Touch of Flame

Ares was in the laboratory reading about breedmates. The more he read the more convinced he became about his suspicions but also he also became more angry and frustrated. He detested the idea that she was someone’s breedmate. Hated the thought of her being with another man, especially of the kind he hated.

He had wanted to have her first, give her a good first time at least but he wasn’t sure anymore. Would it be good? Did he want to do it with walls up? Then the whole purpose of being intimate with her was lost. And if he asked her to bring her walls down just once, well, then he knew to bring them up again would be difficult and he would set them both on a journey to more pain and heartbreak.

His hold on the book tightened. His jaw clenched and his eyes burned. He got himself deep into this and if he took her to bed, if he found out what it was like to have her warm and naked beneath him, to have her body wrapped around him then he would want more. Not less. He had learned that it was more painful to know something than not knowing at all.

Look at him now. He never cared about dying before but now because he knew the feeling of being with the woman he liked, he was suffering. His heart was paining. He should just send her away. He shouldn’t put them through more pain.

Ares shut the book in agony. He had read all that he could about breedmates to make sure he wasn’t sending Ravina on a death mission. But there was no guarantee. He knew what hate could do to someone even if the breedmate pull seemed very strong. And the word dragon tamer still kept ringing in his head. He had to find more information on that. It could also be something that could help Ravina.

“You seem to be in conflict today,” the king’s voice suddenly came from behind him.

Ares didn’t even hear him enter. He put the book down on the table naturally not wanting to incite any thoughts of him hiding something. This man noticed even the smallest things and as he walked over to come to the front, his eyes watched him carefully.

“When I told you not to fall in love, it was for your own sake,” he said standing across the table. “I did warn you before getting into this that there is so much you don’t know that you are sacrificing.”

Ares nodded slowly. What was the point of reminding him now? “How can you do this?” He asked him. Now that his feelings were already involved he had an even harder time understanding him. “You knew happiness. You knew what it was like to have it all so how? How can you see her every day and not… crumble? How can you not just want to reach out and hug her and tell her the truth.”

His face hardened. “The man who knew that happiness is gone. He died the day his brother died and his wife got burned and his daughter was taken away and God knows what she is enduring right now. And his second daughter…” he paused. “He arrived too late for her and he could not tell her that he was indeed her father.”

Ares felt a lump in his throat.

“And that he would die as well.”

Ares shook his head. “I can’t do this. I am not you.” He could understand his point. He had already gone through with the experiment when he came back to find that almost his whole family got killed.

He smiled faintly. “You know when I chose you for my daughter, I knew you were a romantic at heart and protective.” He sighed. “I do regret involving you. You would make her happy.”

Ares felt like something stabbed him in the heart. He remembered those good times before they sacrificed themselves and he wanted to marry off his daughter to him. And now they were here.

“She has nightmares, about that day. She loves you. Your inventions are keeping her alive.”

He removed his glasses. “What are you doing Ares? I told you that man is dead.”

“I don’t believe it. You must hurt when she is hurting.”

He tilted his head without flinching. A faint smile curved his lips. “The new prisoner subjected himself to different poison and medications to grow resistance. He has to consume the amount for nine persons before he even begins to feel a slight effect.”

Changing the subject while giving him an answer. Typical. He had subjected himself to so much pain he didn’t feel it anymore. Did he really not feel anything?

Ares stood up from his seat, grabbed his jacket, and pulled it over his shoulders. Then he took the book from the table. “I need some time alone.” He said and left him.

He went to the stable, took his horse, and rode into town to meet professor Ward. The old man let him into his house which was also a pharmacy.

“Does His Majesty need more information?” The professor asked.

“No. I am the one looking for information. You wrote a little about dragon tamers in your work. Do you know more?”

“I don’t. I have tried to find human breedmates to interview and study. Unfortunately, I have been unable to.”

Ares nodded disappointed. “Why are they called dragon tamers?” The name given must have a reason.

“I don’t know.” The professor said.

Ares left the professor feeling more distressed than before. Where could he find the information he needed? He rode fast down the road, through the woods, and over the bridge until he was finally back in the castle.

He spent the rest of his day reading every book about dragons in the library. He noticed that many of them were taken. It must be Ravina. His heart sank thinking of her again.

Between the agonizing thoughts and feelings and the processing of all the information he was reading, he somehow fell asleep. In his dream, he saw his younger self drowning.

“Dragon tamer. Dragon tamer.” A husky and compelling female voice called.

Ares swam back up and when he came to the surface, he was a grown man again. Panting he looked ahead. There was a lady standing in the sand. She was naked, her almond skin only covered by her long chestnut hair. Her eyes were a beautiful honey and stared at him intensely as he rose from the water.

“You are here,” she spoke. She reached her hand out, “come here.”

He walked over and placed his hand in her extended one. She bowed down to kiss his knuckles before looking up at him. “We have been waiting for you.”