The Burning of Sana Lightbourne

Chapter 80

Landing on the steps of Barshaa palace, Rhyel didn't have much time to process Vassan's lineage to Sana or how he knew the dragon who claimed to be his friend before Dante ushered them inside taking them to the bathhouse where Inés prepared a pool filled with witch hazel and lavender and Troya lit bowls of sage around the room while Lyra shook and cried in the corner.

"I don't know how we didn't see this coming," Inés said, shaking her head as tears pooled in her eyes. "We weren't that blinded by the wedding that we couldn't see, were we?"

"No, you weren't," Rhyel said, waving a glowing hand over Sana replacing her tattered dress with a loose lavender nightgown before slipping into the milky, herb-infused waters. "We will find who did this, but right now all that matters is Sana's recovery. She and her phoenix are very weak."

"Whoever did this used a very intricate spell to block your visions from seeing what was coming," Vassan said, walking around the perimeter of the tiled cavern and sealing the windows and doors with an intricate weave of protection. "I've only seen this happen once in my lifetime." He cut his violet eyes at Lyra sniffling in the corner. "Are you sure you can trust your new daughter-in-law, Barshaas?"

"Yes." Troya seethed, helping Lyra up from the floor and holding her close. "She had nothing to do with this."

"Mm, but she does hold ill will toward my kin," Vassan said, growling and baring his fangs. "I can smell it all over her. Why is she here?"

"I want to know the same." A growl erupted from Rhyel as he held Sana close. "Why is she here?"

"Because she's my wife!" Troya said with his gray eyes sparking in anger as he pulled Lyra behind him. "It's not her fault this happened and we're forgoing our wedding night to help in any way we can. It wasn't right what happened tonight." He pointed a finger at Vassan. "We don't even know who you are! For all we know you're the one who conjured the wraiths."

Vassan's muscles bulged as his eyes darkened to indigo. "I would never," he said, snarling. "But your wife and the family she comes from certainly would."

"Lord Vassan, calm yourself," Dante said, holding up his arms and stepping between the elderly dragon and his son. "There's no need for us to fight amongst ourselves. Lyra isn't to blame for what happened tonight."

"No, I'm not, but Lord Vassan is right," Lyra said, stepping out from behind Troya and wiping the tears staining her cheeks. "I never wanted anything to happen to Sana and I'm...I'm so very sorry for all of this, Lord Rhyel." She bowed her head. "I-I knew Aneera was planning to do something to Sana at our wedding because...she...she thinks she's a monster who killed our mother and she wants to take Sana's place as your betrothed."

"Lyra..." Troya said, frowning as hurt filled his eyes. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because...I-I didn't think she'd do something like this. I didn't think she'd hurt Sana like that," Lyra said, wringing her hands. "Aneera isn't violent like this. She doesn't like getting her hands dirty."

"She certainly proved you wrong tonight, didn't she?" Vassan scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "But she wasn't working alone."

"No, she wasn't." Rhyel sighed, brushing the curls from Sana's face. "She wasn't the mastermind behind this attack."

"No," Vassan said, dragging a hand through his hair. "The amount of basilisk amulets and the number of wraiths that were conjured tonight could've only come from one place."

"House Issian," Inés said, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I know they're the obvious culprit, but something about this doesn't make sense. Lord Zehev and Lady Kieka looked just as shocked and terrified as everyone else when the wraiths tore through the ceremony."