Chapter 49
Rhyel was right. The world fell away when she was in his arms gliding across the floor as if they were in the ballroom of the castle. Sana didn't notice that other couples were dancing around them until the melodic music came to a soft end and burst the comforting bubble she and Rhyel were lost in.
"See?" Rhyel said, pressing a kiss to her head. "That wasn't so bad, was it?"
"No it wasn't," she said, smiling. "Thank you."
"You two were absolutely stunning," Loic said as he and Zena twirled up next to them. "I'm so proud."
"Well it's all thanks to your lessons," Sana said, threading her fingers through Rhyel's. "I'm glad we made you proud."
"Oh no, my Lady." Zena laughed. "Loic will be living off that praise for ages now."
Loic held his head high and winked at Sana. "I sure will."
Aneera's high-pitched laughter carried over the start of another melody from the band and as Sana looked toward the sound, her eyes caught the gaze of a platinum-haired man with striking golden eyes and a cold chill raced down her spine as the air grew thick and heavy around her.
Sweat beaded on her forehead as her ring and dragon's breath pulsed in warning against her skin.
"Sana?" Rhyel said, caressing the back of her hand. "Are you alright?"
"Y-yes," she breathed, looking away from the man as she dug her nails into Rhyel's hand. "But I think I need some air."
Rhyel slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her close as if he were shielding her from some unknown threat and whisked her off of the dance floor to the open doors of the terrace.
The moment the cool night air hit her face, her ring and dragon's breath ceased their pulsing warning and returned to their gentle hum against her skin.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the salty sea air as Rhyel gently dabbed a handkerchief against her forehead. "Do you feel better?"
"Yes. I'm sorry," she said, looking up at him. "I don't know where that came from, but I felt like that night Dante arrived all of a sudden."
Yes, that's what it felt like to me too
Sune said, pressing his head against her neck.
Are you sure you're alright?
"I'm fine, Sune. I just needed some air."
"Here, drink this," Rhyel said, conjuring a glass of water for her. "And why don't we take a walk around the promenade for a while until you feel better?"
"Thank you," she said, taking a drink. "But we don't need to do that. I'm fine, really. We can go back inside. I feel silly for having an attack like that."
"You have nothing to apologize for or feel silly about," he said, tucking her hand in the crook of his arm. "We have nothing to rush back inside for. We've done our duty of leading the first dance. I'd much rather spend some time with you without all the prying eyes on us, if you don't mind."
"Actually, I wouldn't mind that either." Sana smiled, leaning into him as she took another drink of the refreshing water. "I believe you promised to court me while we're on this tour and so far, we haven't spent much time together besides tea this morning."
Then I shall take my leave of you both and find some nectar to indulge in.
Sune fluttered from her shoulder and bowed his head to them.
Sana laughed, watching Sune zig-zag under the moonlight toward the vast gardens. "I think Sune likes it here."
"Yes, it would seem so," Rhyel murmured as they strolled along the promenade away from the great hall and the music filtering out from it. "I'm sorry I haven't lived up to my promise of courting you since we arrived."
"No, don't apologize. I'm only teasing you," she said, shaking her head. "We haven't been here that long and besides, I barely know what courting entails anyway."
"I know, but it's my job to show you and prove to you that I'm worthy of your hand in marriage," he said as they stopped along the promenade to gaze at the waves crashing gently against the shore. "So, how about we spend the day together tomorrow?"
Sana frowned. "But isn't there another tournament? I don't think Zena would be happy if you weren't there."
"Zena will understand and it's a King and Pawn tournament," he said, scrunching his face in disgust. "Tabletop games bore me.
Loic and Zena are far more suited to play that.
I'd much rather spend my day with you." He slid his hand to her chin.
"You've spent enough time at the palace.
I'd like to take you out and see your excitement for the city. "
"I'd like that," she said with a blush burning over her cheeks at the warmth in his blue eyes in the soft moonlight. "But are you sure we don't need to be here to support them?"
Rhyel chuckled, shaking his head. "Watching a King and Pawn tournament is like watching paint dry. Loic and Zena will be fine without us there to watch them, but if it will make you feel better, I'll ensure we're back in time to watch the final match."
Sana raised an eyebrow. "You're so confident they'll make it to the final."
"They will." He grinned. "Loic may not look like the competitive type, but he is a master at King and Pawn. He won't lose and his ego won't allow him the shame of disappointing you or our House."
"Mm, alright," she said, finishing the water in her glass. "Then let's spend the day together, but can I make one request?"
"Of course you can." Rhyel nodded, taking her glass and dissolving it with a wave of his hand. "What do you desire, my Lady?"
"Well, I wouldn't mind spending some time with Eula and Kezi tomorrow, too," she said, biting her lip. "Would it be alright if they joined us?"
Rhyel tilted his head to the side and a smile curled over his lips. "Do you miss your maids?"
"I do and I know it's not appropriate for them to attend any of the engagements with me or keep me company like they do at home and.
.. and your cousins are lovely, but I just miss talking to Eula and Kezi without feeling like I have to be," she said, waving her hands over herself before she sighed and shook her head. "I'm not sure what I'm trying to say."
"I understand. You don't feel like you can be you when you're around all these nobles," he said, chuckling.
"That's exactly how I feel and why I don't like engaging with them.
" He sighed. "It's also why Eula and Kezi can't come with us tomorrow.
It wouldn't be good for your reputation to be seen with them like that. "
"Oh." Sana's heart sank as she rubbed a hand over her arm. "I...I guess I should've known that. I'm still not used to being on this side of society."
"I've never gotten used to the way things are run or how people are treated outside of the north, which is why I don't like coming to these engagements," Rhyel said, taking her hand.
"I'm sorry Eula and Kezi can't come with us tomorrow, but I can take you to see them tonight, if that's what you desire. "
Sana's heart slowed its descent as she squeezed his hand. "Could you really take me to see them?" she said, looking over at the group of boisterous nobles that spilled out of the great hall with arms wrapped around their partners sparking pipes and sharing a lively joke.
Her heart clenched as Aneera and Lyra stepped out of the hall to join them.
She looked away as her eyes caught Aneera's and she shook her head.
"We can't. I-I'm sure I've upset my siblings with what I said tonight.
They'll start rumors about us sneaking away and what if they see us with my maids?
I don't want to bring any shame to our House. "
"They won't see us, I promise," he said, sliding his hand to her cheek with mischief swirling in his eyes as a devilish grin curled over his lips and made Sana's heart simmer with anticipation.
Of what? She couldn't be sure, but that look in his eyes stirred a flame in her belly.
"If they are so eager to start a rumor about a couple sneaking off together," Rhyel said, wrapping his arm around her waist, pulling her close. Her breath hitched as he leaned down, brushing his lips against her ear. "Then we should let them," he whispered. "Don't you think?"
Her body tingled at the husky rumble of his voice and his decadent scent as she slid her hands over his chest. "Yes," she whispered gazing into his eyes before trailing down to his flush lips. "I think we should."
"So do I," he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek. "Let's go."
Sana never broke any rules on purpose and she was always too afraid to do anything deviant like this, but when she was with Rhyel, it felt fun and liberating to sneak around the palace grounds for the sake of seeing her maids.
"And where are you off to?"
Sana froze, gripping Rhyel's hand as Lord Oberon and Lady Elalia stepped out from a dimly lit underpass beneath the palace.
"It's alright," Rhyel whispered, bringing her hand to his lips before he turned and nodded to his uncle. "We're off to the same place as you two."
Lady Elalia's eyes lit up. "Oh that's marvelous!" she said, nudging Lord Oberon's side. "We can all go together, then."
Sana frowned, looking up at Rhyel. "Where exactly are we going?"
Lord Oberon chuckled. "To the real party, my dear," he said, patting a hand on Rhyel's shoulder. "I'm surprised you remembered."
"How could I forget? It's the only part of the festive season I enjoy," Rhyel said, looking down at Sana. "And Sana would like to spend some time with her maids."
"Ah, you're a woman with wholesome values like me," Lady Elalia said with pride shining in her blue depths. "No wonder you make such a good pair."
Sana blushed, bowing her head. "Thank you, my Lady."
"Come on then," Lord Oberon said, nodding to the underpass. "I've been waiting for this all day."
Sana was so confused as they followed Lord Oberon and Lady Elalia through a maze of dimly lit hallways beneath the palace before they reached a door with music, laughter and a delicious aroma of cooked meat wafting out of it.
"Welcome to the underground, Lady Sana," Lord Oberon said as he pushed open the door to the swell of cheers and clinking glasses. "This is where my Lady and I come to let loose and give thanks to the people who truly run this palace."
A bright smile spread over Sana's lips and a calm settled over her as she eyed the joyful servants and a few palace guards dancing, drinking and sharing plates of meat, bread and sugared cakes throughout the stone cavern.
"Lady Sana!" Kezi called, weaving her way through the tables surrounding the small dance floor beside a makeshift bar. "Eula said you and my Lord might show up!" she said, taking her hands. "Come. Come sit with us!"
"O-okay," she said, laughing as Kezi tugged her towards a long table piled high with drinks, meat and a few people playing a game of cards.
"Oh my Lady, my Lord!" Eula said, getting up to hug Sana. "Knew it wouldn't be long 'til we saw your faces."
"Well, you know I couldn't resist the best part of the palace," Rhyel said, wrapping his arm around Sana's waist. "And our Lady missed you."
"Aw, my dear." Eula grinned. "Me and Kezi were missing you too. We haven't had a good chat since you arrived. Come. Sit, sit," she said, patting the wooden bench. "Have a drink, have some cake and tell us all about your time so far."
"And don't leave anything out!" Kezi said, sliding two mugs of mead and a plate of lemon cakes down the table. "I want to know more about those siblings of yours."
"Hush now!" A young guard across the table shouted and nodded toward Lord Oberon and Lady Elalia standing in the center of the dance floor with their mugs raised. "My Lord and Lady are making a toast."
"I think it goes without saying that this is mine and Lord Oberon's favorite part of our festive gathering, where we can say thanks to all of you from near and far for your tireless work to serve and protect our lands," Lady Elalia said.
"You are always welcome in Grensea and we thank you for all that you do. "
"Hear, hear, my Lady," Lord Oberon said, kissing her head. "Drink, laugh and be merry, my friends!"
A cheer erupted in the crowded tavern as the maids, servants and guards clinked their glasses together and took hefty sips from their mugs.
Sana looked around at the smiling faces and the swell of camaraderie filling the cavern.
It felt like she was back on the Lightbourne estate at the parties Uma and the servants used to have when her father and siblings went away.
Warmth spread through her like a comforting blanket as she tapped her glass against Rhyel's and a joyful smile spread across her lips. "Thank you for bringing me here."
"You're welcome," he said, leaning over and pressing a kiss to the side of her head. "I will always endeavor to give you what you desire, my Lady."
Her heart warmed at his sentiment as she took a drink from her mug and her gaze trailed down to his lips again. She wondered if one day he'd truly give her what her heart had been desiring for quite some time.
To feel his warm tender lips against her own.
Maybe one day, she'd find the courage to simply ask him or...or maybe she could just kiss him herself.
A blushed scorched her cheeks, looking away from him to indulge in Kezi's eager questions to know more about her siblings and how she was truly fairing with the nobles.
Or maybe she'd just leave the thought of kissing Rhyel to another time and another place.