sana?" Lyra gasped as they walked up the steps of the grandstand that curved around the green pitch. "She looks...she looks beautiful. I forgot she was going to be here."
"Yes, she's here." Aneera scowled at their sister sitting between Galia and Nori, fashioned in another beautiful dress of flowing blue tulle and golden flowers embroidered in the fabric with yellow and blue flowers braided into her vibrant hair.
"I suppose she looks alright for being engaged to Lord Rhyel. "
"I should say hello. It would be uncouth if I didn't, especially since she's sitting with Lady Galia and Lady Nori."
"Mm, it would," Aneera murmured. "You do that," she said, waving to her wife-kin sitting with another group of Ladies. "I'm going to sit with Amorette and Marceline over there."
Lyra raised an eyebrow. "You're not coming with me?"
"No, I greeted her yesterday. You go on and find me when you're done."
"Alright, I will," Lyra said, picking up her lavender skirts as she moved across the green cushioned benches to the giggling trio watching the participants warm up for the tournament.
Aneera rolled her eyes as Lyra greeted Sana with a warm smile as if she'd forgotten that Sana wasn't meant to enjoy such occasions like this.
"Are you alright, Aneera? You look upset," Amorette said, patting the seat next to her. "Tell me what's wrong, dear. I thought you'd be happy to see your sisters."
"I'm happy to see Lyra," Aneera said, sitting beside Amorette. "I just didn't expect to see Sana." She sighed, feigning a pout. "We never got along, you know. She wasn't very kind to me growing up."
"Oh, I see," Amorette said, wrapping her arm around Aneera's shoulders. "Well, I'm sorry that she's here then. I hope it's not too hard for you to be around her."
"I'll be fine as long as I don't have to interact with her too much, I guess."
"Don't you worry," Amorette said, rubbing Aneera's shoulder. "We'll keep you safe from her."
"We certainly will," Marceline murmured as she kept her gaze on the field as her straight jet black hair billowed in the soft breeze. "But goodness me, I'll be honest, it's been a long time since I've seen Lord Rhyel and I don't remember him looking so...so..."
"Dashing," Amorette said, finishing Marceline's sentence as she twirled a lock of her curly golden brown hair around her finger. "I'm not a fan of all those markings on him, but the way he looks at your sister is so charming."
"What?" Aneera smirked as she followed their gazes to the pitch where Lord Rhyel was kicking the ball around with his team dressed in black and a blue wolf emblazoned on the front of their tunics.
Her heart thumped at his thick muscled arms covered in various markings that swooped and swirled over his skin. His piercing blue eyes were full of amusement and a smile splayed across his lips as he raised his hand to waved at Sana.
Galia, Nori and even Lyra, cooed beside her as Sana laughed and gave him a bashful wave back.
"I'm sorry to hear your sister was mean to you, but they make such a cute couple." Marceline sighed. "Looking at Lord Rhyel now, you'd never guess he was a cold-hearted brute."
"Oh my goodness, we were just saying the same thing!" Daphne, the fair-haired Lady of Asterfall, gushed. "Maybe we had him all wrong or maybe Lady Sana's beauty cracked that barbaric demeanor of his."
"I doubt that," Aneera said, shaking her head. "Lady Sana may look beautiful on the outside, but she's not as nice as you all think. That's why my father sent her to the north."
"Oh really? Do tell," Daphne said, leaning closer. "Is that why this is Lady Sana's first debut at the festive season?"
Aneera nodded and fought the sinister grin that itched to curl over her lips. The Ladies on tour love to gossip about each other and this was her chance to lay the foundation that would surely ruin any grace Sana's been given.
Once they started spreading the lies Aneera told them, all she had to do was convince Lord Rhyel that he was about to marry a monster, then Sana would be cast out of House Darcanos and forced to live as a servant once again like she deserved.
Zena was on a high after the pitch ball tournament.
Rhyel played like the formidable Lord he was and torpedoed them to a massive victory like she'd been dreaming of.
She'd never seen him play with such vigor before, but to be honest, he'd never had anyone he cared for so deeply to impress and she could only thank Sana for being his motivation to actually care about winning the coveted Grensea Games trophy.
However, her high was dampened when she entered the great hall and overheard a few Ladies whispering about Sana.
They'd come to the conclusion that she wasn't the sweet, innocent woman she portrayed herself to be.
That she was betrothed to Rhyel because her father wanted to get rid of her—which wasn't wrong—but they gossiped that it was because she was entitled, selfish and treated her sisters like servants in their own home and Sirius Lightbourne sent her away as punishment.
"It's so unfortunate that Lord Rhyel can't see her for the deceitful snake she is," one of the women whispered, shaking her head in disgust.
"Is that so?" Zena said, sidling up to the whispering women with a sinister grin curling over her lips. "And where have you heard these things about Lady Sana?"
"O-oh, General Zena!" One of the Ladies she recognized from a smaller House in the west, gasped. "We...we were just—"
"Saying some nasty things about Lady Sana," Zena said, crossing her arms over her chest. "And I'm curious how you three have decided that she's such a deceitful woman?"
"W-well her sister told us. Lady Aneera was very upset that she's here and quite worried that Lord Rhyel and... and your House is being manipulated by her."
"Oh I see." Zena chuckled softly. "I'm sure you're all aware the many betrothals Lord Rhyel has managed to ruin and how many eligible Ladies have run away from the dreadful lands of the north, right?"
The three women nodded.
"And do you think House Darcanos and Lord Rhyel are so desperate for a Lady to rule beside him that we would be stupid enough to fall for a 'deceitful snake' as you called Lady Sana?"
"Well, forgive me, General Zena, but it has been a long time since there has been a Lady of Darcanos. It would make sense that Lord Rhyel would be desperate to secure the future of his House."
Zena raised an eyebrow as she fought her wolf, itching to rise and wipe that self-righteous look off the young woman's face.
Why won't you let me?
Her wolf growled, clawing at Zena's insides.
Calm yourself. There is another way to cut them down.
Zena forced a smile across her lips. "I see your point, but Daphne, you're the Lady of Asterfall, right?"
The young blonde woman nodded. "Yes."
"And correct me if I'm wrong, but you have the gift of illusion and spirit."
"I do." Daphne nodded again.
"Then humor me," Zena said, wrapping her arm around Daphne's shoulders as she nodded toward Sana and Rhyel across the hall. "What do you truly see when you look at them?"
"Daphne, no," the woman beside her said, grasping her hand. "You know you're not supposed to use your gifts on nobles."
"Hush, Tema," Daphne said, brushing off her hand. "I won't look too far and General Zena is giving me permission. It's fine."
Tema bit her lip as worry clouded her brown eyes. "But what if Lord Rhyel feels you probing?"
"I'll deal with him if that happens," Zena said, squeezing Daphne's shoulder. "Go on, tell me what you see."
Daphne took a deep breath and her deep indigo eyes glowed in a silver hue as Rhyel smiled, leaning down to whisper something in Sana's ear.
"I see heartache," she whispered. "And painful scars, but there's a beautiful light that blooms within Lady Sana.
" She smiled as Sana laughed and pressed her hand against Rhyel's chest. "And oh—"
Daphne's cheeks turned a bright shade of pink as she blinked and looked over at Zena. "Forgive me. Forgive us for speaking so ill of Lady Sana and Lord Rhyel. I-I should've trusted my instincts and I shouldn't have been so blind to what they are to each other."
Zena nodded, patting her shoulder. "I'm glad you have seen what we wolves have sensed the moment Lady Sana came to us," she said, stepping away from her and giving her a slight bow. "I won't stop you from spreading anymore rumors about her, but I hope you tell the truth when you gossip."
Daphne returned Zena's bow and smiled. "I will, and I'm sorry for being persuaded to think otherwise about Lady Sana and Lord Rhyel's intentions. It won't happen again."
"I hope not," Zena said, taking a glass of champagne from the passing waiter. "Enjoy your evening, Ladies."
"What did you see?" Tema said, tugging on Daphne's hand.
Zena smiled as she walked away from the Ladies, but not before she heard Daphne telling them that Lord Rhyel wasn't being manipulated. That his feelings for Lady Sana were true and they should do all they could to help Lady Sana see it too.
And Zena hoped Daphne and her prattling friends would spread that beautiful truth amongst the nobles.
It was about time they stopped seeing Rhyel as an unfeeling barbarian and hopefully, it would end any further slander being aimed at Sana.
She didn't deserve that. Sana spent enough time in her old life feeling unwanted and shunned by her own family.
Aneera's high-pitched laughter pierced through Zena's thoughts and she glared at the red headed woman whose eyes weren't as bright or as kind as Sana's.
She was the deceitful snake everyone should be wary of.
How could she spread those heinous lies?
Painting the picture that Sana was the abuser and not the rest of that treacherous family.
Zena was almost regretting the alliance she brokered with the Lightbournes, but at least her negotiation with Kai ended up saving Sana from any more of their abuse.
Looking away from Aneera, the smile returned to Zena's lips as she continued through the great hall toward Sana and Rhyel, laughing and chatting with Rivo, Galia and Nori.
At least she finally found the one Rhyel could see a future with and he and Sana could find happiness with each other.
She'd never regret that.