Chapter 84
There was something liberating about seeing the delicate, soft spoken Lyra have an outburst like that. To see her innocent facade fall away.
She never schemed against Sana or showed any disdain for her, unless she felt the need to keep up appearances for Aneera's sake because she was Lyra's talisman.
She needed Aneera's toxic energy to feed her minor illusion abilities that she used to become a chameleon that could blend in with anyone or any situation.
At least, that was what Sana always believed.
She and Uma could always see through the beautiful angelic veneer everyone saw and believed the poor, poor Lyra just needed to get out from under her sister's shadow so she could shine as brightly as she deserved.
And Sana was prepared to leave everyone with their skewed beliefs of her—not that anyone would've believed her if she tried. She never thought it would harm anyone to see her in that light, especially not Troya, Dante and Inés.
But she supposed her half sister decided her father threatening a ridiculous war—that he'd never follow through with—was enough reason to let her beloved in-laws and the man she'd always loved see her for what she truly was and validate what Sana knew all along.
Lyra was a vicious vulture that fed off Aneera's grudges and hate and used that murky energy to shine in place of it.
And seeing the magic of her illusion peel and fall away from her was both liberating and heartbreaking. The Barshaas genuinely loved Lyra and to see the hurt in their eyes for something they always should've seen or felt for Lyra made her deceit even worse.
Seers weren't perfect. And although Inés, Dante and Troya are proficient with their abilities, it didn't mean their emotions couldn't blind them to what they wanted to see and believe just like everyone around them.
"Sana, are you sure you're alright to do this?" Rhyel said, pulling Sana from her thoughts and back to the carriage taking them to the Lightbourne estate.
She'd been so lost in thought she hadn't realized she'd been gazing out the window at the reddish sands on the dusty road, sparsely lined with the odd puff of green from the gnarly rooted trees.
"We don't have to confront them right now if you're not ready," Rhyel said, wrapping his hand around her clenched ones in her lap. "We can turn this carriage around right now."
Sana's heart clenched as she looked up at his soft caring eyes and the lines of worry marring his forehead.
She knew he was concerned for her, but she didn't want to wait to speak with the Lightbournes.
She didn't need to rest or reset after Lyra's outburst. She was fine and since Aneera's attack on her she refused to be afraid to address what was burning in her heart for a long, long time.
Yes. There's no need to delay it.
Ember seethed, her flame fanning out like wings within her.
You've held your tongue and cowered to them for too long.
"No, I'm ready," Sana said, wrapping her hands around his. "I want to do this. I just..." She sighed, shaking her head. "I feel relieved that Lyra showed her true colors, but my heart hurts for Troya. For his sake, I always kind of hoped he'd never see her like that."
Rhyel nodded, caressing the back of her hand. "I know. I didn't want this for him either, but illusions only last for so long no matter how powerful they are."
"Mm-hm," Vassan murmured from across the carriage in his seat beside Zena.
"But Troya will be fine," he said with a smile gracing his lips and his violet eyes shimmered with joy.
"Now his heart will be open to the one he was truly meant for and this is a good lesson for the proficient seers of Barshaa.
They won't make this mistake again and they will always be your fiercest supporters and protectors.
" He clasped his hands in his lap, the joy shimmering in his eyes morphing into an omnipotent haze as if he was seeing something beyond her.
"And I believe you, my Lady, have strengthened the South's alliance with the North in such an important way. "
"How is that possible?" Sana frowned as a soft laugh escaped her lips. "I don't think I did that much to warrant that."
"No, I think you have," Zena said, grinning as she rested her chin on her fist. "House Lightbourne lies in ruin at the moment, making Barshaa the most powerful House in the South.
Depending on what you decide when you speak with the Lightbournes, it will determine where the power will remain and who the other southern Houses will look to for guidance. "
"In other words." Rhyel brought her hand to his lips with satisfied gleam dancing in his eyes. "You control the fate of the south right now," he said, pressing a soft kiss against her hand. "It's within your gift to dictate their future instead of yours."
An elated trill vibrated through her veins from Ember's joy mixing with Sana's gleeful awareness that for once in her life she had the ability to look down on them like they so often did to her.
A grin curled over her lips. "And that's exactly why I'm ready to do this now." she said, squeezing Rhyel's hand. "I don't want there to be any doubt of where I, our House and our people stand with the Lightbournes and how I expect to be treated by them going forward."
Sana's heart thumped as Zena and Vassan sat up straight as if they were compelled and pressed their fists over their chests with pride shining in their brown and violet depths before bowing their heads to her. "We shall do as you command, my Lady."
"Mm," Rhyel said, curling his fingers under chin, turning her face to his as a soft comforting purr rumbled from his chest and licked over her skin.
"You sound like the Lady of Darcanos ready to take her place as General.
" He dragged his thumb across her bottom lip.
A heady heat and sultry fire burned in his gaze as he leaned in closer, his decadent woodsy scent teased her senses while his warm breath tickled her ear.
"And this Alpha's beautiful and tenacious Luna. "
Sana pulled away from him just enough to see his burning passion for her as she wrapped her fingers around his wrist. "That's because I am ready," she whispered. "And I want to be ready for everything with you."
"As do I," he said, pressing a soft kiss against her lips. Heat licked over her skin at his delicate caress that she was sure was meant to be nothing more than a quick, innocent peck, but his kisses and caresses haven't felt innocent since she was attacked.
And she didn't know how to stop this reaction to him nor did she think she wanted to.
A warm, tingling shiver cascaded down her spine as Rhyel slid his hand to the back of her neck, cradling her head as she slid her tongue across his lips aching to explore his mouth. She wasn't sure when she became this brave, but there was something about him—
"Ahem!" Zena and Vassan feigned a cough, shattering the passionate world Sana and Rhyel were consumed in.
A blushed burned over Sana's cheeks as her eyes snapped open and her senses came rushing back to her. "Oh..." she said, biting her lip as she pulled away from him. "Zena, Vassan, I-I'm so sorry."
Rhyel laughed, wrapping his arm around her waist, keeping her close.
"Don't be sorry. That was my fault," he said, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck.
"I'm well aware of how intense our bond is right now.
It's been a long time since my dragon has felt these effects and I fear that I'm not exactly strong enough to fight against them.
" He looked over at her with shame swirling in his eyes.
"Forgive me, my Lady and forgive me Zena and Vassan. "
"Oh, it's alright." Zena chuckled, waving him off as she laughed. "I'm just not used to seeing you like this, but you two should probably refrain from kissing each other during this meeting."
Sana choked out a laugh, nodding. "Yes, yes of course," she said, sliding a hand over her face. "But I-I don't think there will be any need for us to do that in front of Sirius and Kai."
"Probably not, but the way your souls have been set up," Vassan smirked with a teasing gleam in his eyes.
"You may want to refrain from gazing into each other's eyes for too long or," he said, looking at Rhyel's hand on her waist. "Touching each other in any intimate ways during the meeting too.
Sana can't be distracted by you, Rhyel and you need to showcase your strength as the Alpha of Darcanos beside her. "
Sana nodded, clenching her hands in her lap. Vassan was right. She needed to focus on the task at hand and the mission in front of her.
This was the last piece of her old self she needed to sever in order to be free to become a phoenix and embrace her powers as an Erius.
She couldn't go back to Darcanos until she did this for herself.
And she wouldn't fail.
She refused to.
Smoke billowed up from the scorched sands surrounding the once sprawling and glistening sandstone estate of the Lightbournes.
All that remained of the lands of the prestigious falcons was a makeshift shed in the middle of the crumbled stone.
A sad smile curled over Sana's lips as she stepped out of the carriage and surveyed the ruins of the place she called home for the last twenty-eight years of her life.
In a strange way, she felt relieved to see it in ruins and a sense of self-righteousness washed over her as she gazed out at the overgrown brush at the edge of the estate that miraculously remained untouched by the fires that stretched and seared the sand around it.
It was ironic and poetic that the ruins of her mother's sanctuary still stood tall as if to mock Sirius for destroying it in the first place.
It was as if to say the sanctuary, like her, never belonged to the Lightbournes.
It was Sana's and it always had been since her mother erected the sanctuary for her butterflies.
Although her mother never told her the truth of her lineage and her bloodline, that sanctuary and those butterflies were a piece of her Zarathian heritage.
"Are you alright?"
Sana looked up at Rhyel and nodded. "I'm fine, but before we leave, I'd like to visit the ruins of my mother's sanctuary."
"Of course," he said, sliding his hand to the small of her back. "You can take as much time as you need to say goodbye."
Sana blinked back her sudden onset of tears as she took a deep breath. "Thank you," she whispered before rolling her shoulders and holding her head high in preparation to demand the respect she deserved from those who took her freedom from her.
Once she dealt with Kai and Sirius, she would have the final and proper goodbye she never got the chance to give to her mother and the only place that felt like home to her on this vast estate.
"Lord Rhyel, Lady Sana," the Lightbourne messenger called, walking up to him with his pressed robes of orange and red flowing in the slight breeze.
He kept his brown-eyed gaze on the ground, like a dutiful servant of the Lightbournes, as he held his arm out and gestured to the blackened steps of the crumbled entrance of the house.
"Please follow me. Lord Kai and Lord Sirius are waiting for you in the remnants of the study. "
Rhyel held out his arm for Sana. "Shall we see what it is the Lightbournes want from us, my Lady?"
"Yes, my Lord," she said, placing her hand in the crook of his arm. "Let us adhere to the alliance brokered between our Houses."