Touch of Flame

Ravina walked back home slowly to allow herself to get soaked in the cold rain. She was starting to worry about why she felt so hot all the time. It had never happened to her. She glanced back just to see Ares one last time.

Something about the way he stood near the cliff watching with stark emptiness into the horizon worried her but she knew he wasn\'t like her. He wouldn\'t be one to think of jumping off the cliff even if she had seen a deep troubling sadness in his eyes. She hadn\'t seen him like that before. Looking ahead again, she hoped he would go back inside soon.

Once she arrived at her room, Malachi was still sleeping and she tiptoed in. His scent had filled the room, mixing with the scent of rain. She slowly picked up some dry clothes and went to hide behind the screen to change while her mind exploded with different thoughts.

Why would her sister not come to find her if she was working with slayers? Was the witch right? Would her sister not want her because she is with dragons? But she had only recently come here and Corinna had been missing for six years.

Maybe her sister couldn\'t get to the castle and only recently joined the slayers. Ugh... she wasn\'t sure. Maybe all of this was wrong and she wouldn\'t find her sister.

Corinna. Where are you? She thought as she wrapped on her skirt. She paused when that strange feeling came over her again, where she could sense her. Corinna was thinking of her as well.

Her heart burned and she took a deep breath. I will find you Corinna, she thought.

As she dried her hair with a towel while leaning back against the dresser, her eyes fell on Malachi. He was in a deep slumber if he still didn\'t wake up. Her cheeks burned again, the heat spreading to her body that she had managed to cool down as she thought back to what she did last night.

Well, why was she surprised? She was the one willing to lose her innocence before she came here. When was she ever decent? She shook her head but then thought of what the third way would be that Nazneen kept from her.

A stunning woman with tricks. She wondered if she used those tricks on Malachi when they slept together, but then shook her head to avoid seeing the images appearing in her head. That she did not want to see. Very disturbing.

After combing her hair she went to the kitchen to join Nako and Mara. Mara\'s husband was working on making more vegetable peelers since the word had spread more now that people had tried it for a while and found it very convenient. It was in high demand.

Ravina went on to make her medicine pastes while Nako and Mara cooked breakfast. She put them in jars ready for whenever someone needed them.

Once the breakfast was served and Malachi was still not awake, she thought of going back to wake him up when his arms suddenly came around her from behind. Her heart skipped and then her skin burned with that same tingling heat that had been bothering her.

"Good morning," he husked, kissing her through the hair falling over her neck. She grasped his forearms as he nudged the hair away to kiss her skin this time. Her eyes closed briefly as his lips played over her skin. "You smell of rain."

"I... went outside." She breathed.

"In the cold?" His rubbed her arms as if to warm her.

"It wasn\'t cold. I am... burning. Why?" she asked, in case he knew something.

"I am burning too," he spoke against her neck.

She sighed, as his lips still made contact with her skin. "Not like that. It is strange."

"Just new, not strange." He brushed his lips over her earlobe before placing a soft kiss underneath. Ravina tingled all over and turned her head slightly and he turned her around even more with a finger, kissing along her cheek to her lips.

She whirled around in his arms, wrapping hers around his neck as their lips met in a soft kiss. A morning kiss that started with the taste of coffee. He pulled her closer, his hands gently going into her hair while she felt his silken strands between hers.

The rain continued to pour outside, and the fire flickered in the hearth. It was a mellow morning, just like their kiss and she could imagine herself just spending time in bed hugging and kissing.

Malachi was completely taken by the sweet kiss. He had never kissed like this before. It left his heart feeling warm. Nothing wild, just peaceful. Her hands playing in his hair, her soft lips and her small body in his arms were heaven and then he was looking into her blue eyes.

He was surprised that he wasn\'t taken by the storm of wildness when she kissed him while still in her fertile days. He brushed his thumb over her cheek. What heat was she talking about? Her skin was always cooler than he expected, and her hair was still damp and cold.

"You should be careful not to get sick," he told her.

She gave him a slight nod. "Let\'s eat."

Malachi was happy to see her eat better although he had heard that women crave food when in heat. It seemed to be the same for humans.

"You are not eating," she pointed.

"I finished my plate."

"You could still eat more," she said and he understood that she didn\'t want to feel like she was eating alone and too much.

He placed more food on her plate as she chewed. "I am fine, but you need more flesh on those bones." He said provoking her to eat more.

"I have actually gained weight."

"Where exactly?"

She tried to think. "My thighs."

Thighs. Now was not the time to remind him of her thighs.

"Hmm.... I need to see them again to know." He said picking up his cup of tea.

"You can just touch them," she spoke casually.

He paused surprised and she met his gaze then chuckled before chewing with a knowing smile.

Malachi sipped his tea. He had almost forgotten that she was good at this.

Mara came to the parlor to inform him that Ares was asking to meet him. So he was back.

"Bring him inside," he said, curious to see what he came for.

Both him and Ravina left the table and went to sit on the sofa. Ares walked in, dressed in their traditional clothing. His hair and body was slightly wet from the rain. His complexion was pale, a bit sickly.

"Good morning," his voice showed no hint of what was visible on his face.

"Good morning," Malachi motioned for him to sit. "When did you return?" He asked when he sat down.

"Last night."

Malachi nodded.

"I was not absent by choice. The witch held me captive."

Malachi frowned. "Why?"

"To upset Nazneen. I am not sure what he wants but I thought of letting you know to be careful. He is the witch who cursed Nazneen."

Malachi didn\'t like him already but this was more unsettling. And one more thing, Joel had told him a different story.

"My brother said you left."

Ares was thoughtful for a moment. "I don\'t know what happened between him and the witch."

Malachi nodded.

"Anyway, I am here to get the details on the coronation. I want to assist Nazneen in the best way possible."

Malachi had hoped so or things would be difficult. He explained to him the process of coronation, selection of court members, the courthouse rules and anything else he might need to know. Ares had a few questions, which Malachi answered while noticing the man\'s voice getting lower with time his eyes became smaller. Then suddenly blood seeped from his nose.

"You are bleeding."

Ravina went to bring a cloth.

Ares was confused at first but when the blood seeped to his lips, he reached to see what it was. "Oh... I must have not slept well."

Ravina came back with a cloth. "Lean your head back," she told him and he did so while holding the cloth to his nose but every time he tried to continue the conversation and brought his head back he would keep bleeding and now the cloth was soaked in blood.

"No. You need to lie down completely." Ravina told him with a frown.

It was indeed strange. Was this his illness?