Chapter 74
Rhyel and Sana feasted, laughed and drank with their friends. Toasting Troya's marriage and singing the songs of the south over trays of succulent roast meat, grilled vegetables and copious rounds of Grensea liquor, the soothing bitter taste of Barshaa beer and honeyed mead.
Their joyous camaraderie bled from the terrace down to the cove where the great fire burned up to the midnight sky.
Rhyel grinned from his perch on the jagged rocks beside Troya and Rivo watching Sana dance with Uma trying desperately to teach Zena how to whine her hips to the rhythmic beats while Kezi and Eula laughed and danced around them.
He was mesmerized by Sana. The way the light of the fire danced across her glowing skin and vibrant hair. She twirled and swayed her hips to the lively beat of the music as if it was made just for her.
Why are we not dancing with our phoenix?
Kal grumbled, baring his fangs as if he were agitated.
Can't you feel her calling to us?
Yes.
A grin curled over Rhyel's lips as Sana glanced his way. Soft gentle nips and licks of heat tingled up his arms, caressed his chest and swirled around his neck as she and Uma twirled and swayed around each other.
But I like watching her and she's having fun with her Ladies right now.
And you are nervous, aren't you, brother?
Rhys snickered.
A little...
A blush burned over Rhyel's cheeks as he took a drink from his glass. It had been a long time since he'd danced in the ways of the Barshaa and Loic didn't give them any lessons on this style because Sana didn't need it and he was certain he remembered enough not to need any lessons either.
But watching Sana now, he wasn't sure his skills could keep up with her sultry prowess.
Nonsense, brother. You have me and my memories.
Kal chuffed.
When I was Kaladin, he and I perfected the dances the Barshaa know today. You have nothing to be nervous about.
"You know," Dante said as he sidled up to Rhyel, grabbing his shoulder and pulling him close. "Watching her is nice, but I promise you, dancing with her would be better," he whispered. "Go on." He squeezed his shoulder. "You'll never have a better time than this."
"Excuse me, my Lord," Inés said, laughing as she slipped her arms around Dante's. "I wasn't done with you. Rhyel will join us when he's ready." She winked at him. "But you owe me another dance."
"Alright, my love." Dante laughed as she dragged him back toward the great fire.
"Come on, Troya," Rivo said, getting up from his perch on the rocks. "I'll be your partner tonight."
Troya nodded, throwing back the rest of the liquor in his glass. "Last time we'll get to be partners like this," he said, jumping down from his perch and wrapping his arm around Rivo's shoulders. "You better not embarrass me."
"On this night celebrating you?" Rivo let out a bark of laughter. "That's exactly what I'm going to do."
"Of course," Troya shook his head before he looked back at Rhyel. "Don't wait too long, cousin. The fire is almost at its peak."
And we will miss our chance to give our heart to Sana in the way of the Barshaa.
Kal growled, thumping his tail in annoyance.
Go to her.
I'm going. Relax, brother. We will dance all night with our Sana.
Rhyel chuckled, finishing the drink in his glass as he followed Rivo and Troya to the crowd of guests dancing around the fire. Loic had finally relieved Sana and Uma of their plight to help Zena find some rhythm.
As he neared Sana, Uma joined Kezi and Eula dancing with a few guards near them and gave him a wink of encouragement.
His heart thumped as the jovial music slowed and deepened to soft sensuous beat. Signaling the beginning of the Sha'ani to anyone who knew and understood its meaning. Sana's eyes caught his as she started to leave the dancing couples around her.
Rhyel slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her close. "Where are you going?" he said, guiding her back toward the fire.
"No where now," she said, looking up at him. "I wasn't sure if you wanted to dance this with me."
Rhyel held her back against his chest as they swayed to the music. "And why wouldn't I?" he murmured against her head, teasing himself with her ambrosial scent.
"Because it's the Sha'ani," she whispered, threading her fingers through his as they moved in sync. "And I've heard this is much more than a dance between lovers."
"It is," he said, twirling her around and pressing her hand over the unmarked patch on his chest. "And you're much more than my lover."
"Am I?" she said, gazing up at him with a heady fire burning behind her eyes.
"Of course, you are," he said, pressing his forehead against hers as they moved around the fire as if they were the only two dancing around its warm, tantalizing heat. "You're my purpose and my reason."
A smile graced Sana's lips as wisps of fire circled around them and danced over their skin as they swayed to the deep beats. "I hope you always feel this strongly for me."
"How could I not?" he said, brushing his lips against her ear. "You're the one my wolf howls for," he whispered. "The phoenix my dragon was born for." He dipped her low, pressing a soft kiss against her neck. "And the one my heart beats for."
Bringing her back up, he slid his hand along her thigh, teasing himself with the feel of her soft gentle curves as he guided her hips, gazing into her glowing violet depths.
"Rhyel," she whispered, sliding her hand into his hair as flames swirled and sparked around them. Sana's dragon's breath purred a gentle hum as if to draw them closer.
The great fire surged to its peak and the light from its flames illuminated the feathers in Sana's hair and gracing her arms.
Speak it now, brother.
Kal breathed as if he'd been holding his breath.
Bind our heart to our phoenix.
"Sana, my Lady." He pressed a kiss against her forehead.
"My phoenix." He kissed her cheek as he snaked his arm around her waist, molding his body around hers.
"My love," he whispered, kissing her softly.
"My heart and my being is yours to do with as you please.
I will not stray from you and I will not control you because I am irrevocably yours for as long as you deem me worthy. "
The flames of the great fire reached up to the heavens and his heart thumped and simmered as wisps of fire sparked and swirled around them.
His eyes grew wide as the flames crawled over Sana's skin, fanning out behind her like the wings of a phoenix.
"My dragon," she said, sliding her hands into his hair.
Her melodic voice and tender caress tingled through his veins, wrapping around his heart like a welcoming chain.
"I've waited so long to hear you say those words to me," she whispered.
Kal let out a thunderous roar, pulling Rhyel into the confines of his mind as his dragon pushed forward to greet his phoenix in a half transformation.
"Ember," he said, lifting her in his arms as the fire dazzled, swirled and sparked around them like a glittering cocoon. "Tell me you accept my heart."
"I do." A smile graced her lips, her glowing eyes grew brighter as she trailed her fingers over his thick horns. "Always and forever, my Kaladin."
Kal tipped his head back, letting out a roar of jubilation as the cocoon burst around them and cheers rose up and swelled in the dazzling display of light.
Kal tangled his claws in Ember's fiery curls and sealed their declaration with a searing kiss before he shot up into the sky, away from the cheering below them.
Ember wrapped her arms around his shoulders, tangling her fingers in his hair. "Kaladin," she purred, dragging her tongue across his lips. "I'm glad you're mine," she whispered as the fire flowing over her, fizzled and seeped into her skin.
Kal pressed a soft kiss against her lips. "So am I."
"My dragon." A smile tugged at her lips as the glow in her eyes faded and drooped. "I've always loved you," she murmured, falling limp in his arms.
Kal cradled her in his arms, brushing his lips against her forehead. "I've always loved you too, Ember," he whispered, before he flew along the shoreline, taking her back to the old deserted cove where his clan and her coven once lived.
Looking down at her, he brushed her golden red hair from her face. He hoped the healing well was still there. Even if it wasn't, he knew how to create it, but she'd need its rejuvenating waters to replenish what little power the great fire aroused in her.
Guilt tugged at his heart. He didn't think she'd react so strongly to the Sha'ani. Then again, he didn't think he would either.
"I'm sorry I took over like that, brother."
It's alright.
Rhyel chuckled, sitting beside Rhys.
You and Ember seemed like you needed a moment.
"Yes." Kal chuffed as he glided along the jagged shoreline. "But look at what we've done. Sana wasn't ready for that and Ember shouldn't have pushed herself so hard to speak to me."
No, but isn't it a good sign that Ember was able to do that? It means they're truly connected and one day, she might be able to shift.
Kal nodded as he landed at the base of a labyrinth of overgrown grass and unkempt flowers flourishing inside the deserted cove.
"She'll be able to shift," he said, flicking his wrist to light up the old sconces on the clay walls of what used to be a vibrant dwelling. "So long as she doesn't push herself like tonight and we take the time to help them merge."
We need to merge as well, brother. How can we help them, if we haven't done the same?
Rhyel crossed his arms and burned a glare into Kal's mind.
And why did you hold back your memories of Ember from me?
"Because I didn't think I'd ever meet her again.
" Kal sighed, scanning the jagged walls of the cove, looking for signs of water trickling into the old dwellings above.
"She wasn't an Erius in our past life and I gave up my love for her because I thought if I'd meet any soul again, it would be Ragna's. "
Finding what he was looking for, Kal used his sash to secure Sana on his back before flying up to the deserted inner cave of a dragon.
"But I should've known," he said, pushing thick cobwebs out of the way and flicking his wrist to light up the old sconces on the smooth clay walls.
"Ember never married and she chose to use her gifts to give birth to another Zarathos Erius. "
Relief washed over him as he walked through the damp and dusty cavern to find a pool glittering from the moonlight pouring in from the carved out hole in the ceiling.
Kal waved a hand over the dwelling, dispersing and dissipating the thick webs and dust as he used a displacement spell to furnish a hollowed out room with a bed filled with plush pillows and soft silken sheets.
"Ember's soul was always going to be born again," he said, untying the sash around his chest and gently lying Sana in the bed.
"And I should've been waiting for her instead of Ragna, who loved me in her own way, but not like this.
" He pressed a hand over her forehead, leaving three of his scales to aid in her rejuvenation before he turned his attention to the pool in the center of the dwelling.
What do you mean? You gave your heart to Ragna the same way.
"Yes," he said, dipping his hand into the water and tasting its potency. "I gave her my heart mostly out of duty and loyalty to her protection. I'm sure you can feel that."
I can, but you loved her too.
"Mm-hm, a dragon's heart is complex." Kal said as he waved a hand over the pool, warming the water.
"When I gave Ragna my heart, I closed myself off to anyone else because like you, I yearned for a true mate and didn't truly see the one who was meant for me all along, regardless if she was my mate or not. "
Rhyel chuckled, patting Rhys head lying in his lap.
I can feel that now too. Well, we have a chance to make up for it in this life.
A smile graced Kal's lips as he carried Sana to the pool. "Yes, we can," he said, cradling her against him as he stepped into the warm iridescent water. "I intend to love her with every fiber of my being as I always should've."
He breathed in Sana's ambrosial scent before he dimmed the glowing fire on the walls and cast a weave of protection over the jagged opening of the cove.
He'd given his loyalty, his heart and his whole self to Ragna, but it didn't feel like this. Binding his heart to Ember and Sana felt like his soul was sure to follow.
Then let's do that.
Rhyel murmured, curling up beside Rhys.
And maybe we'll be lucky in this life. Maybe Sana will be the one to call our soul to her.
"Maybe," he whispered, letting the warmth of the water and Sana's gentle heartbeat lull him to sleep.
Even if she never called his soul, he would be forever grateful that he would know what love truly felt like.
Ember loved him and as long as he, Rhyel and Rhys loved and cared for Sana, she would realize she loved them too.
And that was all that truly mattered.