Chapter 65
Aneera dabbed her forehead as she anxiously watched the door, waiting for Zehev to return to their suite.
He wasn't supposed to find those letters she wrote.
Her plan was to give them to one of the maids and have her slip them to Sana during breakfast in the grand hall.
She wanted to watch their relationship crumble for the realm to see and while Sana was crying over Rhyel, she was going to swoop in and seduce him.
Of course he'd be resistant at first, but he would soon give in to the aching desire they felt for each other.
But her plans were ruined when Zehev caught her in the act.
And she had to make up a lie that she was having the maid dispose of the letters and she didn't tell him because she didn't want to worry him.
She didn't think he'd react with such rage and storm out to confront Rhyel.
Squeezing her hands in her lap as she gazed at the door again. Zehev was going to return and know, without a doubt, that Rhyel didn't write those letters. He wasn't supposed to find out she was going to leave him until she and Rhyel established their love for each other.
Aneera bit her thumb, gnawing at her nail.
What if he cast her out of House Issian? Kai and her father would be furious if Zehev called off their marriage and left her in Lightbourne. She'd have no future prospects if she was ruined like that.
"Don't worry, Aneera," Amorette said, sliding her hand over her lap. "Zevi will take care of it. It's not your fault Lord Rhyel is a sleazy two-timing barbarian."
"Mm, yes, but don't you find it odd that he'd do something like this?
" Marceline said, standing at the window of their sitting room that overlooked the dense forests of Asterfall.
"No offense, Aneera, but it's strange he'd want you when he's clearly in love with Lady Sana.
" She turned around, gazing skeptically at Aneera.
"And from what I know of the Darcanos, especially an Alpha of Lord Rhyel's bloodline, they don't deal in adulterous acts like this.
They're extremely loyal to their Lunas and this would be considered a heinous crime in his culture. "
Aneera shrugged. "I don't know why he's done this," she said, shaking her head. "But Sana isn't his Luna, so maybe he isn't that loyal to her."
A bark of laughter left Marceline's lips. "Not his Luna?" she said, raising an eyebrow. "You were standing right next to them when he kissed her at the games. Surely, you felt their energy. Everyone on that shore knew that Lord Barbarian damn near claimed Lady Sana on that dock."
"Now that you say that," Amorette said, frowning. "This does seem odd, but it doesn't matter." She squeezed Aneera's hand. "He still did what he did and sent you those seedy letters. At least your sister is getting what she deserves for being so awful to you and Lyra."
"Yes, I...I suppose that's true," Aneera said, while fear creeped down her spine. If what Marceline said is true, then what would Rhyel do if he was truly in love with Sana like that?
But he couldn't be.
That kiss may have been powerful, but why did it make her feel so sure about him? Why couldn't she stop yearning for him? She tried to ignore it, but every time she saw him she ached for his gaze, his touch, his everything.
Aneera's heart leapt up to her throat as the door to their suite crept open and Zehev stepped inside. He had a smug grin on his face and his golden eyes looked almost joyful as he gazed at her.
She stood clenching her hands together, hoping beyond hope, that whatever happened between him and Rhyel somehow went in her favor. "What... what happened?"
"Well, Lord Rhyel denied writing you those letters, of course," Zehev said, dragging a hand through his hair as he laughed. "And your sister was quite angry that I accused him of it."
Aneera frowned. "Sana was angry?" Since when did her sister get mad about anything? She was always too busy saying sorry and crying to get angry.
"Yes, she slammed the door in my face and rightfully so," he said, grinning. "I did disturb them at an unsociable hour."
"And Lord Rhyel?" Amorette smirked, standing beside Aneera. "Did he have anything more to say about his sleazy letters besides denying it?"
"Apparently, he does." Zehev shook his head in disgust. "Lord Rhyel caught me on my way back to the villa. He's in the hallway right now."
Aneera's heart thumped. "He is?"
"Yes." Zehev scoffed, shrugging off his cloak and hanging it on the coat rack. "The utter scoundrel had the audacity to beg me to speak to you. He'd like to apologize and asked if I'd allow him to do so in private."
The only reason he would ask such a thing was if he felt something for her too. A warm swell of glee and excitement tingled through her veins. He wasn't going to apologize. This private moment was going to be the start of her affair with Rhyel and it would only be a matter of time before—
"He wants to apologize in private?" Amorette smirked. "No. He can apologize right here in front of all of us for disrespecting Lady Aneera and our House."
Aneera's heart clenched as her gleeful revelation was shattered.
"N-no—"
"I agree, Zevi," Marceline huffed, thrusting her arm out to the door. "Why should he be allowed to keep his dignity in all of this? It's a shame Lady Sana isn't here to hear this as well. She's the one he should be groveling to."
"Mm, too right, my loves," Zehev murmured. "But I wouldn't worry about Lady Sana. I have a feeling Lord Rhyel wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her," he said, turning to Aneera. "However, it's up to you, my darling? Do you wish to speak with him?"
Aneera gulped looking between her wife-kin and Zehev. She wanted more than anything to speak with Rhyel, but not like this. How could he confess his true feelings in front of them? And why, in all the realm, would Sana send him here?
Did she truly think he was going to apologize?
"Aneera?" Zehev said, taking her hands. "It's okay if you don't want to speak to him." He rubbed her palms and his tender caress made her stomach sour. "I can tell him to leave."
"No." She shook her head, slipping her hands away from him. "I'm okay and I'd like to hear what he has to say for himself."
A smile tugged at Zehev's lips as he pressed a kiss against her cheek. "As you wish."
A chill slithered down her spine when Zehev kissed her, but that feeling soon left her when he opened the door and Rhyel walked into the room.
Her heart fluttered and a lustful tingle pooled in her gut as she gazed at his herculean body dressed in a deliciously fitting black suit that hinted at his rippling muscles.
Silver chains with sapphire gems that matched his gorgeous eyes swooped across his chest attached to a black cape that hung off his shoulder.
Gods, Rhyel was everything she wanted.
"Thank you, Lord Zehev for allowing me a few moments of you and your Ladies' time," Rhyel said, giving him a curt nod before he turned his attention to her wife-kin and bowed his head. "Lady Amorette, Lady Marceline, I apologize for intruding on your morning for such a dishonorable situation."
"As long as you know just how dishonorable this is," Aneera huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I assure you, I do," Rhyel said, turning to Aneera.
Her fluttering heart froze at the murderous heat in his eyes.
She clenched her hands in the skirts of her dress wishing to cower away from his hardened gaze.
"Lady Aneera, I was hoping we could speak in private because I promised your sister I would do nothing to embarrass you. "
"Embarrass Aneera?" Marceline scoffed. "You're the one who's apologizing for the scummy letters you wrote," she said, scrunching her face in disgust. "I'll be honest, Lord Rhyel, I never thought you had it in you to do something so disgraceful."
"Neither did I, until this morning," Rhyel said as a joyless laugh left his lips. "And if you would allow me, I'd like to clear up any misconceptions I may have inadvertently caused."
Misconceptions?
Aneera gulped as panic nagged at her heart and sweat beaded on her forehead again.
Oh Gods.
Was Rhyel here to oust her lies? To ruin her reputation among her wife-kin and... and Zehev?
"Lord Rhyel, I-I'm not sure that this is necessary," she said, squeezing her hands together. "The letters didn't mean anything and I'm sure you are very sorry for writing them."
"Actually, I do think this is necessary," Rhyel said, curling his hands into fists at his side. "And I'm not sorry for anything."
"What! How dare you!" Amorette seethed as sparks sizzled around her. The blue morning sky darkened as black clouds filled the sky and thunder rumbled in the distance. "You are exactly how everyone perceives you. You...you dirty, lying, barbarian!"
"Calm yourself, my dear," Zehev said, crossing the room and wrapping his arms around her. "Why don't we let Lord Rhyel explain himself before jumping to conclusions, hm?" He pressed a kiss against her head. "There's no need to conjure a storm, my love. Let it go."
"Fine," she murmured as the rolling thunder dissipated and the skies cleared again. "But I don't like this."
"I know, sweetheart. I don't like it either," Zehev said, rubbing Amorette's back to calm her rage as he nodded to Rhyel. "You may continue. We'd all like to know why you're not sorry for what you did to my Aneera."
"Thank you," Rhyel said and Aneera's panic morphed into fear as his blue eyes grew as dark as Amorette's storm.
"I'm not sorry because I didn't do anything wrong.
I am not a dirty, lying barbarian as the realm believes.
I am the Alpha of the wolves of Darcanos and I would never disrespect, lie or cheat on my fiancé with anyone.
Least of all you." He seethed as the room grew deathly cold and fire sparked behind his deadly gaze.
"And I most certainly will not tolerate the disrespect of the Lady of Darcanos," he growled, baring his fangs.
"Let me be crystal clear, Aneera Lightbourne, I have no wish or want of you.
My loyalty, my wealth, my everything belongs to Sana.
You could never live up to her beauty and grace and you could never dream of replacing her. "
"Oh my word," Marceline gasped, sliding a hand over her mouth.
"Zevi," Amorette hissed. "Are you going to let him speak to Aneera like that?"
Zehev didn't speak.
He didn't utter a word to defend her honor like Rhyel had gallantly come to defend Sana's.
Tears rolled down Aneera's cheeks at Zehev's silence and Rhyel's biting words that slashed through her heart. How could he say such awful things? How could he feel so deeply for Sana when she knew deep in her soul that he was meant for her?
No. She wouldn't let him tear her down like this and choose that worthless peasant over her.
Gritting her teeth as heat traveled through her veins and sizzled against her fingertips. "But you wrote those letters!" She roared. "You... you can't deny that."
"I thought you might say that." Rhyel smirked.
"There's an old spell that can extract the voice of a person who pens a letter.
My mother used it all the time to listen to the letters my father sent her," he said with his eyes glowing in a silver hue as he tugged Aneera's fabricated letters from the inside of his suit pocket.
"I think your betrothed and your wife-kin would be very interested in hearing these. "
Blood drained from Aneera's face as panic squeezed her heart. "W-wait!" She cried as her voice filled the room. Reciting the flowery, intimate words she penned in Rhyel's name for everyone to hear.
"Aneera!" Marceline yelled. "How could you?!"
"Stop!" Aneera crumpled to her knees, sobbing as she covered her ears wishing she could disappear from this torturous embarrassment. "Please!" She cried. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry!"
"Lord Rhyel, I believe you've made your point," Zehev said in the coldest, chilliest tone Aneera had ever heard come from his mouth. "Please accept my sincerest apologies to you and Lady Sana for this horrid misunderstanding. You have my word that nothing of this nature will happen again."
"It had better not," Rhyel said as the letters ceased their recitation and fell to the floor around Aneera. "Our nations have had peace for many years. I would hate for that to be ruined by your jealous wife."
"I assure you it won't be." Zehev bowed. "May you and Lady Sana enjoy the rest of this festive season without incident."
"Thank you," Rhyel said, giving him a curt nod before he turned and left the room.
The silence that filled the room was deafening.
Aneera wasn't sure if she was breathing. Wasn't sure where to look or what to say. She was ruined. Disgraced. Her life was over and Zehev would surely cast her out of his House.
She had to do something to save her place in society. Something to endear Zehev to her again.
"M-my Lord Zehev, I—"
"Be silent." He seethed before turning to Amorette and Marceline. "My darlings, I'm so sorry you had to subject yourselves to such embarrassment."
"I feel so stupid, Zevi," Amorette said, sniffling as she wiped her tears. "I shouldn't have said those awful things to Lord Rhyel or believed a word Aneera said about Lady Sana."
"Not to worry, my love. You didn't know," Zehev said, holding her close. "Marceline, are you alright?"
She nodded. "I'm okay," she said, shaking her head. "I just...I think I need some air."
"I understand," he said, taking her hand and placing a kiss against her fingers. "Why don't you and Amorette take a walk to clear your heads, hm?"
Marceline nodded, wrapping her arm around Amorette's shoulders. "Come on. Let's go to that pond you like and watch the ducks for a while."
"Okay." Amorette sniffed.
"Here," Zehev said, placing his gold medallion in Marceline's hand. "Speak to Kieka if you wish. She always knows what to say to make Amorette feel better."
"Thank you, Zevi," Marceline said, kissing his cheek before she glanced at Aneera. "You don't deserve a place in this House for what you've done."
Aneera winced at her biting sentiment as she looked away from her to the floor.
She was well and truly fucked.
It was one thing to lose favor with Zehev, but once they told Kieka what happened, she'd lose her respect and her place among the most favored wives.
"You know, Marceline is right," Zehev said, crouching down beside Aneera. She tensed as he slipped his finger under her chin and raised her face to his. "You don't deserve a place in House Issian and if Kieka and I didn't need you." He snarled. "I'd cast you out for what you've done."
Tears pooled in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. "P-please forgive me, Zevi. I—"
"No. You don't get to refer to me so informally," he said, curling his finger around her chin in a tight grasp as his golden brown eyes sparked in anger.
"For the rest of our time on this tour, your title as Lady Aneera will remain, but you are no longer my betrothed and you will never become my wife.
" A sinister grin curled over his lips. "Now, you simply belong to me and you will do everything and anything Kieka and I ask of you.
You will be our peasant and our servant just like your sister was to you. "
She'd become a... a servant like Sana?
Aneera's eyes grew wide. "Please, Lord Zehev. Don't do this," she cried, grasping his arm. "Cast me out," she said, digging her nails into his sleeve. "Send me back to my family. I've disgraced you. I don't deserve—"
"What you deserve," he said, plucking her hands away from him as he bared his fangs and his eyes grew as dark as midnight. "Is to become what you've always feared. A worthless Lightbourne." He stood and brushed a hand through his platinum locks. "And that's exactly what you are."
A sob choked from her lips as she shook her head. "Lord Zehev, please." She bowed, pressing her head against the floor. "I'm sorry. Forgive me. I'll do anything. Just let me go."
"Oh, you will do anything for me now." He smirked. "But I'll never let you go," he said, grasping her hair and tugging her head back. Fear slithered down Aneera's spine at the ominous gleam in his black eyes. "You're mine."
She'd always wanted to hear those words from the one who held her heart. She wanted to be claimed, taken and loved by someone who only wanted her.
But this felt evil, dark and...menacing.
Oh Gods, what had she done?
A/N: I... LOVED writing this chapter because ooo it felt good to see Aneera get caught in her lies.
And Rhyel set her straight and came with the receipts!
!!!! I also like this because I don't think Zehev loves all of his wives like Kieka, but I think he truly cares about them.
Annnnd welp. Aneera's going to be a servant for Zehev and Kieka.
...ngl I'm concerned about what they need her for though ??