Touch of Flame

Ravina had seamlessly transitioned into her role at court, and worked diligently alongside the rest to fortify their defenses. She had even managed to include Walker in their meetings, ensuring his involvement would provide him with a broader perspective of their collective efforts toward peace.

“You should attend the party as well,” Ravina suggested, catching his attention.

“They will be released when King Malachi deems it the right time,” she responded. Her words were firm but not unkind.

“I won’t cause trouble. I merely want to escort them home safely,” he stated earnestly.

Ravina considered his words before asking, “But will they be safe back home? Won’t they just continue this war?”

He compressed his lips into a thin line. “It’s not that simple. We belong to an organization, and we answer to those higher up. Even if I wanted to stop them, they wouldn’t listen.”

In response, Ravina gently shook her head. “That’s where you’re mistaken,” she corrected. “My father was a King. I understand how the military works. A commander holds a significant influence over his troops. That’s why kings select their commanders with utmost caution, recognizing the influence they wield. Your men, those who fight beside you, they trust and respect you more than those who give orders from afar. You have the power to influence their choices.”

Walker seemed to ponder over her words, his gaze shifting away from her as he weighed her argument. His internal conflict was evident, making Ravina sympathize with his plight.

With a softened tone, she added, “I understand your situation. I’ve borne losses in this war too, which is why I’m so driven to resolve this conflict. Your assistance can greatly increase our chances of success.”

His gaze returned to her, brimming with a myriad of unspoken emotions. After a moment of silence, she concluded, “I hope you will consider this carefully,” and left him to his thoughts.

The day unfolded with Ravina channeling her newfound energy into aiding others as best as she could and when lunchtime she found herself in the company of Georgia, Araminta, Nelly, and Nazneen at Araminta’s house. Nazneen had brought along a variety of dresses for the upcoming party. 

“Where did you get all these from?” Georgia asked, her eyes wide with surprise.

Nazneen shrugged nonchalantly. “I had my breedmate arrange for it.”

Intrigued, Georgia and Araminta began to explore the collection of dresses, acquainting themselves with the designs.

“The fabric is…” Georgia trailed off, her fingers grazing over the material as she sought the right word. “Heavy.”

The richness of the fabric spoke volumes about its value; Ravina knew that Ares had chosen the most lavish selection he could find. She could already envision the waves of envy these dresses would provoke amongst the observers.

Aaron, who had joined them on his break, was presented with a range of men’s attire by Nazneen. The perplexed expression on his face was amusing to witness. “This will be a… challenge,” he confessed, his frown deepening.

Nazneen couldn’t resist responding teasingly. “Not quite. This is the easy part. You’ll have to master the dance steps too. After all, you wouldn’t want to embarrass yourself among humans,” she jested.

Aaron nodded thoughtfully and then Nazneen looked over at Ravina. “It is too bad we don’t have more human female’s here.”

Ravina pondered for a moment, an idea striking her. “Perhaps we can invite Ephraim’s crew. He has female fighters.”

The thought of initiating integration sooner was appealing. Although she didn’t like socializing, she was hopeful and excited about this party where she would see a blend of all worlds.

Aaron, however, voiced his skepticism. “I doubt they’ll feel comfortable, especially teaching us how to dance.”

Ravina brushed off his concern. “I’m sure you can use your charm to make them comfortable.”

“I’ll try,” he responded with a playful glint in his eyes.

To everyone’s surprise, Aaron fit rather well into his human suit. “It’s not as bad as I thought,” he admitted, examining himself.

Araminta, on the other hand, seemed to have difficulty with the attire. “You look strange,” she stated flatly, prompting a round of laughter from the group.

“Thank you for the compliment, Mah,” he responded with a heavy dose of sarcasm.

“But by human standards, you look impeccable,” Ravina assured him. 

“Really?” His disbelief was palpable. Not so much due to his looks, but the unfamiliarity of the clothes. “Feels like I’m preparing for a storm.”

Ravina shook her head with a chuckle. They all teased her tradition for a moment but it was all in good humor. She liked Araminta the most in the human clothes, making her momentarily remember her mother and the way she so elegantly carried each gown.

A twinge of nostalgia swept over Ravina at the memory of her mother, who would not be present to witness these moments. But she swiftly swallowed the burning lump in her throat. “You look beautiful,” Ravina complimented Araminta, “This color suits you.”

Araminta was draped in a stunning olive green dress, a hue that beautifully complimented her sun-kissed skin.

“Thank you,” she returned with a smile, then turned to Nazneen. “Can I pick this one?”

“Of course,” Nazneen responded, her face lit up with delight.

Throughout the day, amidst the hard work that needed to be done, everyone took turns choosing their attire. They had set up enough defenses for now, while the town was gradually being reconstructed. The dragons, with their superior strength, were efficiently reassembling the houses.

As the evening descended and the sun began to set, Ravina was pleasantly surprised to find that she wasn’t worn out. Accustomed to fatigue, this newfound energy inspired her to accomplish more without feeling overwhelmed.

Back home, as she awaited Malachi’s return, Ravina busied herself with preparing medicinal pastes. Later, she decided to refresh herself, washing off the day’s work and changing into clean clothes.

During her cleanup, she couldn’t help but notice that most of the scars on her hands and arms had vanished. Even the one on her back had completely faded. 

The only mark that remained prominent was the mating mark on her neck, shaped like a crescent moon. Her hair also felt revitalized, with the once broken ends now lush and healthy. Her skin was no longer ashy due to malnutrition but had a youthful glow. The healing abilities were indeed remarkable.

As she was combing her hair at the dresser, Malachi appeared at the door. He halted, leaning against the frame with a fond smile playing on his lips as he watched her through the mirror. Ravina returned his smile before turning to him.

“You were very busy today,” she remarked.

He nodded in agreement. “Yes.”

“You missed trying on your suit for the party.”

He stepped into the room. “Perhaps for the better. Those clothes are not made for me.”

Ravina chuckled at his statement. She had already arranged for Nazneen to prepare a larger size for Malachi, but she decided to keep it a surprise.

“Are you tired, or do you still want to escape?” she asked.

“Let’s escape,” he replied.

*******

A/N 

New update schedule, 4 chapters/week until the end of the book next month.