Chapter 82
Gazing at his young reincarnated cousin and his old reincarnated friend, Vassan couldn't believe how much they looked like Ember and Kaladin and his heart was full that they finally found the love they'd always been looking for in each other.
It broke his heart that they never confessed to each other back then, but it was comforting to him that they found each other again in another life.
"I'm so sorry I never thought to look for you, Lady Sana or knew that your mother had appeared in Barshaa," Vassan said, reaching across the table to take her hand.
"I gave up hope that any Zarathians had survived the great war and I.
..I hid away in the caves of Qadim for such a long time.
" A tear rolled down his cheek and he laughed, wiping it away.
"I'm sorry. I seem to be a bit emotional seeing you. "
A smile tugged at Sana's lips as she slid her hand over his.
"It's alright, Lord Vassan. I'm sure it wasn't easy for you to be alone for so long and I'm so happy to know we're kin," she said, squeezing his hand in a warm comforting gesture.
"But can I...I ask how we're related and how you survived all this time? "
Vassan nodded. "Of course you can," he said, leaning back in his chair as he took a drink of the iced lemon zest tea.
"My father was Matriarch Eridesce's brother and he was the true mate of a dragon from the Qadim clan.
" A smile graced his lips as he dragged a hand over his hair.
"That's how I received my impeccable looks and how I've lived for so many centuries. "
"So, the offspring of a dragon and a phoenix is blessed or cursed with long life?" Rhyel said, wrapping his arm around Sana's shoulders.
"No." Vassan shook his head. "Dragons and phoenixes are naturally blessed with long lives, but the great war seemed to stunt that when the basdringas went on a frenzy feasting on phoenixes and dragons lost their will to live," he said, nodding to the palace behind them.
"And they became seers with a limited lifespan like the Barshaas and Lady Ines' kin, the Kelra clan. "
"If that's the case." Rhyel frowned. "Then how did I end up with Kaladin's soul?"
"Because Sana ended up with Ember's soul," he said, grinning.
"You were always a bit daft, my friend. You thought you were meant for Ragna because she was the Erius at the time and you happened to be the strongest dragon of the Barshaas appointed to protect her, but you never saw who was right in front of you the whole time.
" He chuckled. "I'm sure you two have been just missing each other throughout your many lives and the fates are finally in your favor in this life. "
Sana's eyes grew wide as she looked up at Rhyel. "Are you saying that we're...we're true mates?"
Vassan tiled his head to the side, gazing at them with a smile tugging at his lips.
They were exactly the same in this life.
Constantly questioning their feelings, although Rhyel seemed more sure of Sana than she did of him.
Well, he wouldn't let them misjudge their feelings in this life.
From what Lord Dante told him of the vision he saw of the future of Tsidia, there was no time for them to have the horrid miscommunications they suffered in their past lives.
The weight of the realm was going to rest on their shoulders and they were going to need their bond to be as strong as it could be whether they were true mates or not.
"I don't know, my dear, but it doesn't matter if you are or not," he said, threading his fingers together.
"All that matters is that you have a strong bond as a dragon and a phoenix.
You're going to need that when the darkness comes.
" He sighed. "You are the Erius of Zarathos, Sana, and to the basdringas, you have the most precious and delicious blood of all the phoenix covens. "
"That's what the basdringa said in my dream," Sana whispered.
"What do you mean you dreamt of a basdringa?"
Vassan and Rhyel looked at each other with worry and panic swirling in their eyes.
Kaladin's memories must be ringing like alarm bells in Rhyel's mind just as Vassan's memories of the day his mother and the Erius phoenix she was appointed to protect were kidnapped by the swarm of basdringas from House Issian.
The swarm of winged beasts who murdered his clan and the black winged Yezny coven.
The Erius, Kiana, had been dreaming of the winged beasts before they attacked and it was too late before they learned why.
A spy from House Issian had infiltrated House Qadim as a servant and stole Kiana's blood and gave it to Lord Zevran to feed his basdringa.
That's when those horrid creatures learned of the delicious power of the Erius, but when Lord Zevran tasted Ragna's blood, the taste of the Zarathos became an obsession for them.
"After I was attacked," Sana said, clenching her hands in her lap. "I dreamed of a basdringa. It...it was eating so many phoenixes and then Aneera said I'd be next."
"It's alright, Sana," Rhyel said, placing his hand over hers. "But did you... did you manage to get away from it?"
She nodded. "I did. I...I sang this song. I'm not sure of the words." She frowned. "But it made the basdringa burn from the inside out."
Vassan let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.
"Thank the Gods," he said, pressing a hand over his heart.
"You sang the song of the never ending flame.
It was a song our coven crafted at the beginning of the great war to aid the other phoenix covens who were being infiltrated by House Issian's spies. "
"What else happened in the dream, Sana?" Rhyel said with worry never leaving his eyes or the aura around him.
Vassan frowned at Rhyel. What did he remember of the great war and the basdringas that he didn't?
Sana looked up at Rhyel and the fear that swirled in her gaze seemed to hang over them like a darkened cloud.
"It... it said." She gulped, closing her eyes.
"This isn't over. I will find you, Sana Zarathos.
" Heaving a deep breath she opened her eyes, piercing Rhyel with a determined gaze as if a burning flame ignited behind her eyes.
"That's why I told you I want to protect myself.
I don't want to be powerless and weak like I was against Aneera.
I need to be able to fight the basdringas or anything that threatens me or you, our people or the realm. "
A proud grin tugged at Vassan's lips as he gazed at his reincarnated cousin.
She was the same fiery soul he'd always remembered and that brought comfort to his heart.
She would be fine in this life, but he wouldn't let her sacrifice herself like she did before.
He turned his gaze from Sana to Rhyel who held the same prideful gleam in his eyes for his lover.
He wouldn't let either of them sacrifice themselves to save the realm like they did in the past. He was certain that was the reason he couldn't find solace in death.
The Gods wouldn't allow him to leave this world because of them.
He didn't realize he'd been waiting for their souls to reappear until he felt their essence and their power a few days ago.
"I know that's what you want, Sana and I promise I'll help you become the warrior you want to be, but that dream. The fact that the basdringa knew your name," Rhyel said as the pride in his eyes morphed into that of a grim worry. "It means it has your blood."
"What?" Sana's eyes grew wide and the flame burning behind her gaze winked out as panic replaced it. "H-how could that thing have my blood?"
"I can't be certain and I haven't been confident about my assumptions." Rhyel sighed. "But I believe Aneera took your blood and I think Lady Kieka and Lord Zehev were behind the attack at the wedding."
Vassan nodded as a snarl curled over his lips.
"When in doubt, it is always best to assume House Issian is behind attacks of this nature," he said, shaking his head.
"And you're right about the basdringa in Sana's dream.
It wouldn't have known your name if it hadn't tasted your blood and we don't know how much of your blood was taken to feed it. "
Sana frowned, looking between Vassan and Rhyel. "Will I have a connection to it if it has more of my blood? Will I keep dreaming of it?"
"I'm not sure," Rhyel said, dragging a hand through his hair.
"My knowledge is limited because Ragna was with the Poccanam coven when she was attacked by a basdringa.
The only reason I know any of this is because she used to send me letters and sometimes she'd mention her strange dreams of the winged beasts.
" Rhyel looked away from her, hanging his head in shame.
"I only made the connection that it had her blood when it was too late to do anything to save her. "
Sana slid her fingers under his chin, lifting her face to hers and that burning flame of determination swirled in her violet eyes again.
"That doesn't have to happen in this life, Rhyel," she said, pressing her hand over his heart.
"I know you won't fail me and I promise not to be so na?ve or ignorant to tell you what's happening in my nightmares or what I see in my dreams," she said, pressing her forehead against his.
"I know we can do this and protect the realm as long as we're together. "
"My Lady, my songbird," Rhyel said, wrapping his hand around her fingers resting over his heart as he slid his other hand to her cheek. "There's nothing that could ever take me away from you in this life."
A blushed burned over Vassan's cheeks at their intimate embrace and the heat emanating from their entwined auras.
It was hard to believe they'd only just solidified their bond between their hearts.
Their connection in this life seemed far more prominent than he'd witnessed before.
That was a good thing but it was quite overwhelming to witness.
Clearing his throat, Vassan chuckled, looking away from them. "Should I give you two a moment?" he said, fanning himself as he took a drink of the chilled tea.
"Oh, Vassan, no," Sana said, laughing as she bit her lip. "I'm not sure what came over us. I'm so sorry."
"Never apologize for what you two share," Vassan said, shaking his head. "I'm only teasing you and I'm glad you two are so close. It's not going to be easy for you and you're going to need to lean on each other's strength to face the darkness that's coming."
"Thank you, Vassan," Rhyel said, wrapping his arm around Sana's shoulders. "I hope this means you plan to help us and stay by Sana's side too?"
Guilt slithered around Vassan's heart reading Rhyel's underlying meaning in the bite lacing his voice.
"Of course." He nodded, swirling the amber colored tea in his glass.
"Like you, I made the mistake of leaving a prominent phoenix unprotected when I had no reason other than to feed my ego," he said as the memories of the great war flashed behind his eyes.
He was supposed to lead the last remaining Zarathians to safety in the north and protect the Erius Ember gave birth to, but he left them to fend for themselves because he wanted revenge for his parents and Kiana.
He couldn't see past his mistake until it was too late and he lost everyone.
He searched the lands of the beyond for his coven, but he never found them.
Ember, Kaladin and many of the Barshaa dragons perished or dispersed throughout the realm to help rebuild and search for the Zarathians.
He was so racked with guilt that he went back to the ruins of Qadim and hid himself away. Ignoring the world and what the realm had become, hoping death would find him.
But it never did.
And now that Kaladin and Ember's souls have been rebirthed, he was so glad death hadn't found him or else he never would've been able to right his wrongs and redeem himself for failing his coven and his clan.
Standing as he pressed his fist over his chest, Vassan bowed to them.
"Lord Rhyel, Lady Sana, you have my word and my honor that I will do everything in my power to help you defeat the darkness threatening the realm.
I will follow you wherever you may go, but Lord Rhyel, you must know that my first priority will always be the protection of Erius Sana and any children you may have. "
"Lord Vassan, please raise your head," Sana said as he looked up at her and his heart thumped as she reached across the table and took his hands while Rhyel stood beside her with pride swirling around his aura.
"I accept your vow of protection, but please know that I want you to stay with us because you're the only blood relative I have and I. ..I hope we can truly become family."
Tears pricked the corners of Vassan's eyes as he nodded. "I would love nothing more than that, my Lady."
"And I would love nothing more than to have your aid, Vassan," Rhyel said, clasping his hand on his shoulder. "Kaladin and I may have merged, but being a dragon is still fairly new to me and I wouldn't mind your guidance."
A smile spread across Vassan's lips as he chuckled. "Of course. You haven't changed much, my old friend. I was always the superior dragon."
Rhyel let out a bark of laughter, patting his shoulder. "Only because you've got that Zarathian blood running through your veins."
"It's true," Vassan said and frowned as he eyed General Zena nearing the veranda with a sullen look on her face. "I believe your General has come to speak with us and it doesn't look like it's anything good."
"That's because it's not," Zena said, sighing as she gave them a slight bow.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your meeting, but Lord Kai and Lord Sirius have sent a messenger requesting your audience immediately.
" She shook her head, clenching her fists at her side.
"They said if you and Lady Sana don't respond, they will officially blame House Darcanos for the attack on House Lightbourne. "
Anger pooled in Zena's golden brown eyes and a snarl curled over her lips as if her wolf was eager to jump out of her bones.
"And implore their allies to wage war against Barshaa and Darcanos."