Touch of Flame

"Will Nazneen be alright? She has her tournament tomorrow." Ravina said as they ate dinner.

Malachi wondered too. He wasn't fond of the other families and didn't look forward to their complaints, so he needed Nazneen to win. This came at the wrong time. He shouldn't have sent Joel.

"I will go talk to her later."

Ravina nodded. "Why did Ares even go there?" She wondered.

"He must have been desperate for answers." Malachi shrugged also finding it surprising that the man agreed to go with his brother, but if he was looking for his parents, then it made sense.

"What happened to his parents?" Malachi asked, looking for clues.

Ravina shrugged. "He never knew his parents. He grew up an orphan."

An orphan?

"I wonder what he saw. I wouldn't believe it."

"Why not?"

"I have been thinking... if my sister is as shown in the mirror. happy and safe somewhere with humans, why wouldn't she look for me? It doesn't make sense."

The witch said her sister was on the opposing side. He remembered the day he went looking for her at the ship. "I went looking for your sister once." He began. He had wanted to tell her so as to not get her hopes up in case he couldn't find her. Until now, he couldn't find more information.

Ravina looked up at him surprised. "When?"

"When I came home that night, injured."

"The bullets?"

"Yes."

She blinked. "Why did you not tell me?"

"I didn't want you to worry."

She looked at him in a way he couldn't understand.

"Those on the ship, seemed to know your sister but they had weapons to fight dragons and... later they were rescued by dragons."

Ravina frowned. "They had weapons?"

"Yes. Now that I think of it, perhaps I should ask Ares."

She nodded slowly. "What about the dragons? Why would they rescue them."

"I am confused about that too."

They were silent for a moment, both thinking when he remembered the half-breed.

"The half-breed..." she said stealing the words right out of his mouth. "Ares said he makes weapons. Could it be?"

He had the same thought. "We shall see what Ares has to say."

Malachi didn't want her to get her hopes up too much and then get hurt. He would rather it be a good surprise and he hoped for good news this time.

Her eyes lit up. "I might find her this time." He could see them glistening with tears. He really hoped they would or he could see the pain coming from this.

After dinner, he went to see Nazneen. There was no one in the guest so he guessed she must have gone looking for him. He sat outside and decided to wait for a while. He could see her flying from afar and then she landed on the porch.

Since she was alone, she didn't find him. "What are you doing here?" She asked.

He stood up. "I know you are worried but you have your tournament tomorrow."

She sighed. "I am not worried about that."

"You should. The families are coming here earlier to meet me. Probably to complain about how you are not an eligible contender."

"Of course. I am the crazy princess who was cursed."

"Yes. So you have to prove yourself and I am sure Ares needs some time alone. He should be back when he is ready."

She walked closer to him with arms crossed over her chest. "What if he doesn't?" She almost whispered.

"Why would he not?"

She looked away as if not wanting to answer that.

"He doesn't seem like the type to run away," Malachi said although he wasn't sure. He didn't know the man. Hopefully, he would understand that this is important for Nazneen and return before the tournament.

"Make sure to get some sleep," Malachi told her.

Leaving her behind, he went back home. When he arrived at the hall, he paused thinking of where he should go. He watched the way to Ravina's room and then looked up the stairs to his room. It would be better if he went back to his room. He had enough torture today.

He relaxed in his bed only for a moment, but the rest of the night, both awake and in his dreams, he was haunted by her scent. The taste of her lips, the feel of her skin, and the sound of her moans caused him pure pain.

Malachi woke up half-rested, his body in need of a cold bath. As he sat up in his bed, the cause of his torment arrived at his room. His heart stopped for a moment as her scent burned through his nose.

God! He just woke up. This was getting more intense. He would need to be in chains again once she reached those days when her scent would be unbearable but he forgot about that for a moment as he watched her walk in with a tray.

It was not only the scent. She looked heavenly. She had bathed and wore her damp hair down over her bare shoulders. Her purple top clung to her small breasts and her body was only adorned with a bracelet around her arm and one on her wrist. Her cheeks were flushed.

He wasn't sure if it was the period she was in or if she was getting more beautiful because she was getting healthier. Maybe both. Her skin was more radiant and the darkness under her eyes was gone. Even her lips were a brighter pink.

"Good morning," she smiled.

And she smiled.

"Good morning." His voice was still rough and he ran his fingers through his hair to put the strands back in place.

"I thought I would serve you breakfast in bed."

How about serving yourself in bed?

"Lovely," he said but his eyes were glued on her.

She put the small bed table in bed between them as she sat down. "Did you sleep well?" She asked as she poured him some coffee.

"Yes," he lied.

She looked up and smiled as if knowing he didn't. Was it evident? His skin never betrayed him.

Ravina put the cup of coffee in front of him. She had that astute look again that reminded him of their first days together here. "I have a question." She began.

"Hmm..." he picked up his cup to sip his coffee.

"What does arousal smell like?"

Not expecting her question, he almost choked on his drink.

"Why do you ask?" He coughed.

"Why are you surprised? You said it was normal here. "

"It is. I just..." he paused, recalling how bold she was with him while he was in chains.

"Just?" She raised a brow.

"I have nothing to compare the smell to but you just know it."

She frowned. "If I was a dragon, would I smell yours?"

He chuckled. "Yes." Not that she would need to smell him to know.

"Hmm..." she said as she picked up a piece of bread. What was going through her mind?

"Did you sleep well?" He asked.

Her cheeks slowly flushed a brighter pink and her gaze faltered, but she managed to keep her voice steady when she replied. "Yes."

He nodded, knowing she had been having her own memories of the previous day. "Well, I need a cold bath. Maybe you can help me renew my skin."