Touch of Flame

The prisoner narrowed his eyes as she walked in and then his lips curved into a smirk. He leaned his head back against the graviton and rested his arms on his knees.

“I knew you would come back.” He said. “I thought you were a scared rabbit but you turned out to be a wild cat. I like it.”

“Really?” She asked remaining calm. She walked further in until she was standing right across from him.

He watched her behind his dark lashes. “Yes. The hunt will be more fun as will the kill.”

“You can keep fantasizing about killing me because it will only remain a fantasy.”

“I have never had a fantasy I never fulfilled.” He drawled.

“There is a first time for everything.” She retorted.

He leaned forward, studying her carefully.

“No need to study my hips. I have no intention of becoming a breedmate.”

That only amused him. “Don’t worry. Even if your hips were wide enough you wouldn’t be fit to become a mother. You lack warmth. Isn’t that why they call you the cold-hearted princess?”

She ignored him. She was back to her usual unprovoked self where no comments could harm her. Besides, he was right. She didn’t find herself fit to be a mother either and she wasn’t sure she wanted to raise children in this world.

“Seems like you know me and you know my sister is missing? You don’t even know her, do you?”

He tilted his head to one side but remained silent.

“Too bad you can’t use that against me now.”

“Are you sure?” He raised a brow.

No, she wouldn’t let herself get fooled.

He chuckled showing a straight line of white teeth. They looked even whiter against his bronzed skin.

“You are desperate to find her. I say quit looking. With your hatred and your sister probably having a dragon child by now, you wouldn’t be able to live together even if you found her.”

“Don’t talk like you know me.”

“I don’t think I am wrong. Would she trust you with her child?”

“I fight the enemy. Do you think you are the only one winning in this breeding game? Do you think the children will only side with their father?”

“Hmm…” He became thoughtful. “I am not sure but people usually side with the stronger side and we know who those are.”

“Yes. The ones in chains right now or hiding somewhere.”

His eyes darkened and his jaw clenched. She was getting to him.

“Don’t see our absence as a weakness. We have not given up. Our silence only means that we are preparing to rise higher.”

Ravina smirked. “I know. I have studied your kind and I learned you never give up. That is why I am preparing to aim higher as well and your fall will be harder.”

He chuckled darkly. “You are a relentless one. I haven’t been so excited to kill anyone before.”

“I thought that was what you did. You and your clan, killing for excitement.”

“Well, partially but mostly because you rebelled.”

“To not be your slaves anymore? To have freedom?”

“Do you have freedom now, when you are not slaves anymore?”

Ravian decided not to argue about this. Her father had already gone through this. Even after his inventions, his goal was to make peace. But the dragons believed they were superior and it was their right to rule over them. None of them wanted to negotiate peace. None.

They would either rule over them or die destroying them. He surely thought the same but she asked anyway.

“You think you should rule over us, king Malachi?”

“It is my right. Yes.”

Of course.

“You have rulers. Do you oppose them?” He asked.

“When our rulers are cruel, even if they are human, yes we oppose them.”

Why was she talking to him about this? She decided to change the subject and talk about what she came here for.

“The ones you said breed with human females, I assume you have a guess or you heard something.”

“Are you going to torture it out of me?”

“Will it work?”

“It is boring if I tell you. You could try. Maybe you have some crueler methods.”

“I haven’t invented anything significant yet, but I will remember your offer when I need to try out the new invention.”

For some strange reason, he just watched her for a moment. His gaze unsettled her.

“You haven’t tortured anyone yet, have you?”

She stiffened.

No, she didn’t yet. She wasn’t into the torturing thing. She just wanted them dead and gone.

“My goal is different.” She said.

He didn’t ask what her goal was. He just watched her again.

“Have you not seen a human before?” She asked annoyed that he kept staring that way. She wasn’t even sure what that look was. It was nothing she had seen before. There was a little curiosity perhaps, mixed with disgust and resentment that always remained visible in his eyes. Even when he was amused.

He remained quiet but kept looking at her. She decided to take this opportunity to find out what she was curious about.

“You let yourself get caught on purpose?”

He looked into her eyes and she tried to read him but he showed no sign of anything.

“You must have a lot of time on your hands to think of such things, but sure, I like the theory.”

She watched him carefully. She wasn’t sure if he was telling the truth or not.

“I hope you are telling the truth. Escaping is choosing death. There are many traps around.” She told him.

“You sound a bit worried.”

“I am not scared of you.”

He smirked. “I meant worried about me.”

“Well, I don’t want you dead. Yet.” She said and decided to leave.

He was in too good condition for her to get any information. Perhaps when he became a bit desperate and wished to have his freedom back, she would come back to talk to him.

“Have a goodnight, Your Majesty.” She said coldly on her way out.

“Good night, Your Highness.”

Ravina left the cage with a frown.