Touch of Flame

Ravina tried to remember what Ares had told her about him dying. Now that she recalled, he never told her how.

“You don’t know?” Malachi frowned.

“No. He never told me how. He just told me he was dying.”

“And you believed him?”

She shrugged. “I had no reason to. We were getting married and I would find out anyway.”

“You were getting married to him despite that knowledge?” He was baffled.

“Yes.”

“Why?!”

She took a deep breath. “I didn’t have many choices.”

“A dying man is no choice,” Frustration began to show in his voice.

He couldn’t understand this. He didn’t know what it was like for human females.

“Then I would have to marry someone I have nothing in common with and who wouldn’t let me do what I want and only use me to reproduce and be by his side like a trophy.”

The anger slowly left his eyes and he sat down with a sigh. “I understand.” He nodded.

Ravina sat down feeling exhausted as well.

“What do you think he is planning with his breed… well, she isn’t his breedmate but…”

Right. Humans didn’t have breedmates. Their selection worked differently. But?

“How did he find her since he can’t know?”

“I don’t know.”

Malachi was still suspicious of him. “What do you think he is planning?”

“Peace.”

“You really think so?”

She fought back a smile. “Yes.”

“With that personality, he doesn’t look like a peaceful person.”

pan,da-n0v el Ares had really gotten under his skin.

“He is not. Maybe why. Chaos gives birth to a new order and he is someone to bring that chaos if needed. He is someone who tests the waters. He is testing you.”

Malachi frowned. “Testing me? Why?”

“You are a natural threat. He wants to see if he can tame you with words or if he will need his pistols.”

“Oh,” Malachi nodded amusedly.

“Testing temperament is a first step to safety. If you are unpredictable you are not safe so he is testing your temperament.” And maybe something else. He was testing if she had any influence on Malachi.

“Or maybe he is just bitter,” Malachi suggested.

“Perhaps. We held Nazneen hostage on false accusations and without evidence. I think anyone who cares would be upset.”

Even if Nazneen wasn’t his breedmate, since humans did not select mates purely on instinct, he clearly seemed to care about her. She remembered the look on his face when he saw her raw wrists.

Malachi’s features hardened. “That was the only way I could find out and they might not have attacked us but they are definitely hiding something.”

She said nothing to that. Ares was a man of many secrets. A mystery in many ways.

“And when I find out, he won’t be so arrogant anymore.” Malachi said leaning back.

Ravina only smiled. Ares was a man who lived up to his claims. She would instead describe him as self-assertive and audacious and she rather enjoyed his witty and brazen replies. But that was not what made her smile. It was the fact that Malachi was saying so about him as if he has never acted in the same manner before.

Most of the time it was seen as good and desirable trait in men. Only women could not act that way. Then they were called arrogant. Ravina lost count of how many times even a slight show of confidence or a witty reply would make people turn away from her and talk behind her back. She was not docile enough for them.

To hell with that.

“Just ignore him” Ravina advised. It would be better.

Malachi watched her curiously with a tilted head.

“Shall we still go out?” she asked wanting to do something to release this tension in her body and mind.

“Do you want to go to a food house?” He asked.

Food house?

“To eat.”

She nodded. Anywhere would do.

Malachi took her to what would probably be called a tavern in her world. He sat that them at a table in a corner, a bit away from the rest and the singing woman on stage. Some people looked their way and she could see a few unpleasant looks. People were still angry and blamed her for the attack on Malachi.

“Ignore them,” Malachi told her, getting her attention back.

Ravina looked at him, hoping he could steer her mind away from whatever was making her uncomfortable. Her thoughts were just a bundle of confusion that made her emotional now that she didn’t keep her heart as protected as before.

She studied his features curiously. “Is it the royal blood that makes you look good?” She asked.

He smiled. “Why do you ask?”

“Well, your brother wasn’t salivating for no reason.”

Malachi chuckled. “I guess so.”

“You don’t think she is beautiful?”

He was taken aback by her question. “No.”

“That is a shameful lie.” She was quick to point.

“It is not. When you find your breedmate, no other person is beautiful.”

“Right. Finding your breedmtae makes you blind.”

“You are suddenly vicious.”

“I am not. I am simply conversing.” She said calmly.

“You need not be jealous. I like pale skin.” He mocked.

“And curves.”

“You have curves.”

She narrowed her eyes with pretentious suspicion. He chuckled again. “Just admit it. Even I was staring. No matter preference, she is clearly stunning.” She was enjoying it a bit to put him in this position.

He sighed. “She is. And spoiled and conceited.”

Ravina frowned. “You know her?”

He paused, his gaze wandering. “I did.” His tone dropped and she got a strange feeling.

“How?”

“Our parents knew each other. She would be here sometimes.” It was as if he wanted to say more but didn’t. “It was a long time ago,” he added.

Hmm…

She thought she understood what happened but didn’t want to draw any conclusions. Either way, it didn’t matter. It was in the past and he owed her no explanation. With the years he lived and his past she would probably come across such women now and then.

But that woman was with Ares now. What a twist of fate.