Chapter 53
Rhyel left Sana in the company of Eula and Kezi, who were far too excited to help her get ready after their night of drinking, but the laughter and light in Sana's eyes as her maids shooed him out of their room made up for it.
His heart was full and light as he walked down the hall to Loic's room to get dressed and make a few plans for his day with Sana.
And it will be a glorious day with our Lady!
Rhys howled, wagging his tail in delight.
Yes it will, but what are we going to do about Kai?
Kal growled, flexing his claws.
Nothing for now, brothers.
Rhyel rubbed a hand over his heart.
Today, I just want to enjoy Sana's company and maybe...pick up where we left off last night.
And when the time came, he would do more than embarrass Kai in front of Rivo and Galia. He and Lord Sirius would be on their knees begging Sana for mercy once he was done with them.
A sinister grin curled over Rhyel's lips as he rounded the corner and knocked on Loic's door.
After all, the Lightbournes needed the alliance with him more than he needed them.
"Lord Rhyel," Loic said, opening the door and his usual bright brown eyes were clouded with worry. "Come in." He opened the door wider. "We need to talk."
Rhyel frowned as stepped inside and eyed Zena sitting on Loic's bed with her head in her hands dressed in her clothes from the night before. "What's happened?"
Loic closed the door with a hefty swing before sealing it with a thick weave of privacy. "Why." He seethed through gritted teeth as golden sparks snapped around his dark eyes. "Didn't either of you tell me?"
Heat traveled up Rhyel's spine as he snarled at Loic's threatening gaze. "Tell you what?" he growled, curling his hands into fists.
"That Lady Sana is an Erius."
The color drained from Rhyel's face and sweat beaded on his forehead as his eyes darted to Zena with his heart thumping in panic. "Who...who told you that?"
The angry sparks crackling around Loic's eyes dispersed as he crossed his arms over his chest. "I followed Aneera last night and overheard her telling Lyra how their mother died.
She doesn't know what Lady Sana is. She thinks she's some sort of monster.
" He scoffed, shaking his head. "But only an Erius phoenix can make fire come alive the way she described it. "
Rhyel let out a slow breath as a sliver of relief washed over him. "And you're sure Aneera and Lyra don't know what she is?"
"Yes, I'm sure but that's not the problem.
" Loic huffed. "I don't know why Lady Sana can't shift or use her gifts, but you never should have taken her on this tour," he said, dragging a hand over his face with his eyes wild with worry.
"How could Sune allow this? She's too precious and too rare to be anywhere outside the walls of Darcanos without the protection of a dragon. "
"She has one." Zena snapped, glaring at Loic as she thrust her arm out to Rhyel. "You know as well as I do that our Alpha is a dragon shifter."
"Yes, I know," Loic said, sighing as he turned to Rhyel. "I mean no offense, my Lord, but you haven't shifted into that form since you were a child. You can't possibly be capable of providing the protection Lady Sana needs."
The room grew deathly cold as heat rolled over Rhyel from Loic's slight at his abilities.
His muscles tightened and bulged against his shirt as rage flooded his veins.
Show him, brother.
Kal rumbled a murderous growl.
"You don't know what I'm capable of," Rhyel seethed as his shirt ripped over his chest as black webbed wings fanned out from his back and pointed horns sprouted from his head in a half transformation.
"I am Sana's dragon," he said, growling as he towered over Loic with his tail swishing angrily behind him.
He bared his sharp white fangs and slammed his hand against the wall above Loic's head. "And she is well protected."
Loic's eyes grew wide as he trembled and bowed his head. "For-forgive me, my Lord," he stammered. "I-I shouldn't have doubted you."
Fire frothed from Rhyel's mouth as he dug his claws into the mahogany. "No, you shouldn't have."
"Lord Rhyel!" Zena yelled, standing from the bed. "I think you've made your point." She huffed. "We have a bigger issue to discuss."
Rhyel growled at Loic once more before pulling his claws from the wall and stepping away from him. "What do you mean?"
"A-aneera may not know what Lady Sana is," Loic said, smoothing his ruffled tunic with shaking hands as he composed himself. "But she and Lyra intend to somehow coerce Lady Sana to show herself and force you to kill the monster they believe she'll become."
"What?" Rhyel choked out a frustrated laugh. "I would never do that," he said, releasing his dragon form as he dragged a hand over his face. "And how do they intend to coerce her?"
"They're going to do what all socialite Ladies do," Zena said, rolling her eyes. "They'll use every weakness they know about Sana and antagonize her until she breaks or reveals the monster they think she is."
"Gods, why can't they just leave her be?" He groaned. "Is Kai going to support their ridiculous efforts too?"
"No. They said they're going to keep it between themselves," Loic said, looking at Zena with wary eyes. "But Zena seems to think Lord Zehev might be the one to help them indirectly."
"And why is that?" Rhyel turned to Zena and his heart clenched, filling with dread at the anguish clouding her golden brown eyes. "What do you know?"
"Not a whole lot, but enough to be concerned.
" She sighed. "Zehev was acting strange after you and Sana left the great hall so I followed him up to the north tower and I overheard him speaking to his wife Kieka through this tiny medallion.
I didn't think much of the conversation, until she asked him about Sana and Lyra's reaction to the gem. "
Rhyel's nostrils flared as his muscles bulged again. "What gem?"
"I don't know. He didn't reveal it," she said, shaking her head. "But he told Kieka that Sana was the only one to react and their plans could move forward."
Rhyel curled his hand into a fist. "And I'm assuming they didn't elaborate on these plans?"
"No, but between Aneera and Lyra's scheming and Zehev and Kieka's unknown plans, we need to guard our Lady much more vigilantly than we thought," Zena said, crossing her arms over her chest. "And I think we need to tell Sana what's happening. I don't feel right keeping this from her."
"You're right." Rhyel nodded. "Sana and I are spending the day together. I'll tell her then, but I won't go into too much detail about it," he said, dragging a hand through his hair. "She was already upset over Kai threatening to break the alliance and take her away from Darcanos."
Zena let out a bark of laughter. "Aw, did Kai get upset because Sana put him in his place?"
Rhyel grinned. "He did and while I'm proud of her for doing so," he said, gritting his teeth. "I don't like that Kai thought it was wise to scare her like that."
"No," Loic scoffed. "Especially since he nor her father have any bearing over her with you as her fiancé."
"Not only that, the Lightbournes aren't as wealthy as they portray to the realm. They need our alliance to prop up their coffers." Zena smirked. "And I know that sinister look in your eyes, my friend," she said, laughing as she patted Rhyel's shoulder. "You intend to break the alliance, don't you?"
"Yes," he said through a rumbling growl. "And I want to see them groveling at Sana's feet when I do."
"That is a wise decision, my Lord," Loic said, nodding in approval. "But if I may, could I give you one piece of advice?"
Rhyel nodded. "You may."
"I don't deny that Lady Sana needs to know what's going on around her, but don't waste this day with her talking about all of this when we don't know all the details yet.
Let Zena and I do some more digging today before you say anything.
" Loic pressed his hands over the ripped fabric covering Rhyel's shoulders.
"You should just enjoy courting your fiancé as you intended. "
"Loic makes a good point," Zena said, nodding as she rubbed her fingers over her chin.
"Her siblings are participating in the tournament and I imagine Lord Zehev will be there watching his wives, too.
This is probably one of the few days you'll have with Sana unbothered by any of them.
" A smile tugged at her lips as mischief danced in her eyes.
"So you need to spend this day wooing her with your Alpha and dragon charms or have you forgotten about your own secret plans? "
A blush reddened Rhyel's cheeks. "I haven't."
"Good," Zena said, patting his hand, before she looked over at Loic. "I'm going to get ready for the tournament while you work your magic on," she waved her hand over Rhyel's shredded tunic and ripped trousers. "This."
"Of course." Loic chuckled. "I'm guessing that was the true reason for you coming to my room?"
"It was, but I'm glad you both informed me of these issues." Rhyel sighed. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Sana, but now that you know, I hope you understand why Zena and I were keeping it between ourselves."
"I do." Loic nodded. "Although, I'm not sure why you haven't told her what she is, but I trust this secret plan of yours has something to do with it."
"It does," Rhyel said, looking at the clock on the mantle of the fireplace. "And I don't want to keep her waiting for me."
"Yes, of course," Loic said, gesturing to a door in the corner of the room. "The bath is through there, my Lord."
"Thank you," he said, starting for the bathroom but stopped to turn back to them. "I know you have your sleuthing duties today, but I expect you to win the tournament. Sana will have that trophy."
"Don't you worry about that." Zena wrapped her arm around Loic's shoulder and nodded with grit shining in her eyes. "We won't disappoint our Lady."
"Good." Rhyel nodded before he slipped into the bathroom. He leaned against the door, rubbing a hand over his heart as he heaved a heavy sigh.
He knew the risks of taking Sana on this tour and being around her siblings in her new status as a Lady would be difficult for her, but he didn't expect her sisters to conspire against her like this or her brother to threaten to take her away and sell her.
Shaking his head as he shrugged off his tattered clothes. Maybe he was the na?ve one and he didn't truly understand just how much Sana's family despised her for something she was too young to know or understand about herself.
Then we must do as we planned and help her understand.
Kal growled, stretching and churning inside of him.
So she can awaken the phoenix lying dormant inside of her before those conniving against her force it out of her.
Rhyel nodded as he slipped into the steaming bath and washed himself with eucalyptus soap and cedarwood oils.
There's an old shrine dedicated to the phoenix coven that used to live in these lands. I'm going to take her there today and hopefully seeing and touching something from her kind will start her awakening.
Ah, yes. The blue-tailed Poccanam coven.
Kal rumbled a growl of approval.
That is wise, brother. It's simple, but wise.
Our Lady will be so pleased, she might even let you kiss her.
Rhys added with a low yearning howl.
"Maybe," Rhyel murmured, washing his hair before slipping under the water to rinse it.
I know you hunger for it, brother.
He was hungry for the taste of Sana's lips and her body beneath him, aching and yearning for his touch, but he also craved for much more than that.
He wanted her to give him her heart and her love freely without the fear and doubt that dimmed the light in her eyes.
Heat and licks of fire swept through his veins as Kal merged with his mind.
Then show her she can give it to us and we will keep her heart and her love safe.