Chapter 56
Rhyel wasn't sure what he expected to happen when Sana entered the shrine.
He supposed he was hoping she'd have some sort of revelation when she saw the artifacts from the blue-tailed Poccanam coven, but besides her adorable excitement to touch a feather and try on a ceremonial headdress, it didn't seem like touring the shrine awakened anything within her.
There was no guarantee this would have an immediate effect on her, but at least she's happy and she made a new friend.
Kal chuffed as Sana walked arm in arm with their elderly tour guide, Mama Tui, completely enthralled by her stories of the men and women who once lived in the great tree guarded by the dragons who dwelled in the sea.
"They look like they were in love," Sana said as she stood in front of a painting of fiery red phoenix with deep blue tail feathers entwined with a long glimmering green-scaled dragon rising out of the ocean.
"Klea and Malick were great leaders of their coven and clan and they had an impeccable bond," Mama Tui said, nodding. "I'm sure there was love between them, but it is rare for a phoenix to mate with their dragon."
"Why's that?"
Mama Tui shrugged. "Most of the time it was because their souls were tied to another."
Rhyel frowned as he gazed at the painting.
In the many lives we've lived, why has our soul never been tied to another?
Kal sighed.
Because we've just never been blessed with the privilege.
"Do you know of any phoenixes who mated with their dragons?" Sana said and Rhyel's heart warmed at her question. Even though she had no recollection of the phoenix lying dormant inside of her, it felt promising that she would ask something like that.
"I do," Mama Tui said, glancing at Rhyel and a smile tugged at her lips as if she could hear the thoughts swirling in his mind. "My great, great, great grandmother mated with her dragon."
"Really?" Sana's eyes grew wide. "So you're a phoenix and a dragon?"
"Hardly," Mama Tui said, laughing with amusement dancing in her pale green eyes.
"Their blood runs through my veins, but that's about it.
I'm more serpent than anything else," she said, waving her hand out to the museum and the restaurant filled with guests below them.
"This tree and the gift for making irresistible food is all my family has of that side of our lineage. "
"That's still a lovely piece of your ancestry," Sana said, bowing her head. "And I'm so honored that you've spent this time with us, Mama Tui."
"Ah, my Lady, the honor is truly mine. It's been a long time since anyone has been interested in touring this old shrine," Mama Tui said, taking her hands.
"It's been such a pleasure sharing this with you and if you ever visit again, I'd be more than happy to give you a special tour of the archives, if you'd be interested in that. "
"Oh, I absolutely would!" Sana said, beaming with joy.
"Then we'll have to make the trip again." Rhyel chuckled, slipping his arm around Sana's waist. "So you can get your fill of this magical place."
"It certainly is magical," Mama Tui said, patting Rhyel's arm. "Come now, let me show you to your table for the evening."
Rhyel and Sana followed Mama Tui down a spiral staircase into the bustling restaurant where tables sat around the circular bar and kitchen in the center of the tree.
Mama Tui greeted a few of the local patrons as they weaved through the tables to the small hanging bridges that led to the secluded pods hanging from the thick branches.
"Oh my goodness," Sana gasped in delight as they crossed the bridge to the candle-lit pod with plush blue cushioned seats lining the oval enclosure with a view of the gently rippling lagoon below. "This is so beautiful."
"I'm glad you like it," Rhyel said, helping her to her seat. "I wanted you to have the best view of the lagoon."
Sana beamed and the joy dazzling in her violet eyes sent a tingle down his spine. "Thank you."
He pressed a kiss against her palm as he sat beside her. "You're welcome."
"I'm glad you're happy with your table this evening," Mama Tui said as a waiter sat a steaming crystal glass teapot filled with deep red and blue flowers on the table with two tea cups. "Please enjoy a special brew of my family's thukam flower tea while we prepare your dinner."
"Thank you, Mama Tui." Rhyel and Sana bowed their heads in respect.
"The special brew is very potent and we don't often share it with our guests, but it seems my grandmother has taken quite a liking to you," the waiter said, pouring them each a cup of the vibrant colored tea. "It's best to drink it slowly to enjoy the benefits of it."
"What kind of benefits?" Sana said, bringing the cup to her lips and taking a small sip. "Oh, that's divine."
"I'm glad you think so, my Lady," the waiter bowed and his green eyes glowed with pride. "The benefits differ for everyone, but my family finds that the tea encourages better conversations amongst our guests."
"I see," Rhyel said, taking a sip of the sweet and spicy tea. "Thank you for sharing this special blend with us."
"You're welcome." The waiter bowed again. "Enjoy," he said, disappearing across the bridge into the main restaurant.
"Well, you certainly made an impression on Mama Tui," Rhyel said, turning to Sana as he rested his arm on the cushions behind her. "Enough for her to share a special family blend of tea with us."
"I know." Sana laughed softly. "It's strange because I've only just met her, but she felt like kin. I'm sure that's why everyone calls her Mama," she said, looking out over the lagoon. "But even this place feels oddly familiar and I don't know why."
Could Sana's mother be of the Poccanam coven?
I don't think so.
Kal murmured.
If she was, why would she leave this sacred place and her family who seem very tied to their roots.
"Mm, that is strange," Rhyel murmured. "But maybe it's because you've got a little dragon or phoenix in you."
Sana tilted her head to the side and shrugged. "Maybe. I could be like Mama Tui's family. They're serpents with phoenix and dragon ancestry," she said, taking a sip from her glass. "Gods, if that were true, my siblings' egos would be unbearable." She smirked. "Especially Kai and Aneera."
"And we wouldn't want that." Rhyel laughed. "So if that was ever the case, how about we keep that a secret between us?"
"Yes, that's probably for the best." Sana grinned, sitting her cup on the table and leaning back against his arm. "But I don't want to spend the rest of our evening talking about my siblings."
"Neither do I," he said, wrapping a curl of her hair around his finger. "What would you like to talk about, my Lady?"
"I want to know what you want from me," she said, trailing her finger over a golden button on his waistcoat and stirring the ache in his groin for her. "You said you'd show me, but I'm still not sure what it is that you want."
Rhyel nodded as he drank from his cup to quench his thirst for her before he sat his cup on the table. "I want your burdens. I want your joy. I want your heart," he said, leaning into her ear, teasing his senses with her alluring ambrosial scent. "And I want your desires, Sana."
His heart thumped and simmered when she slid her hand to his cheek as she turned her head with her rose pink lips inches from his. "Rhyel," she whispered.
"Yes," he murmured, sliding his hand to her hip as his heart beat faster. Hoping, wishing, and aching to taste her
"If you want my desires," she said as a sultry flame burned behind her heady violet eyes while she dragged her tongue across her lips. "Then I wish you'd kiss me."
"My Lady," he said, sliding his hand to the base of her neck. "You never have to wish for that," he whispered, catching her soft, sweet lips with his.
Sana leaned into him, sliding her fingers into his hair and his heart melted, burst and burned at her timid exploration of his mouth.
He wrapped his arm around her waist, holding her close and drowning in her sensuous kiss as she seared her name on his heart.
Gods, he never thought he'd feel this way, but he never wanted to belong to anyone else, but his Lady, his phoenix, his Sana.
Mama Tui stood on the mezzanine watching the couple with a smile tugging at her lips at their sensuous embrace under the moonlight.
"That tea certainly worked quickly on them," her grandson said as he stood beside her. "Should I inform Lady Kieka?"
Mama Tui sighed, shaking her mane of thick gray locs as guilt nipped at her nerves. "Yes, tell her it didn't work."
"What?" Her grandson's eyes grew wide. "But Nana, if Lady Kieka finds out we lied, she'll—"
"I don't care," She hissed, cutting her green eyes at him. "I'll deal with the consequences. Just tell her it didn't work."
"Yes, Nana," he said, bowing his head. "I'll do as you say."
"Thank you," she said, patting his cheek. "Now go make sure Lord Rhyel and Lady Sana's dinner is ready and bring them some water and a less potent tea."
Her grandson nodded as he slipped away from her to the kitchen. Mama Tui wrung her hands as she looked back at the couple, oblivious to the world around them.
It was dangerous to go against Lady Kieka's wishes, but this plan of hers wasn't right.
After seeing Lord Rhyel and Lady Sana together and sensing the bond they shared as dragon and phoenix, she refused to be part of any plan that would interfere with something so rare and so beautiful.
Lady Kieka and Lord Zehev would have to find another way to get what they wanted.