Touch of Flame

Ravina felt dirty and sticky in the clothes she was in. Five days? The nightmare did feel long, but it often did. She did feel like she had been burning but she often did during her nightmares. The only thing that made her believe she was actually sick was the soreness in her entire body. Every muscle was stiff, every movement fell heavy. Her back felt broken, and her shoulders and neck strained. Her mouth and throat were dry and her stomach, she couldn’t bare to eat more than two bites.

Her hair was sticky and she tried to look and think through the haze. Her eyes and mind were tired. Although she had just woken up, she was sleepy. If Malachi was alright, why was he not here?

He was not alright or did go somewhere?

“Malachi?” She repeated looking at Aaron.

“He is resting,” he said.

She was beginning to lose him and then she felt his hands on her arm as he lay her back down gently. “Why don’t you sleep?” He said covering her now shivering body. She couldn’t protest.

When she opened her eyes again, it was dark in the room but she notices the tall figure standing beside her bed. He was here.

“Malachi?”

He remained still.

She reached her hand out to make sure she wasn’t imagining things again. He hesitantly took her hand. He was warm. She drew him closer.

“Are you alright?” He asked.

His voice. It didn’t sound right.

“Did you heal?”

He was quiet for a moment. “It is Saul,” he told her.

She froze for a moment but she didn’t let go of him.

“Saul?” She tried to discern his face in the darkness. “Where is Malachi?”

“Sleeping.”

She released his arm and pushed herself up. Her body screamed in pain, her back in particular.

“Where are you going?” He asked, his voice stern.

“To see Malachi,” she said standing up.

Her stiff leg muscles made her almost fall when he grasped her. “You can barely walk,” he muttered annoyed.

She remained in his hold until she could feel safe to stand on her own. She took a few wobbly steps, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. She knew where the door was so she went out into the hall and headed toward the stairs. She could feel Saul right behind her even placing a hand on the small of her back when she almost fell backward trying to climb the stairs.

Her muscles relaxed slowly with every step and her speed picked up, even if her heart had a hard time keeping up. She was breathless by this small exercise.

She walked into Malachi’s room, where candles were lit everywhere around his bed where he was sleeping on his back. He was unmoving as if dead. Ravina walked closer with a frown and loomed over him, taking a closer look. His complexion didn’t look alright. She reached to touch his face and forehead to check his temperature. He was cold. Unusual.

Ravina looked over at Saul. “Are you sure he is alright?” She asked.

He folded his arms over his chest, narrowing his eyes. “He is not fine of course. He is almost half dead in this healing process.”

Half-dead?

“He will live?” She whispered.

“Yes. He will.” He said with conviction.

Ravina looked at Malachi again, studying him carefully. She placed a hand on his chest. His heart was beating even if it was slow and he was breathing. Not dead at least. He survived five days.

“Has he been like this the whole time?” She asked.

“Yes. “

“Is it normal?”

“It happens.”

“I need to see his wounds,” she said lifting the covers.

“There are no wounds visible now. He is healing.” Saul said.

He was right as she looked at Malachi’s body. She could see nothing but she dropped the covers when she realized he was completely naked even if she couldn’t see much.

“You should take care of yourself. You could use a bath,” he told her.

Yes, she felt sticky and dirty all over.

“Mara is in the kitchen. You can ask her for help.” He was suddenly being nice to her.

Ravina ignored him and left him with Malachi to get clean. Mara already met her halfway down the stairs and helped her with the rest of what she needed. While helping her bathe, Ravina gathered information from her on all that happened while she was sick. She explained how dragons healed when severely injured to assure her that Malachi would be alright. Ravina was relieved to hear that. She had seen a lot of death, even with her eyes closed. She could take no more.

Darcy? Her heart skipped. She had to go see him too. It almost happened again, just when she allowed herself to love a horse again. She shivered, remembering all the blood. She could still feel Malachi’s warm blood forcing itself through her fingers.

He lived. She breathed.

“You just recovered. You shouldn’t go out after bathing,” Mara told her when Ravina decided to go see Darcy.

“I will be fine,” Ravina assured.

When she stepped outside, Saul was already waiting there. “Where are you going?” He asked watching her like a guard.

“To see Darcy.”

The weather was cold as it was almost dawn. She shivered. He just glared at her and she walked away feeling uncomfortable. He followed her but she said nothing, thinking perhaps he just wanted to keep an eye on her after what happened.

Darcy was sleeping in his stall, and Ravina checked for any injury. No burns. No other injuries. He was physically unharmed.

She looked over at Saul, watching her with a stern look. “I know I brought trouble,” she began.

“Yes, you did. My brother almost died because of you.”

She swallowed the lump in her throat and looked down at her hands.

Saul stepped closer. “You have nothing to say now?” He demanded. “You spoke so wisely just the other day.”

What was the point? Things would end badly either way. Life could end in the blink of an eye. Maybe, they were doomed to this fate.

“It is nothing unusual. It is what every dragon would do for his breedmate,” he said when she kept looking down. “I am sure you know since you came here counting on it.”

She looked up at him.

“But you are no dragon. Why did you stay with him?” He wondered.

“Because I am human,” she replied.

How could she leave him when he fought to save her? Yes, she might have come here counting on it, but it didn’t mean she wanted him to die protecting her. She didn’t want to hurt anyone but she knew she would by staying here.

Saul looked at her carefully. “I am not convinced about you yet,” he said. “I will keep a close eye on you.”

He sounded more accepting than he intended. “Let’s get back inside,” he said and walked away.

She had noticed how much he resembled Malachi but she didn’t realize just how much yet. Perhaps because his demeanor changed slightly and that was the thing that differentiated them the most. Malachi had a calmer aura, with too intense moments and teasing ones in between. Saul was always intense in an angry way, his eyes glowing with disdain. He was also stiffer while Malachi seemed more relaxed and casual.

Ravina followed him back inside and they went upstairs to Malachi again. They sat on the opposite side of the bed, avoiding each other’s gazes. Nako came with a bowl of water and cloth and Ravina watched how tentatively Saul washed his brother, putting his hair back in place, and readjusted him in his bed. She knew when she saw a caring touch, and she was glad he cared as much as she knew Malachi cared about him.