The Burning of Sana Lightbourne

Chapter 64

Sana laid awake listening to Rhyel's soft breaths and the gentle beat of his heart as she gazed up at the glass ceiling. The stars were fading in the early morning sky and there was a small hue of red tinting the periwinkle sky. An indication that the woodlands of Asterfall bordered the desert plains of the south and a reminder that soon, she'd be returning to her homeland.

Sighing as she looked over at Rhyel and traced a finger over the swoop and curl of a marking over his tanned skin peeking out from his loose fitting tunic. She thought she'd be more worried knowing the next event of the festive season was Lyra's wedding at House Lightbourne, but since they left Grensea, she'd become accustomed to sharing a bed with Rhyel during their travels touring the smaller Houses on the coast of the western region and since that final game, they've become nearly inseparable that he felt like... home.

As if nothing could harm, hurt or break her because he was hers.

She'd never forget the way his eyes glowed in a kaleidoscope of blue, gold and a sliver of red when she found him and the way he kissed her, it felt like he was staking his claim on her for the realm to see.

A soft melodic trill whispered through her mind and a warm tingle swept down her spine at the memory.

Voice, is that you? Have you come back?

Sana called out to the fading trill, but the voice never answered her.

Not since that day.

And sometimes she wondered if she imagined it, just like she created Rhen in her mind.

Sighing as she gazed up at the stars again. Rhen was convinced the voice in her mind was her latent ability manifesting itself as her inner voice and he was adamant that the way she commanded the fire against her father wasn't just an illusion.

Her imaginary dragon believed she could truly wield fire and when he said that, she knew it had to be an illusion because she wanted so desperately to believe that she was more than the ungifted Lightbourne. That she could prove her father wrong and show him she was worth more than he thought.

"What's wrong?" Rhyel murmured, wrapping his fingers around her hand resting over his chest. "You've been staring at the ceiling for quite some time."

Sana laughed softly, curling her fingers around his. "And how do you know?" she said, looking up at his half closed lids. "You've been sleeping."

"Mm, not deep enough that I can't sense your restlessness," he said, massaging the back of her neck. "What's troubling you, my Lady?"

That was another thing Rhyel started doing more often, too. Sensing her emotions. He claimed it was a side effect of his wolf going a bit mad when he thought she was drowning, but she didn't understand how that moment would cause him to become intune with her feelings.

"Sana," he murmured, bringing her hand to his lips. "Tell me what's on your mind."

She sighed. "I keep thinking about my inner voice and why I haven't heard her since we were in Grensea."

"Maybe she only manifests when you truly need her," Rhyel said, caressing the back of her hand. "When we get back to Darcanos, Zena and I can teach you how to meditate to reach your inner voice."

Sana's heart thumped in excitement as she leaned up to gaze into his sleepy depths. "Really? You can do that?"

"Of course." He chuckled, tucking a curl that escaped from her bonnet behind her ear. "That's how we learn to speak and connect to our wolves."

"Oh," she said with her heart sinking. "But my voice isn't connected to another being like your wolf. Would that even work?"

"I don't see why it wouldn't," he said, caressing her cheek. "And what if your voice is connected to another being?"