Chapter 68
Rhyel's heart sank to the pit of his stomach and shattered when Sana ran away from him.
It didn't help that Kal and Rhys were digging their claws into him and scolding him for waiting so long to tell her the truth.
I told you this would happen.
Rhys seethed.
We need to fix this, brother. We can't let her lose her trust in us.
Kal growled.
"I-I have to find her," Rhyel said, clenching a hand over his aching heart. "I have to explain myself and tell her everything."
"Yes, you do, but let me speak to her first," Dante said, patting a hand on Rhyel's arm. "I'm the one who put you in this predicament. It's only right that I help you mend things."
This is true. He should take some responsibility for this.
Rhys huffed.
And I need to take responsibility as well.
Sune said, fluttering to Dante's shoulder.
I've hurt my little flame and I'm so ashamed.
"Ah yes, my ancient friend," Dante said, looking at Sune on his shoulder. "You should come with me, too."
"Everything will be fine, Rhyel," Inés said, standing beside him as Dante left the terrace in search of Sana. "I don't blame her for being angry at all of us." She sighed. "But she needs this time with Dante and you need this time with me."
Rhyel's heart thumped as he tore his gaze away from Dante. "What do you mean?"
"Come sit," she said, sliding her hand to his arm. "Let me tell you when you first met Sana and why your mothers orchestrated everything that has come to be."
Let us listen to her, brothers.
Kal grumbled.
We need to understand why this has happened to better understand our phoenix, so we can mend her trust in us.
Rhyel sighed. "Alright." He nodded as he released his half transformation and followed Inés to the couch.
"I want to know everything our mothers told you.
I don't want to hear any riddles or cryptic tales for me to decipher," he said, sitting beside her and squeezing his hands together.
"And I want to know who Sana's true father is, so I can help her find him and her family.
She deserves much more from me, but at least I can start with that. "
"Yes, I understand," Inés said, pouring him a fresh cup of tea. "Had it been up to me, all these secrets and cryptic tales would have come to light long ago, but Cyrillia and Aloysia believed this was the best way forward and we trusted them."
"You mean we as in, you, my father, Dante, Elalia and Oberon?"
Inés nodded. "Yes," she said, sitting back on the couch. "We've all seen the future you saw on your quest and we dedicated our lives to protecting Sana and her gifts as an Erius phoenix."
Rhyel frowned. "How is she an Erius if her mother was from the Zarathos coven?"
"An Erius phoenix can be born from any coven. They're born from the waning gifts from their mothers," Inés said, taking a slow sip from her cup. "This usually happens when a coven is dying or when a phoenix chooses to make her own offspring."
"And which was it for Sana?"
Inés shook her head. "It was both. The Zarathos were dying and Cyrillia made the choice to make Sana so that her coven would survive," she said, gazing into her tea. "To answer your question about Sana's father, she doesn't have one and she may be the last living phoenix of the Zarathos coven."
Rhyel nodded. "But there's a chance the Zarathos could still be alive. Where are they from?"
"Here. The Zarathos phoenixes and the Barshaa dragons used to live together, but when the great war of the ancients broke out, the Zarathos fled to the north and were never seen from again, until Cyrillia showed up on our doorstep one day," Inés said, looking up from her cup and a smile spread across her lips as she placed her hand on Rhyel's cheek.
"And we didn't know she was pregnant with Sana until she met you. "
Do you remember meeting Cyrillia, Kal?
Kal shook his head.
I do not, but you must've been very young when it happened. Neither I nor Rhys would have been developed enough to remember this.
"Elalia mentioned that I met Cyrillia, but I don't remember it. My dragon and wolf don't remember it either. How old was I?"
"Oh, you were no more than three or four years old at the time. It doesn't surprise me that your dragon and wolf don't remember," she said. "But the moment you saw Cyrillia, you hugged her, kissed her stomach and said you'd protect her."
Rhyel's heart thumped and a blush burned over his cheeks. "I-I said that?"
We do not, but it seems likely that meeting Cyrillia started my awakening in you.
Inés nodded, laughing softly. "Yes, you did.
We thought you were saying you'd protect Cyrillia, as odd as that was, but she and your mother knew who you were referring to," she said, gripping her mug tight.
"And that's when everything began to ensure Sana was protected until it was time for her awakening.
" She looked over at him with sorrow filling her eyes.
"The future you saw will come to pass, but it doesn't have to end in Sana's death and her blood being used to invoke those heinous creatures.
" She slid her hand over his. "As long as you and Sana have an unshakeable bond as a phoenix and a dragon, you will save this realm from destruction. "
"If you knew all of this years ago, why did Cyrillia marry Sirius and why didn't you or my parents take Sana away from the Lightbournes and let her live the life she was meant to?
" Rhyel said as anger bubbled in his veins.
"Why did you allow her to suffer at the hands of people who weren't her family or had any interest in caring for her?
I... I could've been the one to protect her long before now. "
"I know, but it's complicated." Inés sighed. "Cyrillia fell in love with Sirius that's why she married him and went on to have three more children with him. He promised to always love and care for Sana although she wasn't his."
Rhyel curled his hand into a fist. "He clearly lied because he raised her as a servant after her mother died."
"Yes and Cyrillia knew that would happen, but she also knew that would be the best case for her until you and Sana were old enough to meet each other again," Inés said, shaking her head.
"When Cyrillia knew her time was coming to pass on, Dante and I begged her to let us take Sana and raise her with Troya, but she refused. "
"Why? And why didn't my parents encourage me to merge with my dragon when he awakened?"
Because we weren't ready.
Kal murmured.
"For the same reason Cyrillia wouldn't let us take Sana. Your abilities as a dragon and a phoenix needed to remain hidden or else it would've ushered in the darkness and destruction before you two were ready."
Rhyel scoffed. "I don't think we're ready now.
I haven't merged completely with my dragon and Sana's phoenix has barely awakened in her," he said, dragging a hand over his face.
"And all I know of this darkness and destruction is that it'll come from the east in House Issian, but even that doesn't feel right. "
"You're more ready now than you would've been as children," she said, sitting her cup on the table before turning to him.
"And House Issian is a complicated matter as well.
I know I promised you I wouldn't speak in riddles, but all I can tell you is that the darkness in the east isn't what it seems."
Rhyel glared at his aunt. "You realize saying that doesn't help at all."
"I know and I'm sorry, but I don't have all the answers and even Dante's prolific seer abilities couldn't pinpoint the source of the darkness either," Inés said.
"I think that's something you and Sana need to figure out together.
" Her gray eyes gave off a soft glow as she looked toward the edge of the terrace and a small smile tugged at her lips.
"Dante's coming back. Sana's ready to speak with you, now. "
Rhyel's heart clenched and worry filled his veins as he gripped the fabric of his trousers.
He'd never experienced this kind of fear before.
Dante may have smoothed things over, but what if she didn't accept his apology or his reasoning for keeping this from her?
What if she didn't trust him anymore or wanted to share her heart with him whether he was a man, dragon or wolf?
We won't know any of that unless we speak to our Sana, brother.
Rhys sighed.
And if she does accept our apology, then we have to be honest with her about everything from now on. As you told her before we came here, there will be no more secrets between us.
Kal said, and Rhyel could feel their anguish too. They were just as scared as he was and he wasn't sure if his heart could take it if Sana rejected him. He cared for her too much to lose her faith and trust in him.
"Rhyel," Inés said, placing her hands over his. "My darling nephew, it's going to be alright." She cooed. "The bond you and Sana share may not be one of a true mate, but it can overcome something like this. Just be honest with her."
"Okay." Rhyel nodded, taking a deep breath. "I will," he said, squeezing her hands before he stood. "Thank you."
Rhyel walked along the sandy beach, clenching and unclenching his hands to calm his nerves as he followed the shoreline to the small plume of fire where the beach bled into a small cavernous cove.
His heart churned at the sight of Sana sitting with her arms curled around her knees, gazing at the ebb and flow of the small waves crashing against the shore. She looked lost in thought, which was understandable after everything Dante would've told her.
She just learned that she was a phoenix, she wasn't the child of her father, and her real family, the Zarathos, may or may not still bee alive somewhere.
And he imagined what hurt her the most, was the dragon she thought was a figment of her imagination was real and he'd been lying to her.
The bond between a dragon and a phoenix is mighty. You can do this, brother.
Rhyel nodded, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly to ward off the fear, guilt and shame stabbing his heart as he neared Sana. He'd take any anger she threw at him because he deserved it. He just hoped she'd forgive him and he prayed she still wanted to be with him.
"Sana, may I... sit beside you?"
She nodded without uttering a word, keeping her gaze on the waves inching its way up the shore.
His heart sank as he sat beside her in the warm sand and the light from the small plume of fire highlighted the tears glistening on her wet cheeks.
Rhyel ached to wipe her tears and wrap his arms around her to console her, but instead, he clenched his hands in his lap and took another deep breath.
"I'm sorry things happened like this. I never meant for this to hurt you.
" He squeezed his hands tight. "I...I should've told you I was your dragon a long time ago. "
"Yes, you should have, but I know why you didn't," Sana said, wiping her cheeks as she looked over at him and his guilt intensified at the sorrow pooling in her eyes. "And I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have yelled at you or said those things."
"You have nothing to be sorry for. I deserve your anger," Rhyel said, looking down at his hands. "I knew you were a phoenix or at least carried phoenix blood when I came back from my quest. I could've told you everything I knew then, but I didn't think you were ready to hear it."
"And when you found me in my dreams? Why didn't you or Kal tell me the truth?" she said, sniffling. "Was it because Dante told you not to?"
Rhyel shook his head. "No," he whispered. "Kal and Rhys begged me to tell you, but I wasn't ready because I selfishly liked the way you opened up to me as a dragon and I..." He closed his eyes in shame. "I was afraid you wouldn't talk to me that way if I was just... a man."
A whisper of a laugh left Sana's lips. "And did Kal and Rhys tell you, you're a fool?"
She's laughing. This is promising and our Sana is right, we should've called you a fool every time you refused to tell her.
"They're calling me one now and they wished they did it every time I ignored their advice to tell you."
"Good. Because I wanted you to be my dragon, but I never thought it could be possible because I've always been the ungifted Lightbourne, so how could I be blessed to be the phoenix every dragon is born to protect?
" she said, wiping the tears rolling down her cheeks.
"And now that I know the truth about my mother, the kind of phoenix I am, and what my existence means for the realm, I'm not so sure it's a blessing after all. "
"It is, Sana and you are a blessing."
"How can you say that?" She scoffed. "You know my gifts as a Zarathos Erius are going to bring death and destruction to the realm. My father was right," she muttered and the rejection in her voice sent daggers through his heart. "I never should've been born."
"That's not true," Rhyel said, catching a tear rolling down her cheek. "My life would have no true purpose if you weren't born."
"Yes, it would," she mumbled, tightening her grip around her knees. "You're the Lord and Alpha of Darcanos. Your life has and will always have purpose whether I'm in it or not."
Rhyel nodded. "Yes, I'm responsible for the people of Darcanos, but they aren't the purpose for my existence," he said, sitting closer to her. "You are."
Sana frowned, looking up at him. "What do you mean?"
"Do you remember when I told you about my quest?"
"Yes." She nodded.
"Well, I wasn't lying about my purpose being to stay by your side.
What I didn't tell you was that I lived through a future without you.
" He sighed, squeezing his hands together.
"I... I let you go and doomed the realm because I wanted a true mate so badly that I couldn't see that you were the one I should've given my everything to instead of falling for a witch who was sent to turn me away from you.
Even in that future, I knew having a true mate was wrong, but I didn't care. "
Tears pricked the corners of his eyes. "And when your father came to take you away, I didn't know how he treated you. I didn't know he was going to sell you as a servant to House Issian where your life would be taken from you to bring about the darkest creatures from the netherworld."
His hands shook as the memory of that horrid future came to the forefront of his mind. The decisions he made because he couldn't see past the witch's lies, the look of fear on Sana's face when she left and how he ignored it because he thought he found his happiness, but didn't care about hers.
He closed his eyes as tears rolled down his cheeks.
"By the time I realized my mistake and the spell the witch had over me faded, it was too late.
You and everyone I loved, everyone I swore to protect; they were gone.
" He dragged a hand over his face. "And I was left holding your lifeless body.
The one person I should've cared about and I couldn't tell you I was sorry.
" His lip trembled as he hung his head in shame while his emotions from that moment tore at his heart.
"I-I should've gotten to know what made you smile and understood your burdens.
I should've been your friend and I...I never should've let you go.
" He wiped the tears rolling down his face.
"Because you were my blessing and I was yours," he said, daring to look at her and his heart thumped at the light from the fire illuminating her tearful eyes.
"Sana," he reached for her, sliding his hand to her cheek. "I... I."
"It's okay," she whispered, curling her hand around his wrist. "You've said enough."
No. Tell her everything, brother. Do not hold back from our phoenix.
Kal growled.
Tell her the truth.
Rhys snarled.
Rhyel shook his head. "But I haven't," he said, caressing her cheek.
"You need to know that I'm not going to follow the path of that future.
I'm going to do and be whatever you need.
I'll support and guide you to awaken your abilities as a phoenix.
I'll help you find the Zarathos coven and your family, if that's what you wish," he said, wiping the tears rolling down her cheeks.
"But I won't leave you and I won't disregard you. "
Tell her, brother. Tell her why our heart beats for her.
Kal purred as heat and warmth rushed through his veins washing away his fears and worries and leaving the words he'd been doubting and refusing to admit emblazoned like a shining beacon in his mind.
"I can't do that because my heart has followed where my mind has led." He let out a slow breath. "Every part of me, everything I have is yours and no one can take me away from you because I..."
He wrapped his arm around her waist as he gazed into her eyes, losing himself in her glowing violet depths, almost as if her phoenix was calling to him, urging him to speak his truth.
And he could never deny the needs of the one he was meant for. Not in this life.
"Sana, I love you."
A/N: ???????? RHYEL!!!!
WE HAVE A CONFESSION OF LOVE! ?????? And I'm so glad he told her the truth about his quest..
.. I just have no idea how Sana is going to react to this!
Her world is upside down and Rhyel's out here confessing his love for her.
Oh my goodness... I desperately need to know your thoughts on all this!