Touch of Flame

Malachi stiffened. He didn’t think it was his brothers but he knew sometimes when enraged they could be reckless.

“I am sorry. Was I too harsh?” She said tilting her head. “I am trying to be a little kinder than you were, otherwise I would have first made you watch their deaths and then mocked the way they died.”

Malachi felt like he was slapped in the face and before he could think that it was too harsh he remembered that was exactly what he did to her. That day when she remained utterly calm and he continued to be mean.

“You know, I should feel bad. I do feel bad usually when someone goes through loss because I understand the pain very well but with you, I just can’t seem to feel bad for you. When I think of all the lives lost, how many homes you took, and how many children you left orphaned then I just can’t. Does it make it sense?”

“Don’t jump to the conclusion that it was my brothers.”

She nodded thoughtfully. “I have thought that it could very well just be someone from your clan. I am guessing they didn’t listen to your orders.”

“Yes. So thank you for killing them for me.” He told her but he was worried in the back of his mind. His brothers could have caused terror to make the king give him up in exchange for sparing human lives.

“Seems like we will have to kill more. They left a message that they would cause terror. Does it remind you of something?” She asked.

He stiffened. Yes, it did. Now he was even more afraid that it could be his brothers. They were sending a message to the people that they would terrorize them.

It was the way that his father gained control. He created a message, an association between three black flying dragons and terror so humans would know immediately when they saw them flying above. That way he controlled the people through fear.

It seemed like his brothers had a plan after all. People would riot, and ask the king to release him because they wouldn’t want any more innocent lives sacrificed. They wouldn’t want the terror to begin again.

His blood turned cold thinking of it. Surely his mother wouldn’t let terrorizers rise again but when did he and his brothers ever listen to her?

“Your father was smart, I must admit. Causing terror with a simple message before even attacking. People would run and panic just at the sight of his shadow.” She nodded. “I wonder because I am very curious, what went through your head when you were flying over villages and burning them down to the ground?”

He could see this time that it wasn’t a pretentious curiosity. She was asking with a deep frown, utterly disturbed.

What went through his mind? He clenched his jaw. “Well, I don’t think you go around feeling bad if you kill ants.”

She watched him carefully. “Don’t say that while in chains. It makes you look bad.”

He was really holding onto his control but it was snapping slowly. There were his brothers in his mind and then there was her and he couldn’t believe that he was more concerned about her scent on that man than his brothers right now. He hated it.

And the look of disgust on her face. This time it wasn’t the usual one. She looked sick. Very sick and it looked like she was trying to hold on and not faint right there. She didn’t even want to look at his face for too long.

“Do you know the importance of ants? I think, although I didn’t know your father that he understood the importance of ants. That was why he used terror. His goal was never to kill but control and you only want to control what is useful.”

It seemed like she did know his father very well.

“You give me nothing to hold onto Malachi.” She sighed. “I guess I have no use of you anymore.”

It felt like she was saying goodbye. She gave him a look that stabbed his heart. There was no hate there anymore. She just looked sickened.

“Too bad I will think of you now whenever I see the terrorizer. My father named the weapon after you.” She descended from her chair and began to fold it. “I won’t come to visit you anymore.”

She had enough of him. She was utterly disgusted with him. Well, every human would be since he was a terrorizer but why did he care? Why did this bother him so much when he had his brothers to think about. They could be dead. And why did he care when he was in fact going to cause terror after taking himself out of these chains?

The princess packed her chair into the bag. He had to say something and not let her leave. She was the key to his freedom although with the look on her face today, he knew she could kill him without flinching.

Since she was human she couldn’t feel the pull that would make her hesitate perhaps. She felt nothing of those feelings that tormented him, all because those feelings were only unique to dragons. It sucked that she had to be his breedmate. He cursed everyone in the world feeling angry. Feeling betrayed by the powers above.

He looked at her. He had to ask her about the man before she left, but how? Why?

“I will probably not be here by the time you escape or get killed.”

Where was she going?

“I will be in my new home, far away from you.”

New home?

“Are you getting married?” He asked.

“Yes.”

He felt like the air was knocked out of his lungs. His control snapped, his blood boiled at the speed of lightning and before he could think the animal in him came out and he tore at the chains wanting to transform. The sedatives got injected into him as he savagely pulled at the chains.

Ravina didn’t flinch. “You are going to kill yourself. I mean if you want to attend my wedding just say so. I will send an invitation.”

“You bloody whore!” He yelled at her, yanking violently.

Her lips slowly curved upward. “Not your whore anyway. I guess I will be a breeder to someone else.” She chuckled.

The thought made his vision darken with rage. He was going to get himself out of here today.

He kept tearing at the chains. It was stupid. The obsidians would fall on top of him and kill him before he could even take a step forward. The sedatives kept being injected into him through the shackles, making him weaker the more he yanked.

“You will wish you were dead if I get my hands on you.” He threatened.

“I know. I would rather die than have your hands on me. Meanwhile, I will enjoy someone else’s hands on me… or inside of me. I don’t know. I am still new to the experience.”

He paused. The dragon in him was agitated, eager to come out and burn the world. He realized that he had given away his weakness and she was taunting him but it didn’t make him any less furious.

“Maybe you can give me some advice on how to be a good breeder.” She smirked. “I don’t know if you have seen my future husband but he is a man of good genes. A good breeder I think is what you would call him. Strong. Handsome. Intellectual.”

Now he was sickened.

“You will not breed with him.” He said.

“No?” She chuckled amused. “Why?”

Because she was HIS breedmate.