Touch of Flame

Malachi threw her the pillow and she caught it. “Your home is big. I am sure you can let me sleep in the basement even if you don’t want to give me a room.”

“I am giving you a room. This room.” He told her.

He hated that he was doubting his brother. He knew Saul would die for him but perhaps he was too angry at the moment and leaving this woman out of his sight would be dangerous. She would probably rejoice at the fact that she was driving a wedge between them.

He could not keep her here for too long and allow her to cause division between his people. He would use her to get a hold of the inventions fast and then… he would get rid of her.

Malachi wondered what his mother was thinking by bringing them together. If he knew his people and how the rule worked, there would be an uproar soon. People didn’t like confusion or uncertainty about the ones in power. Being a king with a human breedmate was a threat to their existence.

Ignoring her, he lay down to sleep. He had been sleeping on the uneven ground in a cave, where he would wake up with bruises or cuts. At least she was sleeping on an even floor, which wasn’t a bad thing. Except for perhaps the cold and the fact that she wasn’t used to it. But she enjoyed pain and she was the ice princess, so he would see how much of this she would enjoy.

***

Ravina tossed the pillow on the floor and began to take off her jewelry. Then she lay down to sleep. She knew this wouldn’t be easy but she had to admit that she thought it would be harder than this since she came unprepared. She didn’t have to try to win the queen mother. The woman was already going out of her way to help her even if it was to help her son.

Saul, she guessed to be the second eldest son. The terrorizer, with his father and brother Malachi. As much hostility as his eyes showed, at least he wasn’t after the throne. She had seen his concern for his brother but he was very condescending to the rest of his brothers. How was Malachi toward them?

She had not been sure what kind of treatment she would receive from him. Would he be acting on his instinct or hatred? Now, this made sense. He was conflicted between both, she could tell and somehow she was happy about it. She was not ready for him to act on his instinct yet.

Ravina shivered thinking of what that would mean. What being his queen would mean? She felt sick to her stomach. If she wanted to accomplish her goal, she would at least have to be able to tolerate him. Women married men they didn’t like all the time and even built families with them. Wasn’t that what she had been planning to do before Ares?

She would have to treat it the same way, except she didn’t just not like this man. He was the creature in her nightmares. A terrorizer. A murderer. How would she do it? Pretend like he wasn’t? Even if she did, surely her nightmares would remind her every night.

God, she was making herself nauseous. She was lying to herself that she could do this. If not for her sister, she would release herself from this pain. But for her sister, just for her, she would try to find something to hold on to keep her alive. Otherwise, she would end up dead no matter what.

Her thoughts went back to the moment she was on the cliff. She imagined allowing herself to fall, the wind blowing her hair up, and then she was gone. She found the thought very soothing and closed her eyes. Would Malachi let her sleep or would his instinct prevent him from it? She was curious.

Pulling her legs up to warm herself she tried not to allow her thoughts to think of home. Of what she had left behind. She would have to keep burying her emotions. She was not a person now. She was just a tool.

Ravina kept herself awake by peeling her hand. Falling asleep would mean having nightmares and now that she was here, she would have the worst of them. But she could not keep herself awake for too long and soon she was dwelling in the land of nightmares.

This one was different from her previous ones. She was tied to a pillar and her sister stood with a male dragon who had his arm around her shoulders. She had one hand on a little child’s shoulder. She was a breedmate and the child was hers.

“I can’t let you hurt my people.” She told her.

“Corinna.” She had found her sister but her sister wasn’t the least happy to see her. “I was looking for you.”

“You shouldn’t have. Now, you will die.”

Ravina shook her head as tears burned her eyes. “Corinna.”

Suddenly it became dark as dragons covered the sky above. “Corinna!” Ravina panicked. “Please, at least let me hug you.”

Her sister shook her head and drew her child closer.

“I am your sister,” Ravina said.

Corinna continued to shake her head. “My sister is dead. You are not my sister.”

“Corinna!” A tear fell down her cheek.

“Goodbye!” She said and then looked up.

Ravina followed her gaze to look up at the dragons flying above. They opened their mouths to breathe fire and burn her and she woke up screaming.

“Ravina?” The sudden voice of the figure in the shadow made her scream again and she hit him. His hands flew to grasp hers and she screamed horrified.

“Get away!” She got a sudden strength she didn’t know she had but he was still stronger. He pulled her closer.

“No!” She shrieked.

“Stop!” He told her but she wasn’t listening.

“You monster! Let me go!” She was wriggling her arms and trying to kick with her legs as if fighting for her life when he suddenly pulled her against his chest and wrapped his arms around her.

Ravina stiffened.

“It was just a nightmare.” He whispered holding her tightly.

She could feel his heartbeat where her cheek rested against his bare chest. A tremor went through her when he stroked her hair and more tears threatened to fall from her eyes.

What was this? She didn’t want it yet every time she had woken up from a nightmare she had wished someone was there to hold her. Like her father used to do. Wrap his strong arms around her and assure her that she was safe. Why did this feel the same? Was she so desperate for this that she was allowing anyone to hold her?

The tears streamed down her face and she couldn’t stop them. How could she allow herself to cry now?

“Come,” he said picking her up with ease.

“No!” But it was already too late to protest. He was carrying her to bed.