Chapter 61
A deafening roar exploded from Rhyel as he beat against the unforgiving wall blocking his view from Sana.
Panic, rage and fury pumped through his veins that he couldn't reach her and save her from that cheap attack Aneera blindsided her with.
He didn't know if she could swim. What if she was drowning? And he was trapped in this fucking cage unable to save her!
A guttural growl burst from Rhyel as he hurtled blast after blast of fire, wind, water and spirit at the impenetrable wall that absorbed every attack he beat it with.
"Rhyel! Stop!" Oberon yelled from the cage beside him. "You're going to hurt yourself! You can't break through that enchantment unless someone wins or Rivo releases us," he said, slamming his hand against the bars to get Rhyel's attention. "Lady Sana is going to be alright. I promise."
Rhyel bared his fangs, growling at his uncle. "You don't know that!"
"We're not that far from the shore. The water shouldn't be too deep." Zehev yawned. "And didn't Rivo say no harm would come to any of the Ladies? I think you're overreacting for someone who just merely cares for his fiancé."
Fire bubbled up in the back of Rhyel's throat as he turned a deadly gaze on Zehev while his muscles bulged and strained against his tunic.
I know you're angry, brother and so am I, but this is not the time to reveal ourselves.
Kal said, digging his claws into Rhyel's insides, preventing him from shifting.
I won't stop you.
Rhys growled.
Tear him apart.
"I don't care what you think," Rhyel snarled, swiping his wolf claws against the bars of Zehev's cage, drawing a shower of sparks. "Your Lady attacked mine, so you had better watch what you say."
"It's just a game." A smug grin curled over Zehev's lips as he shrugged. "It's not like Aneera's little attack was an act of war. Her flames barely touched your Lady."
"They weren't supposed to attack each other at all!" Rhyel roared, swiping at Zehev's cage again. "How would you feel if that was Lady Kieka?"
Zehev's golden brown eyes grew dark as he curled his hand into a fist before he released it and laughed. "It wouldn't be." He smirked. "Kieka wouldn't fall over from a mere nudge."
The air around Rhyel grew deathly cold and a low growl rumbled in his chest as spears of ice formed around him with their sharp points directed at Zehev, grinding against the thick weave of protection foiling Rhyel's desire to impale them through his smug face.
He is goading us, brother.
Kal hissed, digging his claws deeper into Rhyel, desperately trying to hold down his rage.
Do not give that scullion the satisfaction of our anger.
But he insulted my Sana.
Rhyel and Rhys growled as one, snarling and barring their sharp canines.
A loud thunk boomed against the wall encasing his cage and a tingling warmth spread over his wrist as his warrior's charm materialized against his icy skin.
"Hold your head high, my Lady and demand the respect you deserve."
Rhyel's heart thumped and tears pricked the corners of his eyes at the sound of Sana's voice echoing in a soft whispering caress around him.
His spears of ice fell and shattered against the floor as he stepped toward the door of his cage, watching as the thick slate wall folded in on itself and shimmered away.
Relief. Joy. Pride. Devotion. Utter adoration.
And the unmistakable, tantalizing sensation of—love—pulsed and rippled through Rhyel's veins as Sana stood before him, dripping wet with coils of steam rolling off her shoulders and fire—a deep, sensuous blaze—burned behind her beautiful violet eyes, melting the remnants of his icy rage.
"I found you," she whispered.
His heart churned and ached with need as he reached for her. "Yes you did," he breathed, snaking his arm around her waist, pulling her close as he tangled his fingers in her wet matted curls and pressed a searing kiss upon her tender lips.
Sana curled her fingers in his shirt, holding him against her as if she needed his touch as much as he craved hers.
And Rhyel drowned in her.
He didn't care about the tournament, the swell of cheers or the fireworks exploding in the dusky sky above them.
Sana was all that mattered and she was back in his arms where she belonged.
Rhyel was loath to let go of Sana in the wake of all the excitement, but he couldn't deny his soldiers from celebrating her monumental win in true Darcanos fashion.
"Accalia shines brightly on our Lady!" The soldiers sang. "She shines brightly on us all!" They howled, lifting Sana on their shoulders as she laughed, pumping her fist in the air and joining the soldiers shouting 'hooah!'
Even Eula and Kezi joined in the spirited singing, waving their Darcanos flags as the matrons of the makeshift parade through the cheering crowd of nobles to the palace.
A snarl threatened to curl over Rhyel's lips as he counted four tiny abrasions marring Sana's forearms. The small injuries didn't seem to bother her, but Rivo would answer for his lack of safeguards he promised him.
"I can't believe she did it." Loic beamed with pride shimmering in his eyes as he walked beside Rhyel and Zena, following the pack of boisterous wolves singing Sana's praises.
"I can," Zena said, nodding. "I've never seen her so determined before. I knew she was going to try her best to find you, my Lord." She placed her hand on Rhyel's shoulder. "But what I can't believe is that rousing display you two shocked the Houses with just now. That was so...beautiful."
Rhyel tore his gaze from Sana and scanned the crowd searching for Rivo in the masses. He was nowhere to be found, but his aunt was dripping wet and shaking in the arms of his uncle with her blue eyes full of shock as if she'd witnessed an apparition from the netherworld come to life.
And it unnerved him.
Agreed. Something isn't right, brother.
Kal grumbled as his red eyes glowed with worry inside his mind.
Elalia slid a hand over her mouth and nodded at something Oberon said. He turned to a guard standing near them before he whisked Elalia through a side door of the palace.
"My Lord?" Zena said. "Is everything alright?"
"I'm not sure," he murmured as they entered the great hall and a snarl curled over his lips at Rivo standing on the stage beaming with pride with the Darcanos emblem emblazoned on a flag behind him.
"Congratulations House Darcanos and Lady Sana for winning this year's Grensea Games!" Rivo announced to a roar of applause and cheers. "And of course, well done to the rest of us who came up short against the mighty wolves of Darcanos."
"Accalia shines brightly on us all!" Sana shouted, pumping her fist in the air.
A proud grin curled over Rhyel's lips at his gallant Lady rousing her people as he joined them shouting,"hooah!"
"I think we'll be chanting that all night!
" Rivo laughed, clapping his hands together.
"Alright! I'm sure you're all excited for tonight's festivities, but our brave Ladies need a moment of reprieve before we celebrate.
While they do that, please enjoy a few drinks and some Grensea delicacies on the terrace. "
While the delighted crowd moved through the great hall to the terrace, Sana's guards gently set her down from their shoulders and Rhyel was at her side, wrapping his arm around her waist, holding her close.
"I'm so proud of you," he whispered against her head as he escorted her out of the great hall with Zena, Loic and her maids following after them.
Sana leaned into him, wrapping her arm around his waist. "Thank you," she said, smiling up at him. "I still can't believe I did that."
Rhyel pressed a kiss against her head. "I can."
Yes! You were magnificent, little flame!
Sune fluttered with glee around them before settling on Sana's shoulder.
"Yes you were, but I'm sorry you got hurt and I'd like to take care of these burns for you," Rhyel said, taking her hand and pressing a kiss to her palm before turning to Zena, Loic and her maids. "Could you give Sana and I a moment alone?"
"Oh, yes of course, my Lord," Zena said as they bowed to them. "We'll come back in a bit." She smiled, sliding her hand to Sana's shoulder. "You've made our House so proud, my Lady."
Loic nodded in agreement. "So so proud, my Lady."
Eula and Kezi beamed with pride. "We'll be back soon to get you ready for the celebrations," Eula said.
"And you are going to look glorious for the trophy ceremony," Kezi said, waving her little Darcanos flag.
"Thank you." Sana laughed. "I'm glad I could make you all proud."
I'll be back soon, too. You deserve to have this time together.
Sune said as he fluttered around Zena, Loic and Sana's maids as they walked down the hall to the stairs leading to the great hall.
Rhyel pressed his hand to the small of Sana's back as he led her into their room and closed the door behind them.
"I'm sorry I sent them away. I know they want to celebrate with you before the ceremony," he said, taking her hand and guiding her to a high backed chair in front of the fireplace.
"But I just wanted to have a quiet moment with you first."
"I understand and I wanted a moment with you too," she said, squeezing his hand as he knelt in front of her. "That game was...it wasn't what I-I expected."
"Of course it wasn't," he said, turning her hands over and bit back the anger bubbling inside of him at the burns over her skin. "I'm sorry you had to play something you probably didn't want to."
"I'm not sorry I had to play," she said, shaking her head as he rubbed his glowing hands over her forearms, carefully healing her abrasions. "I just didn't like that you were taken from me like that."
He looked up at her with his heart simmering that she would speak of him like he was hers. "I didn't like that either," he said, sliding his hands up her arms and settling on her cheeks. "I'm sorry you woke up without me."
"It wasn't your fault," she said, wrapping her hands around his wrists as she rubbed her fingers over the scales on his bracelet. "But I...I would've gone through it all again to find you."
Kal and Rhys purred in a low rumble as Rhyel let out a slow breath moved by her tenacity.
"You honor me, my Lady and you are much braver than you give yourself credit for," he said, caressing her cheeks.
"But I was so scared when your sister attacked you.
" He pressed his forehead against hers. "I.
.. I went a little mad that I couldn't get to you. "
Her violet eyes softened as she rubbed her thumbs against the back of his hands. "I'm sorry I scared you."
"I'm just glad you're okay," he said, pressing a soft kiss against her lips. "But what happened after you fell in the water? I thought you... you fainted."
"I did," she said, pulling away from him as she bit her lip. "But I don't...I don't really know what happened." She frowned, squeezing her hands in her lap. "I just remember a voice telling me to fight for me and...and for you. Then I was standing in front of your cage answering that riddle."
Could it be her phoenix?
Rhys whispered.
Rhyel's heart thumped as he wrapped his hands around hers. "And the voice you heard, was it the same one you heard in your dream?"
Sana shook her head. "No, this was different. She... she helped me in the obstacle course," she said as a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "She gave me the courage to beat my father."
Rhyel raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean 'beat your father'?"
"The last obstacle was an illusion of...of my fear which has always been my father," she said, threading her fingers through his. "He tried to burn me alive l-like my mother."
Rivo will die for creating such a heinous illusion.
Kal snarled.
"But the voice, she showed me how to use the fire against him," Sana said as her smile grew. "And I felt so...powerful that I used a gift he never thought I could wield." She sighed. "If only it wasn't an illusion."
That was our Sana's phoenix.
Kal said with his mouth curling into a sharp toothy smile.
I take back what I said about Rivo. The obstacle of fear might've helped in Sana's awakening.
"That wasn't an illusion, Sana," Rhyel said, squeezing her hands. "You are powerful. You just won the whole tournament for House Darcanos."
A soft laugh left her lips. "But I can't even remember how I did it.
I mean, I don't know how long I was in the water or how Aneera, Lyra and Lady Elalia didn't complete their last puzzles before me," she said, shaking her head.
"And...and that voice, I-I've never heard anyone in my head like that besides Sune. Don't you think that's odd?"
"No, not at all," he said, caressing her hands. "I hear my wolf and my dra–other creatures in my head speaking to me all the time."
Why didn't you say it?
Kal growled, swiping his claws against Rhyel.
"But you grew up hearing them," Sana said with her eyes tainted in confusion. "Why am I just now hearing her? I don't even know what 'she' is."
"Maybe you have a latent ability or maybe she's just your inner voice.
What I do know, is you should hold on to that voice because whatever she is, she's you," Rhyel said, sliding his hand to her cheek.
"And you should embrace the blessing of a strong inner voice.
It will be your light when you think all hope is gone and that's a beautiful gift to have. "
A soft burning flame simmered behind Sana's violet depths as she slid her hand over his and the gentle hum of her ring pulsed through his veins. "Why are you like this?" she whispered.
"Like what?" he murmured, leaning in, entranced by her soft glowing eyes and plump, tender lips.
"You always know what to say," she said, trailing her hand up his chest, her fingers igniting a simmering flame over his skin. "To make me feel like I..." She brushed her fingers against the unmarked skin over his heart. "Like I belong."
His heart thumped and simmered as he curled his hand around the base of her neck, tangling his fingers in her damp curls. "Because you do," he said. "Right here, with me."
His breath hitched as Sana's eyes grew heady. "I do," she whispered, catching his lips with hers.
A low moan rumbled in his chest as he wrapped his arm around her waist, nestling himself between her thighs, drowning again, in the sweet, ambrosial taste of her.
He ignored the nagging in the back of his mind that there was a chance Sana may have exposed her phoenix gifts when she rose from the water, but right now he needed her.
And the way she pressed herself against him, it would seem his once shy and timid Lady, needed him too.
And she is all that matters.
Kal and Rhys murmured as if they too were entranced by Sana's embrace.
A/N: This chapter....whew I knew Rhyel was going to be HEATED when Sana fell into the water, but.
...Zehev pushing his buttons like that??
?? I'm sorry, but I feel like he was asking to die.
I'm not quite sure what his angle is at the moment, but I'm sure all will be revealed at some point. ...
And I loooove love LOVE that Rhyel was so sweet about encouraging Sana to keep listening to her voice, but I would REALLY love it if he would just tell Sana he's her dragon!!!! Come on! ??