Touch of Flame

After Nazneen left with Malachi, Ares returned to the sea looking for the strange woman. She had spoken inside his head. He could still not believe it. He had heard her voice clearly.

He looked around for her, seeking answers. How could she talk to him? What was she warning him about, and what did she mean when she told him he needed to learn his abilities?

“Are you looking for me?” Her voice suddenly came from behind him.

He turned back, and she came closer, her steps barely making a sound.

“Where did your female go?” She asked.

“Home. You could speak in my head.” He pointed.

“Of course. How do you think we communicate beneath the waves?”

Right…

“Do you know me?”

She tilted her head. “Not really.”

“Then why are you helping me?”

She sighed looking bored. “I was hungry so I sang to attract food but you came instead. I was confused but then I understood that you are half-human.” She chuckled, amused. “That was why. I mean… you could still be food but, you seemed badly injured. I thought the dragons hurt you, but the female kept calling your name and there was a suspicious man following her.”

She shrugged as if that would be an explanation enough. “How did you get hurt?”

“It was dragons.” He said. “Just not these ones.”

She nodded.

“What abilities were you talking about?”

“The ones that could get you in trouble but also save you. For example, calling for food when you need it.” She said.

“I can do that?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“Just whistle or sing.” She whistled a calming hypnotic sound and then stopped. “You can also manipulate minds. That will be your most powerful tool.”

Manipulate minds?

“And… how do I do that?”

“Use your eyes and your voice. The magnetic pull is in them. You will just have to practice to know.” She said. “Do you want my help to find food?”

Nazneen flashed through his mind. “No.” He said.

She smiled. “Dragon blood doesn’t taste nearly as good as human blood. Otherwise, we would have all chosen dragons to have an endless supply of blood.”

He had nothing to say to that. He couldn’t compare both since he only had dragon blood.

“I’ll be on my way then to find food for myself.” She said and walked away.

“Wait! What is your name?”

She looked back at him. “Aletta.”

“Can I meet you again, Aletta?” He asked. He still had things to learn about himself.

“Maybe. I don’t want to deal with a jealous dragon female.” She said and then with a mysterious look, she went back into the sea.

Nazneen came flying just as Aletta dived into the water. She came with a garment for him to wear and he just wrapped it around his waist, allowing his scales to fade.

She also had a large blanket with her that she laid out on the grass, near the woods.

“What are you doing?” He asked.

“Let’s sleep here. With the way things are, there will be many questions if we go back now and I need my sleep.”

“Isn’t this uncomfortable for you?”

“I slept in a cave for a hundred years.” She reminded. “Besides, this is not bad. This place smells like you and I like the sound of the waves to sleep, too.”

Smelled like him?

She lay down on the blanket on one side, and he lay on the other. She used her arm as a pillow and closed her eyes. He thought this would be a seduction scheme but she really wanted to sleep.

“You got no sleep,” he said, realizing that she must have worried for him.

“Hmm…” she kept her eyes closed.

He turned so he was facing her. He also used his arm to support his head. Pain, hunger and exhaustion also made him wish to fall asleep but all he did was stare. This woman was bewitching, even with those enchanting eyes hidden behind those lids. That he could not deny but she also did something else to him.

She annoyed him. Very much.

He grated his teeth together. So she didn’t attack Ravina because of him? He never thought that would annoy him, but it seemed no matter what she did, she was utterly annoying.

He smiled to himself. Him… annoyed?

He sighed with frustration.

And frustrated? Unbelievable.

He swallowed his thirst which turned into a burning sensation in his throat and then he closed his eyes. The waves were indeed the best sound to sleep to. He felt like he was home, back on the ship again, on his adventures days before he got into this mess.

They woke up as soon as the sun rose and before they had enough sleep, but the light was too strong to ignore. The entire sea was painted orange. They sat and watched the sunrise for a while then freshened up with the seawater.

Ares realized his throat felt even worse and his voice was slightly hoarse, as if he was sick. He also felt a little lightheaded.

“You must be hungry,” Nazneen said, and he felt the thirst cut through his throat. “Let’s go back for breakfast.”

Oh. They had different kinds of breakfast in mind. Ares managed to calm down a little as he rode on her back to the guest house. The maids were gone and Nazneen looked around unsure of what to do.

“Go rest. I will make breakfast.” She said.

“And when did you learn to make breakfast?”

“I’ll manage.”

He ignored her and went into the kitchen to take care of it. He had learned to take care of every aspect of his life, and the kitchen was no exception.

“You can cook?” She asked, surprised.

“Of course.”

It took him a while to find everything he needed but after that everything went smoothly. He made them tea, and scrambled eggs and served them with bread and cheese. Breakfast was the most simple meal to make.

“Is there anything you can’t do?” She smiled, watching him dreamingly.

He ignored her gaze and sat down with her to eat. The food helped nourish him a little and the burn in his throat eased.

“The tournament should be tomorrow.” She said.

“There will still be a tournament?”

She nodded. “It is not only one family that would fight for the throne, so even if the ones who attacked you get eliminated, I have to fight the rest.”

It bothered him.

“I didn’t even go to punish them yet,” she said with disappointment.

The ones who attacked him?

“Just focus on your tournament. I am sure Malachi is taking care of them. Is there anything we can do to prepare you better?”

She smiled and shook her head. “I am prepared. In fact, I am hungering for it.”

“Don’t be so excited,” Saul suddenly stepped into the room. “With a human breedmate, nothing about being a queen will be easy.”

“Should you not be with your brother?” Nazneen asked annoyed.

“I am still wondering what happened to my brother?”

“And I wonder why your brother followed me?”

Saul turned his gaze to Ares and it dropped to his leg. “How is your leg?”

“It is alright.”

“Isn’t it too alright for a human who broke his leg?”

“It is. I am surprised.” He lied. “It seems the sacrifice I made to the spirits came in hand.”

Saul chuckled. “You must have made a great sacrifice for that to happen.”

He had no idea.

Saul turned to Nazneen. “I think I remember now more clearly. The princess looking for a purebred male. You even slept with my…” he stopped and Nazneen stiffened.