Touch of Flame

Nazneen made her way down the stairs, her robe draped over her curvaceous frame. Ares couldn’t help himself from stepping forward, ready to cover her in some way even if it was blocking Tenzin’s view. The way the soft material hugged her curves intimately made him feel like he was seeing a side of her that was reserved for only him.

Only for him?

He almost laughed out loud. He was digging his grave faster and the pain of letting go returned. It was happening again, what Richard had warned him about. When death came, that was when life became more desirable to live.

“It will hurt badly then,” he had warned.

The death that had been so natural to him now suddenly felt like the enemy. It would indeed hurt.

“Who is this?” Nazneen asked narrowing her eyes as she stepped down the stairs. Her eyes were glued on Tenzin and slowly she seemed to recognize him.

“Tenzin?”

“Nazneen.”

Suddenly her face lit up and she seemed happy to see him.

Well, he sure was happy to see her as well. In a robe.

Whatever words passed between them after, went through one ear and out the other. All Ares could focus on was the terrible irritation he felt.

“Ares?!”

Suddenly he was pulled back and both Nazneen and Tenzin looked at him confused.

“Yes…well… it was just an idea for now. We should discuss it further and in-depth first.” He gave Nazneen a look that he wanted to speak to her alone.

Nazneen asked Tenzin to give them a moment and take a tour around the house meanwhile. She seemed to trust him.

As he disappeared into the distance, Arrs took Nazneen’s wrist. “Where is your room?”

“Uh… there.”

He pulled her with him through the hall. “Wait! Where are you taking me? We could discuss it over breakfast?”

“Once you are properly dressed,” he bit out.

“Oh…” he could hear the smile in her voice.

“This?” He asked finding a door.

“Yes.”

He pushed it open and pulled her inside.

Nazneen was enjoying this too much. He was so odd. Last night he did nothing but today he was bothered by her robe. Sure, she was wearing nothing underneath and it was held together with a small belt but she had worn more revealing clothes. Why now?

Not that she minded. The way he grabbed her hand and pulled her away with such intensity made her tingle all over. He awakened the mating instinct in her and she wished he dragged her further to bed. But there was something else. She noticed his strength. She knew he was fast from the chase in the woods and today she got to see some of his strength.

“So you can change now,” he said.

“With you here?” She raised a brow with a smirk.

“Now you suddenly care about privacy?”

“No,” she shrugged. “I just thought you would care but it seems not. You can help me then.”

She began to undo her belt as she walked to the chest to find clothes. Wanting to tease him, she picked the most revealing ones.

“How about this?” She teased, holding the clothes up.

A small frown settled between his brows. “I will need you to take me back home so you could at least wear something that won’t give my guards and servants a heart attack.”

“Why are you going back home?” She wondered.

“I need to take care of some things and also bring weapons… and clothes.”

The nightmare from last night came back to mind. When her people killed him, he was wearing his own clothes. She shook the images away and wore something more covering before she flew off with him.

Some of his men were there. Jayden, Noah, and the sweet boy Eric. She felt happy to see them again. They had been so good to her.

Noah was the serious one and was ready to talk business right away. “You just disappeared again.” He told Ares, looking displeased.

“I know. I had to for a while. Nazneen has found her way back home now and is queen.”

“Congratulations,” Jayden smiled and Eric nodded in agreement.

“Thank you. It was all because of Ares.”

They looked between her and Ares with a certain look and Noah specifically glared at Ares.

“What?!” Ares glared back.

Noah seemed to want to say something other than what he said. “Things are not looking good without king Russell and I can’t find any signs of where he might have disappeared.”

Ares sighed. Could he really be dead? Then they should have at least found some trace.

“I think you should go back to the castle and get a few things straight with prince Andrew. He is not doing well.” Noah advised.

“He will dig his own grave and I don’t have time for him now. Let him play king for a while.” Ares replied.

Noah pulled out a letter and held it out. Ares took it from him. “It is from Lord Dragenski.”

Great. Ares needed to meet him anyway. He opened the letter, again noticing the artistic touch in the man’s handwriting. As he began to read the letter he also noticed the smell remembering Ravina’s words. A smokey aroma of amber and incense. It was his smell. Why did Ravina wonder?

His eyes skimmed over the words. Ephraim wanted to meet him and gave him a location and times when he was available. He could meet his men at his ship, so he was smart enough not to give him the location to his house yet.

“Nothing of urgency. How long will you stay?”

“I am here only to collect weapons and… ” he became thoughtful. “I might need some of you to  come with me.” Ares turned to Nazneen. “Is that alright?”

“Is that safe?” She asked in return.

“Well, we need to integrate and I need trusted people to help me while we gather more people.” He explained to her his plan for recruitment and his men listened as well, while he gathered some weapons.

“I don’t mind. I would love for all of you to stay with us,” Nazneen smiled, then her gaze shifted and her smile widened. “Oh, you are here.”

The rest of his men had arrived and surrounded Nazneen, already starting to chatter.

After meeting Ravina, Ares had imagined what bringing a woman home would look like. How would it change his life because he knew it would? He was mostly surrounded by men and the same could be said about his men. A woman that became part of the family would bring a different flavor into their existence.

Now watching Nazneen, he was seeing what he had imagined.  A smile tugged at his lips but the warmth in his chest was quickly replaced with a sting of pain. A reminder that this was short-lived and for Nazneen…. She was making him worry for her.

Last night seeing the fear in her eyes about his death made him dread her reaction once he decided to tell her but she had to know at some point. From Aletta’s words and his symptoms, he didn’t have long left. The only way he could give himself a little more time would be to spend the rest of his days in the sea. That wasn’t an option. Prolonging his life while being away from the people he cared for was a life not worth prolonging.

Ares let Nazneen stay with his men while he went off to change a few things in his will.

“My Lord, have you not found a cure?” Eve was saddened. She knew about the experiment and thought it was the reason for his death.

“No,” he sighed.

She often worried about him. She had known him for a long time and they came to care for each other.

“Dear Eve,” he looked up at her with a gentle yet teasing smile. “Make sure not to care for your master next time.”

She didn’t smile. “I won’t because he won’t be you.” Her jaw clenched. “I thought I would see you get married and that I would take care of your children as well. There has to be a way.”

He just looked down and said nothing.

“You make weapons. I am sure there are people who have made advanced medicine out there. You need to find them.”

“I know.” He said just wanting her to calm down.

He knew about all developments out there. He and Richard had tried to find all kinds of things but even if he found good medicine, nothing cured better and faster than dragon blood and that was why they injected it into their bodies. Later he learned it was the magic in the blood that healed them and only those compatible could tolerate it. He didn’t know that he already had magic in his own blood as an Arozak and even magic, the best medicine couldn’t save him.

Suddenly he heard steps from far away. How strange that he knew it was Nazneen just from the rhythm. She seemed to be in a rush and soon she knocked on the door. Ares hid the document in his drawer as she opened the door and stepped inside.

Eve gave him a nod and excused herself.

Nazneen waited until Eve closed the door behind her. She wanted to talk privately and Ares wondered what was on her mind.

“You didn’t tell me you experimented with dragon blood,” she began.