Touch of Flame

Ravina returned to her room with a tray of food just when Nazneen stepped out of the tub. She avoided looking to not make her uncomfortable, despite wanting to look. Even as a woman she was mesmerized.

She put the tray on the table as Nazneen began to dry herself with the towel. Ravina had prepared for her clean clothes that she put on the bed. As she reached for them, “I am so hungry.” She said.

Ravina smiled. “I hope you like grilled chicken.”

“Oh, I can already smell it. I love all food.” She began to get dressed and now Ravina watched her from the side. As she began to tie the straps at the back, Ravina went forward to offer her help.

Nazneen was very comfortable in everything she did and didn’t seem to mind anything. It put a normally uncomfortable person like her at ease.

“So when will you become queen?” She asked.

“I don’t know,” Ravina replied.

“Are people not so welcoming?”

“It is a mixture.” She admitted.

Ravina heard her sigh. Maybe she was thinking of Ares.

“How did you end up here?”

Oh no. Ravina grimaced. “I… escaped my home with Malachi.”

“You did it willingly?” She seemed surprised.

“Yes,” not entirely but it didn’t matter. “What about you?” She asked steering the conversation away from herself. “You found your breedmate. How does it feel?”

She was done tying the last straps and Nazneen pushed her hair back when done. “It felt awful at first…” she began walking to the table. Ravina followed her and they sat down. She began to pour lemon juice into her cup as she listened. “I hated it but…”

But?

“He is difficult to dislike,” she smiled. “Even a little.”

Ravina stared at her as she casually picked up her cup. Nazneen had an air of superiority and didn’t thank her once. Ravina thought it was perhaps an act of the injustice done against her. She had a right to be angry.

“Will you make him king?”

Nazneen chuckled. “Will your King allow me to become queen?” There was a mocking lilt in her voice.

Ravina didn’t smile. “Time will tell.”

Nazneen paused eating and looked at her curiously. “You have that same… aura.” She began. “As my breedmate. I wonder if it is a human breedmate thing.” She became thoughtful.

Human breedmate thing or dragon tamer thing? Could be both but she never compared herself to Ares before. They did have similar interests and the same mission but their personalities were still vastly different.

Finishing her food quickly, Nazneen suggested they go back. Just like Malachi didn’t trust her, she didn’t trust him with Ares. Ravina could only hope they stayed civil so far.

***

Malachi tried to keep his mask on but he hated this man’s guts. So this was what Ravina liked? He watched him casually walking around with his wine goblet and looking at the paintings that hung on their walls. Aaron came to his side.

“Is he the one?” He whispered.

Malachi hated to say it. “Yes.”

“Hmm… I can see why.” He smiled. “He is brave.”

“He is foolish.”

“Don’t let him agitate you,” Aaron advised. “He seems to thrive in it.”

He was definitely enjoying it. Even now he glanced their way with a knowing smile. If not for Ravina, Malachi would have taught him a few things.

“Who painted these?” He asked.

Oh, now he wanted to have a normal conversation?

“I did,” Malachi replied.

He nodded looking impressed. “You have a talent.”

“So do you. I have not seen someone so good at being reckless.”

Ares chuckled. “I remember someone allowing himself to get caught by the enemy.” He turned away from the painting to look at him. “You need better advisers or better planning skills.”

Arrogant.

“Your plan could fail with a breath.”

“I don’t know why you assume my plan is to leave this place alive.”

“Is it not?”

His eyes narrowed with seriousness. “Some things are worth dying for.”

“I am not sure if recklessness is worth dying for,” Malachi raised a brow.

“Better than to die a coward.”

Was he calling him a coward?

He went to stare at the next painting when Ravina and Nazneen came back. Nazneen had bathed and changed into new clothes. Malachi wondered if she said anything about them to Ravina. He didn’t need more complication than the man who came here and confused Ravina.

He was happy in the beginning to see him come for another woman. He felt as if luck was on his side until he sensed Ravina’s uneasiness and saw the pain in her eyes. How could he be happy about it when she felt that way? He could also see the same emotion in Ares’ eyes. They were closer than he thought and he really tried to understand what she liked about him.

Remembering that the man was dying, he calmed down. He couldn’t be angry about a dying man. That was already bad for both and Ravina had been in turmoil about it. Malachi wondered what illness the man had. He hadn’t asked Ravina. Nothing about him looked or smelled like sickness.

Nazneen left Ravina’s side and went to Ares who met her halfway while Ravina came to stand beside him.

“Am I cleared of the accusations now, King Malachi?” Nazneen asked.

“You are. But you will need to stay here if you want your rightful place back.” As much as he didn’t want them here, he needed to find the person behind the attack.

Nazneen tried to keep her calm and he could see Ares’ arm reaching behind her, probably gesturing for her to stay calm. The poor man had a lot to deal with. Oh, how he was happy for him.

“You would come back to do the tournament for the throne anyway and you are hiding in the temples now. This will be a safe place until the tournament.”

Ares stepped forward with a frown. “Are you saying she will have to fight for the throne?”

“That is how we do it.”

“Not if the bloodline is clear from what I have understood. It is her rightful place.”

The man seemed to have studied.

“It will be best for her to do it that way since she has been gone for so long and people won’t easily accept her back. Going through the formal steps will ensure she takes her rightful place without issues.”

“I don’t know fully how your anatomy works but she has been locked for a hundred years. I think that puts her at a physical disadvantage and she is supposed to fight men too?” Ares said in her defense.

“You are right, but she is also a Katharos. That puts her at a physical advantage above men and women who are not. That is why the tournaments exist.”

Ares wasn’t satisfied with his answer. Not because he found something wrong with it. He didn’t trust it would be a fair fight and it wouldn’t. Nazneen knew the rules so she was already accepting. She squeezed Ares’ arm and gave him a reassuring nod before turning to back to him.

“If I win, then I get my rightful place.”

“That is the outcome.” He replied.

She nodded slowly.

“Rukes will show you to the guest house,” he motioned for them to follow the guard. He had already sent one with Ankine when she left. He would keep an eye on those priests as well.

Ares and Nazneen followed the guard out of the room. Malachi could hear Nazneen scolding Ares. “Why did you come here? Do you wish to die?”

“I am immortal,” he joked.

Interesting joke.

Saul rose hastily from his seat. “So now we won’t only have a human queen but also a human king. Well done brother. More problems.” He muttered but not with hostility as he used to.

He said it more in annoyance. Understandably, since they would have a lot more to deal with but it would be helpful in the long run. If they had more humans in their community, the dragons would be more accepting.

“He looks like he could be a king for the dragons,” Aaron argued.

“Who cares about a crown when you have that woman? Did you see her?” Joel asked.

Ugh. Joel and women.

“Don’t worry. You can try your luck when I kill him.” Saul said, who had been holding back the whole time.

“Oh. I can fight a man, but I can’t fight a woman who lost her breedmate.” He shook his head. “She will tear your eyes out with her nails. Don’t want to lose my eyes when they have just been blessed.”

Ravina smiled at his silliness.

“I want the front row in the tournament.” He added. “And don’t worry Saul. Many men will want him dead when they see him with her.”

“Alright, leave now!” Malachi ordered. He was already tired of all the talk.

His brothers left still talking and joking about Ares and Nazneen. Malachi turned to Ravina. “Are you alright?”

She nodded with a faint smile. “Yes.”

They looked at each other in silence for a moment. “It was very nice of you to help her,” he said.

He knew it wasn’t an easy situation. If he wanted to punch Ares, then she was probably not very excited about Nazneen.

She just smiled, rubbing her hands together. He wondered what went through her mind with everything that just happened.

“How is he sick?” He asked softly.

Ravina’s eyes woke up and she looked from side to side, her eyebrows slowly furrowing. “I don’t… know.”