Chapter 77
Aneera felt like a pariah.
She could feel the disdainful looks of the nobles everywhere she went. No one said anything meaningful to her besides a cordial hello, a simple smile in greeting or they'd completely ignored her while they talked around her.
It was as if everyone knew what had transpired in Asterfall and the only reason anyone was being cordial to her was out of respect for Lyra and her family.
She knew Amorette and Marceline were the culprits for all the gossip whispering behind her back. They weren't very subtle about their smug smiles and sinister giggles.
Curling her fingers around the small beaded pouch tied to her waist, Aneera kept a forced smile on her face as Sana laughed and chatted with the nobles around her as if she was meant to be here and she wasn't the servant who used to clean the halls of House Lightbourne.
She snarled at her gorgeous dress of dark blues and oranges. Sana's vibrant locks were braided and twisted into a beautiful coif with her tiara of moon shaped diamonds and rare dragon's breath stones. The former peasant was covered with those gorgeous jewels.
Her heart thumped and ached as she gazed in longing at Rhyel wrapping his arm around her waist and guiding her like a dashing Prince Charming to their seats.
Anger and rage pumped through Aneera's veins as she watched him press a kiss to her cheek while Sana thread her fingers through his.
It was all her fault.
Sana was the real reason she'd become a pariah.
The reason she was soon to be stripped of her title and forced to be a servant to Kieka and Zehev. Everything would've worked like she planned if Sana hadn't cried to Rhyel over those stupid letters. She was the reason Rhyel felt compelled to defend her honor like that.
There was no way he could be in love with Sana. How could anyone love a peasant posing as a noble?
It was wrong.
She was the one who deserved to wear those gorgeous dresses and be showered with priceless jewels. Why couldn't Rhyel see that he wanted her? Why didn't he feel the same yearning she felt for him?
Taking a deep breath, Aneera gripped the pouch at her waist and a sinister smile curled over her lips. She may be a social pariah and Kieka and Zehev's servant, but at least they'd given her a chance to redeem herself and take some revenge for what Sana did to her.
She turned away from the gathering to find her sister.
She wanted to give her her blessing before this wedding turned into a bloodbath and Sana was going to be the reason for all of it.
Rhyel mindlessly rubbed his thumb against Sana's palm as they sat between Zena and Loic and Dante and Inés while they waited for the ceremony to begin.
Besides her heightened anxiety from greeting Sirius, she felt calm now as if she wasn't bothered by being in such close proximity to the home and the people who used to abuse her.
He'd been worried this engagement would do more harm to her than good, but he could also feel the soft licks of the flames of her phoenix as well.
A smile graced his lips as he leaned down to her ear. "Has Ember woken from her slumber?" he whispered.
Sana slid her beautiful violet gaze to him. "Yes and I'm glad she's awake now," she said, curling her fingers around his. "I don't feel so on edge with her calming fire."
Rhyel nodded. "That's good. I'm glad you're feeling more relaxed here," he said, looking away from her to the altar where the officiant stood in his black robes and Troya waited patiently in his teal and gold robes and his thick black locks braided elegantly down his back.
"Is this the kind of ceremony you'd like, my Lady? "
Sana's eyes grew wide and a soft laugh escaped her lips. "I'm not sure," she whispered. "I never thought I was going to get married or have a choice in these matters."
"Well, you have the choice to choose however you'd like for us to get married," he said, bringing her hand to his lips and pressing a soft kiss against her skin.
"It can be as big or as small as you like.
There's only one tradition we have to adhere to for the wolves of Darcanos to recognize our union. "
"And that doesn't need to involve a ceremony, either," Zena said with her brown eyes gleaming with mischief. "You two can decide to adhere to that tradition any time you like."
"It's true," Elalia said, leaning forward from her seat behind them. "My brother and Lady Aloysia were technically wed by Darcanos traditions years before they actually had a ceremony."
"Mm-hm," Dante chuckled, patting a hand on Rhyel's shoulder. "Your grandfather was rather surprised when your mother was pregnant with you before they'd wed as that was not the way of the Barshaas."
"It didn't really matter though, did it?" Ines said, grinning. "All anyone is saying is you two are free to love one another however and whenever you see fit."
Sana slid a hand over her face as if to hide the embarrassment hidden by her brown cheeks. "Thank you all, but I-I'd rather not talk about that right now at Troya's wedding."
Then we shall speak of this with our Sana at some other time.
Kal chuffed and grinned with pride.
When we don't have such a nosy audience.
Maybe in our bed chambers when we return home.
Rhys added, wagging his tale with anticipation.
Our Sana is going to sleep with us from now on, right?
I hope Sana will want to share a bed when we return home, but it will be up to her.
"That's fair enough." Rhyel chuckled, wrapping his arm around her shoulders as he glared at his family and friends beside them. "It wasn't meant to be a group discussion."
"Forgive us, Rhyel. We only meant to add to the conversation," Elalia said, leaning back in her chair. "We just want to see you two happy."
"We are happy, Lady Elalia and I-I thank you for your well-wishes," Sana said, looking back at her. "But I'd just like to enjoy the wedding for now."
"Goodness it's true," Nori huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "You all sound so thirsty for Lady Sana and Lord Rhyel to...to...procreate."
"Well, Lady Nori, it has been a long time since Darcanos has had an heir," Loic said, shrugging. "It'd be nice to see a little one or two running around the castle again."
Rhyel's eyes grew wide as a blush scorched his cheeks from Loic's bold assumption. "I, um." He coughed while Sana groaned in embarrassment and buried her face in his side. "We are not talking about this here or with any of you."
"Yes," Sana murmured. "Please...please stop."
"You two are so adorable," Inés said, laughing. "But alright, the ceremony is about to start anyway."
"I'm so sorry about that," Rhyel whispered, rubbing Sana's shoulder. "I didn't mean for that to happen."
"It's alright. I know everyone is just happy for us," she said, looking up at him and giggling softly. "Ember's quite pleased with the conversation," she whispered.
Of course she is.
Kal chuckled.
I'm sure my Ember has been waiting for the day and honestly, so have I.
"Then maybe we should talk more about this when we get home," Rhyel said, kissing her softly. "If that's what you wish."
The heady look in Sana's eyes made his heart yearn and his groin twitch.
"I think I do, my Lord," she whispered as a soft melody of violins filtered from the orchestra at the back of the seating area signalling Lyra's march down the aisle.
A smile graced Sana's lips as she tore her gaze away from him to her half sister. "She looks beautiful."
Rhyel nodded as they stood from their seats to honor the blushing bride as she walked down the aisle in her dress made of cream silk and golden beads that trailed along the red carpet leading to her husband to be.
Looking away from Lyra, Rhyel glanced at Troya who was grinning from ear to ear with tears pricking the corners of his eyes.
Although Rhyel didn't have anything nice to truly say about the Lightbournes, he couldn't deny that his young cousin was deeply in love with Lyra.
Threading his fingers through Sana's as they took their seats again, he brought her hand to his lips and pressed a soft kiss over her knuckles while they listened to the officiant preside over the union of Troya and Lyra.
He couldn't wait for the day he and Sana would get to confess their love in front of their friends and family and he'd have the honor of referring to her as his wife and his luna.
"I love you, Sana," he whispered against her head.
A smile graced her lips as she leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. He knew it would take time for her to say those words back to him, but he was happy to wait for her because his feelings would never change.
"Troya Barshaa and Lyra Lightbourne, it is with honor and my pleasure that I pronounce you husband and wife," the officiant said, holding his hands above them. "May your union be an unbreakable bond of love, light and fertility. You signify your everlasting union with a kiss."
As Troya and Lyra kissed, sealing their nuptials, a cold sweeping chill ran up Rhyel's spine and soured in his stomach as if something dark and sinister had creeped over the land.
"Rhyel," Sana breathed, digging her nails into his palm. "I-I don't feel right. S-something's wrong."
His heart clenched at the fear in her voice and the sweat beading on her forehead. Before he could wrap his arm around her and whisk her away from the ominous feeling nipping over his skin, a cackling roar erupted from the sands beyond the estate.
Wraiths, brother! Get her out of here!
Kal and Rhys yelled, baring their fangs and claws as screams broke out amongst the guests while black cloaked wraiths burst through the sands in every direction surrounding the estate.
Rhyel grabbed Sana's arm and his heart dropped to his stomach when his hand slipped through the air and landed on her empty chair where she should've been. The only remnants left of her were her dragon's breath jewels and her dagger.
"Sana!" He roared with panic and worry dripping in his voice as he stood amongst the chaos of the wraiths clawing and burning their way through the guests running away from them.
The screams, the fire and the wraiths faded into a blur of red as Rhyel's muscles bulged, his fangs elongated and rage burned through his veins like a flowing river of fire.
A guttural growl erupted from his chest just as a deafening roar erupted through the sky.
Kaladin of Barshaa, you must find the Erius of Zarathos.
A deep husky voice pierced through Rhyel's thoughts.
The darkness craves her blood and she will not survive without you.
Black wings burst from Rhyel's back, black horns protruded from his head and a thick black spiked tail curled out from his backside as he transformed.
It was as if every memory, every thought and vision from his life and Kaladin's life merged into one thought, one memory and one life. There was no beginning and no end to Rhyel and Kaladin. They were one being with one goal and one purpose to protect their phoenix.
Nothing mattered but Sana and nothing would ever matter but her.
Shooting up into the sky, Rhyel took a hefty sniff of the air, smelling for Sana's ambrosial scent.
Catching her faint scent on the wind he bared his fangs and barreled down toward the burning sandstone estate to find Sana while the wings of a white dragon flew above him, spraying fire at the wraiths tearing through the ill-fated wedding.