Chapter 64
Sana laid awake listening to Rhyel's soft breaths and the gentle beat of his heart as she gazed up at the glass ceiling.
The stars were fading in the early morning sky and there was a small hue of red tinting the periwinkle sky.
An indication that the woodlands of Asterfall bordered the desert plains of the south and a reminder that soon, she'd be returning to her homeland.
Sighing as she turned over and traced a finger over the swoop and curl of a marking over Rhyel's tanned skin peeking out from his loose fitting tunic.
She thought she'd be more worried or fearful knowing the next event of the festive season was Lyra's wedding at House Lightbourne, but since they left Grensea, she'd become accustomed to sharing a bed with Rhyel during their travels touring the smaller Houses on the coast of the western region.
And since that final game in Grensea, they'd become nearly inseparable that he felt like... home. As if nothing could harm, hurt or break her because he was hers.
She'd never forget the way his eyes glowed in a kaleidoscope of blue, gold and red when she found him and the way he kissed her felt like he was staking his claim on her for the realm to see.
A soft melodic trill whispered through her mind and a warm tingle swept down her spine at the memory.
Voice, is that you? Have you come back?
Sana called out to the fading trill, but the voice never answered her.
Not since that day.
And sometimes she wondered if she imagined it, just like she created Kal in her mind.
Sighing as she gazed up at the stars again. Kal was convinced the voice in her mind was her latent ability manifesting itself as her inner voice and he was adamant that the way she commanded the fire against her father wasn't just an illusion.
Her imaginary dragon believed she could truly wield fire and when he said that, she knew it had to be an illusion because she wanted so desperately to believe that she was more than the ungifted Lightbourne.
That she could prove her father wrong and show him she was worth more than he thought.
"What's wrong?" Rhyel murmured, wrapping his fingers around her hand resting over his chest. "You've been staring at the ceiling for quite some time."
Sana laughed softly, curling her fingers around his. "And how do you know?" she said, looking up at his half closed lids. "You've been sleeping."
"Mm, not deep enough that I can't sense your restlessness," he said, massaging the back of her neck. "What's troubling you, my Lady?"
That was another thing Rhyel started doing more often, too. Sensing her emotions. He claimed it was a side effect of his wolf going mad when he thought she was drowning, but she didn't understand how that moment would cause him to become intune with her feelings.
"Sana," he murmured, bringing her hand to his lips. "Tell me what's on your mind."
She sighed. "I keep thinking about my inner voice and why I haven't heard her since we were in Grensea."
"Maybe she only manifests when you truly need her," Rhyel said, caressing the back of her hand. "When we get back to Darcanos, Zena and I can teach you how to meditate to reach your inner voice."
Sana's heart thumped in excitement as she leaned up to gaze into his sleepy depths. "Really? You can do that?"
"Of course." He chuckled, tucking a curl that escaped from her bonnet behind her ear. "That's how we learn to speak and connect to our wolves."
"Oh," she said with her heart sinking. "But my voice isn't connected to another being like your wolf. Would that even work?"
"I don't see why it wouldn't," he said, caressing her cheek. "And what if your voice is connected to another being?"
"Now you sound like Kal," she said, shaking her head. "I'm really starting to think he's just a manifestation of you."
"Mm, and what if he was?" Rhyel said, brushing his thumb across her lip. "What would you think then?"
Sana giggled as blush burned over her cheeks. "I'm...I'm not sure, but I'd have many, many questions for you."
Rhyel grinned. "Like what?"
"How long you've known me, because dragons only dream walk with their kin or their phoenix," she said, trailing her fingers across his collar bone. "And because I know we're not kin, I'd want to know how long you knew that I was a phoenix."
"Those would be fair questions and if I was your dragon I'd be sure to have an answer for anything you'd ask of me," he said, raising an eyebrow. "But you wouldn't be upset if it was me?"
"No, of course not." She laughed and her heart clenched as the many conversations she'd had with Kal about Rhyel flashed through her mind while her cheeks grew increasingly warm. "Well, actually, I'ld be embarrassed mostly that you didn't tell me because Kal and I speak about a lot of...things."
"Sana," Rhyel said as the playfulness in his eyes melted and filled with concern.
She slid her hand to his cheek. "What's wrong?"
"I, um," he said, sitting up and heat flushed over her skin as he straddled her over his lap. It felt far too intimate to sit like this, but he was being far too serious for her to make light of what he'd done. "I don't want there to be any secrets between us."
Her heart thumped as guilt trickled down her spine as she looked away from him. "I-I know and I'm sorry that I speak to Kal about things and not you."
"No, no," he said, hooking his finger under her chin. "That's not what I mean."
Sana frowned. "Then what do you mean?"
"Sana, I'm glad you talk to your dragon and you feel comfortable sharing things with him," he said, slipping his hand away from her chin and taking a deep breath. "What I meant about not wanting any secrets between us, is that I...I'm—"
"Lord Rhyel!" A voice boomed from outside of their room as a heavy knock pounded against the door.
Sana jumped, clenching her hands in Rhyel's tunic as she looked at the door. "Is that...Lord Zehev? What's he doing here?"
A low growl rumbled from Rhyel's chest. "I don't know," he said, gently sliding her off his lap before he slipped out of the bed with his eyes growing dark. "But I'm going to find out."
"Come out here and speak to me, you shameless fucking wolf!" Lord Zehev roared.
Sana's heart was pounding as she scurried out of the bed and shrugged on her robe. Why in the Gods' names would Lord Zehev accuse Rhyel of being a shameless wolf? The two hardly spoke to each other for Lord Zehev to be this angry or come to their room at such an early hour.
Rhyel snarled as he yanked open the door, nearly ripping it off its hinges. "Why—the fuck—are you disturbing me and my Lady?"
Lord Zehev matched Rhyel's snarl as his golden brown eyes sparked in anger.
"Because of this." He shoved a handful of letters into Rhyel's chest. "Does your precious Lady Sana know that you've been pining over one of my wives?
Sending her letters every day since we left Grensea?
" He seethed, pushing Rhyel's chest. "Didn't you get the hint when she wasn't writing back? !"
"What are you talking about?" Rhyel growled, shoving the letters back at Zehev as they scattered across the floor. "I didn't write these."
Zehev bared his sharp fangs. "Then why is your name signed all over them?"
Sana's heart clenched as she picked up a letter on the floor. Rhyel's been sending letters to one of Zehev's wives? Why would he do such a thing and when would he have done this?
She frowned at the unfamiliar handwriting on the letter and a flash of rage swept through her veins as she spied the name it was addressed to.
Aneera.
The whispering trill of her inner voice rang out in her ears, feeding the anger bubbling inside of her.
Why would her sister play a stupid game like this?
Sana crumpled the letter in her hand as she looked up at Rhyel and Zehev arguing in the doorway. "Get out," she seethed.
Rhyel looked at her with hurt dulling the rage in his eyes as he released Zehev's collar. "Sana, I swear I didn't—"
"No," she said, turning her gaze to Lord Zehev. "You. Get out and have a word with yourself and my sister." She stepped toward the door and shoved the letter into Zehev's chest. "Ask her why she wrote these and then ask yourself if she's really the wife you want for you and your House."
Sana slammed the door in Lord Zehev's shocked, beet red face before she looked up at Rhyel's wide eyes and her sweeping rage dissipated as embarrassment and guilt replaced it.
"Oh Gods," she said, sliding her hands to her cheeks.
"I-I'm not sure what came over me. I-I can't believe I did that.
I'm so sorry. That...that wasn't very Lady-like of me. "
"No." Rhyel chuckled, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close.
"That was very Lady of Darcanos of you," he said, pressing a soft kiss against her head.
"Rhys is howling your praises right now and I can't help but agree with him.
" He pulled away from her and her heart simmered at the adoration shining in his depths. "You are as fierce as a wolf, my Lady."
He took her hands and bowed his head against them. "And I'm sorry you had to involve yourself in that. Forgive me."
"I forgive you, but it wasn't your fault," she said, looking at the letters scattered on the floor. "I don't understand why Aneera would do something like this."
"Neither do I," he said, leaning away from her to pick up the letters. "I know she's jealous of you, but fabricating something like this out of the blue is just strange."
"It is," she said, frowning. "But why would you think she's jealous of me? I have nothing she wants. She's the one who has exceptional gifts and a betrothal into a prominent House."
But she doesn't have the attention she seeks like you do, little flame.
Sune said as he flew into their room from the balcony window.
I've been watching her since we left Grensea because I felt an insidious darkness creeping around her aura since you won the tournament.
He fluttered to Sana's shoulder.
Have you or your officers felt what I speak of?
Rhyel nodded. "We knew she was harboring some ill will towards Sana," he said, shaking his head. "But I'm not sure why she'd do this to make it seem like my engagement to you is insincere."
"Is that the secret you wanted to tell me?" Sana said, rubbing a hand over her arm. "Because I'm not sure why you, Zena or Loic would keep something like this from me. It's not like I'm not used to the things my siblings have said about me."
"I know and I'm sorry," Rhyel said, taking her hand. "I just wanted to protect you from this. I didn't want it to ruin your debut."
"Well, I'm sure Aneera is hoping this will drive a rift between us and I know she's hoping this will start rumors among the Ladies that you fancy her now," she said, sighing. "I just don't understand why she would do something to ruin her relationship with Zehev."
It's as I said. She covets the attention House Darcanos showers upon you and forgive me for saying so, but I believe she also wants Rhyel for herself.
Sana's heart clenched as dread slithered down her spine. "Why would you say that?"
Because of the way she's been gazing at Rhyel these last few days. It is not the look of a woman who has a mere infatuation. There is a hunger in her eyes.
If what Sune said was true, that meant Aneera truly wanted Rhyel and if she told Kai of her desire to have him, then he and their father would do anything to give Aneera what she wanted.
That's what they always did.
And Aneera would love nothing more than to steal her happiness and take her home away from her.
"I'm not sure why that matters. She can't have me," Rhyel said, curling his fingers under Sana's chin and tilting her face to his. "Because I'm yours."
Sana shook her head. "But that's not how things work with Aneera," she said, brushing his hand away from her.
"When she wants something, Kai and my father will bend over backwards to ensure she gets it.
It won't matter that I'm your fiancé." She wrapped her arms around herself, digging her nails into her skin.
"They'll take you away from me and make you be whatever she wants you to be. "
"Sana, that's not going to happen," Rhyel said, sliding his hands to her cheeks. "I'm going to take care of this and when I come back, we're leaving."
Her heart thumped as her eyes grew wide. "Wh-what? Why?"
"Because I need to show you why no one can take me away from you and Barshaa is the safest place for me to do that," he said, kissing her forehead. "I'll be back soon."
"Wait," she said, curling her hand into his shirt before he could walk away from her. "What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to have a word with Zehev and Aneera," he said, curling his hand around hers. "I told you, I'll always defend your honor and it's better that I confront them before anything is said about you and our relationship."
A low purring trill fluttered through her veins as if the voice within her was pleased to hear Rhyel's valiant testament to protect her reputation and while she was pleased to hear it too, it unnerved her that he was going to confront them.
"But...but what if it makes this worse?" she said, squeezing his hand. "Aneera won't like being embarrassed."
"I don't intend to embarrass anyone," he said, bringing her hand to his lips. "Do you trust me?"
She gazed into his eyes and the soft glow of gold and red swirling in his blue depths made her worrying heart ease. "I do." She nodded. "I trust you."
"Good," he said, leaning down and pressing a soft kiss against her lips further easing her worries. "I'll make this right, my Lady," he whispered. "I promise."
Sune pressed his head against Sana's neck as Rhyel slipped out of their room.
Rhyel is right, little flame. No one has the power to take him away from you and most certainly not Aneera.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Sana said, tugging her robe tighter around herself. "And do you know what he meant about Barshaa? Because I'm not sure what Dante's lands have to do with anything."
Oh my dear Sana, Barshaa will give you answers to the many questions you will soon seek.