Touch of Flame

Araminta took Ravina to her room and offered her some new clothes. Their traditional clothes it was nothing like the ones she wore back home. There were no dresses. Araminta gave her undergarment consisting of a simple white skirt that reached midcalves. On top of it, she helped her wear a long brown garment that was wrapped around her waist and folded and tucked at the front to look like a long skirt.

The top was a tight-fitted beige blouse with no waist. She had seen the women wear variants of it, with sleeves, with short sleeves, or without sleeves. Tied at the back or at the front.

Araminta gave her one with straps on the shoulders and it was tied at the back. How did they walk around with this? She felt somewhat naked but said nothing. If she was going to stay here then their clothes were the least she had to endure.

“I know it is not what you wear back home. Hopefully, you get used to it.” Araminta told her with a smile.

Smart woman. She was trying to integrate hers into their society. She was only doing her a favor.

“I am sure I’ll get used to it. Thank you.” Ravina said.

“Let me help you with your hair,” Araminta said motioning for her to sit in front of the dresser.

Ravina went and sat down. She looked at the woman through the mirror. She looked young and… beautiful. She also had that glowing bronzed skin, eyes a light brown, almost honey colored and her hair was a dark brown, unlike her sons. She looked strong and healthy and behind her gentle smile, her teeth were just as white as Malachi’s.

Araminta began to comb her hair gently. “It must have been difficult to leave your home.”

“My parents are dead and my sister is gone. There isn’t much that I left behind.”

Araminta nodded slowly. “I am sorry for your loss.”

Ravina looked at her through the mirror. There was sadness in the woman’s eyes as she continued to comb her hair. Putting the comb away, she divided her hair an upper and bottom half then braided the upper half before adorning it with golden pins.

She was very gentle as she took care of her. Ravina knew this woman, the queen mother wasn’t stupid. She had no reason to be kind to the one who tortured her son. She came with a strategy and Ravina knew better than to fall for pretentious kindness.

“Do you like it?” she asked when she was done.

Ravina looked at herself in the mirror. She looked different. “Yes,” she said, liking the new look. As if she became a new person. One who was ready to settle here.

She stood up from her seat and turned to Araminta. “Thank you.”

Araminta smiled. “Let’s give you some jewelry. It is part of our way to dress.”

She went to look through her drawers. Ravina did notice that they wore a lot of jewelry. Araminta came back holding a handful of golden jewelry. She fastened a golden belt around her waist. A thick bracelet around her upper arms and smaller ones around her wrists.

“Please sit. I will help you wear these anklets.”

She motioned toward the bed. Anklets? Ravina was about to protest when the door flung open.

“Mah!” Malachi barged into the room, his eyes blazing with anger. His hair was wet and slicked back, and he had a few bruises and cuts on his face.

“Malachi!” his mother turned to him horrified. “Have you lost your manners?”

He looked panicked as if he came running thinking that his mother was dead. Perhaps he heard that she was with her and he was a protective son. How sweet.

Ravina knew she was right when his hostile gaze fell on her and he opened his mouth to make a threat. Just to pause and blink. Now he looked confused and surprised, his eyes narrowing and following the length of her body all the way down and then up again.

Ravina stiffened, remembering what she was wearing. Maybe she wasn’t as comfortable in it as she thought and her face flushed red.

“Oh. I let Ravina wear our clothes. Doesn’t she look good in it?”

He stared speechlessly and Ravina wanted to hide behind his mother. Araminta chuckled leaving her side. She went to her son. “I was just about to help her wear the anklets. Maybe you can do it. I’ll see if breakfast is ready.” She told him handing him the anklets all while he kept his gaze fixed on her. “Come to the parlor once you are done.”

Araminta left them alone in the room and Ravina’s heart skipped as the door shut behind her. Malachi held the anklets in each hand, his fists clenching and the muscles in his arms bulging.

He wore a vest that was left open and loose trousers of their tradition. She had seen the men either wear trousers or also some kind of garment draped around their waist. Then they were either shirtless, wore a vest, or a robe that was also left open. Whatever they wore, their chest was always bare.

Some of them also wore bracelets on their upper arms and some had something imprinted on their arms and chest. Even among the women.

Malachi’s gaze returned to being hostile. He slowly walked across the distance and came to stand in front of her. She lifted her gaze to meet his. “One thing I will not forgive is taking advantage of my mother.” He told her.

“So the rest you will forgive?” She raised a brow.

“I have a big heart.”

“Big enough to put those anklets on?”

He corned her to step back against the bed and she had no choice but to fall back and sit when he didn’t stop. He crouched in front of her legs and looked up at her. “You think this will hurt my pride?”

She didn’t reply. He smirked.

“You have a lot to learn about our culture. But dressing like us is a good start.” He grabbed her ankle in a tight grip and fastened the bracelet around it. Ravina stiffened. No man had ever touched her ankles or feet. She instinctively drew pulled back her leg when he grabbed her other ankle but he held her firmly and secured the second anklet around it.

“Be grateful you are not in chains, princess.” He said looking up at her.

“Why am I not in chains?”

He tilted his head. “I like to be fair. You were not the one to put me in chains.”

“You think a few slaps is equal to me shooting you?”

“At least you are aware.” He smirked. “But you see, even if I wanted to be fair, I can’t. When you hurt me, I hurt alone. When I hurt you, we both hurt.”

“I am happy you are admitting.” She said.

He nodded slowly. “I will still try to be fair. I sent my people to look for your sister.”

Ravina frowned.

He shrugged. “She isn’t my breedmate so… when I find her…” He looked up at her slowly with one raised brow. “I wonder… will it be easier if I hurt her?”

Ravina felt her blood boil at the speed of lightning.

“What do you think?” He tilted his head to the other side.

Her rage took over and she pulled the pin from her hair to stab him. He rose quickly from his seat, gripping her wrist with one hand and her shoulder with the other, he pushed her back on the bed. She struggled to free herself but he easily pinned her wrists down and loomed over her.

She glared at him and a smile curved his lips. “With such a temper, you can’t become a queen, princess. Besides it is not good for your health.”