Touch of Flame

After Darcy finished her coffee and realized no one else had come to the breakfast table, she decided to go see where everyone was. Ares had shown her and Ephraim around his mansion, knowing they would be staying here for a while. They still had a lot to discuss, and Darcy hadn't even mentioned Richard yet. After seeing the way Ravina cried last night, she was even more afraid now. Richard had to live. Their father had to live!

As she walked down the hall, she caught a glimpse of Ares and the female dragon outside. She couldn't remember her name, but Darcy's footsteps slowed, seeing the dragon female dressed in their clothing and looking utterly beautiful. She had never seen such beauty before.

The dragoness was laughing at something Ares told her, and then he drew her into his arms. Darcy felt she shouldn't keep looking, but she couldn't help it. There was a certain flare to the brief kiss they exchanged and an allure to the contrasting skin. Is that what she looked like with Ephraim?

Shaking her head she left them behind and continued down the hall, now wondering what her sister and Ephraim were talking about.

Meanwhile, Malachi was walking down the crossing hall and spotted Ephraim and Ravina strolling in the garden as he looked out the window. He also paused for a moment, curious to see what they were up to. They seemed to be candidly chatting, and Ravina had a new glow to her, a happiness he hadn't seen on her face before.

Straining his ears, he was foolishly happy to know they were talking about Corinna. Of course, what was he thinking? It was her sister's man. But where was the sister? Not that he was eager to meet her. He really didn't know how to handle that situation.

Ares had told him to just be normal. To him, even if he wasn't a dragon, Corinna wouldn't just welcome him with open arms. Things seemed different in the human world. Families were protective since they didn't have breedmates, which dragon families just had to accept, humans would judge, and he was humanity's worst enemy. The day of judgment would be harsh.

With a sigh, he continued down the hall, his eyes still fixed on Ravina and Ephraim in the garden and his thoughts filled with how his meeting with Corinna would be when suddenly he came to the crossways of the hall and someone just walked around the corner and bumped into him.

He was quick to pull himself out of his head and catch the female, who almost fell.

A gasp escaped her lips as he drew her into his arms, her face a few inches away from his. Her icy blue eyes widened in shock, and he froze, surprised as well.

Corinna!

First, he was struck by her extreme resemblance to Ravina. It was almost to a disturbing level. It was everything; eyes, nose, lips, and hair which thankfully was a different length. But what was even more disturbing was her scent. She smelled like... blossom. A different kind, that reminded him of spring but nonetheless stimulated his senses all the same.

His arms stiffened around her, afraid he would just drop her out of shock, and she also remained just as stiff. Her eyes darted as if confused.

Darcy's first instinct had been to hold him and not fall until she noticed who it was. Then she wanted to push herself away and create some distance between them before a warm, pleasant scent with a hint of coffee -the way a morning would start after a rainy night near the fireplace, hugged her. Just like his arms around her.

Confused, she just stared into his dark coffee-brown eyes and skin that was just as warm. She had seen dragons, but clearly, those of royal blood held a different level of glamour, and her eyes swept over his defined bone structure that screamed dragon.

Enough! She straightened herself, and he let her go. This was an unpleasant way to meet, she thought, straightening her dress.

"I am sorry. I was lost in thought," he apologized.

She could barely look at him. The few conversations she had with dragons were right before slaying them. She took a deep breath to remain calm. "It was my fault too."

Malachi could hear the restraint in her voice, and at first, she seemed to have a hard time looking at him, but when she finally did, he realized how the look in her eyes was so similar to Ravina's. Just a little less cold, but very critical.

"You must be King Malachi," she said.

"Yes. It is nice to finally meet you."

"Is it?" she asked with a knowing smile and a raised brow.

She looked very much like Ravina, but now he could see the difference in demeanor, especially the way she carried herself. It was confident, but in a slightly masculine way. It was the way she stood, as if her hands were shoved into invisible pockets, and the slight tilt of one shoulder. Her voice was also mimicking a man's in a way, but she did it so naturally like she wasn't trying to. It was an intriguing blend of feminine and masculine energy.

"Yes, despite my anxiety to meet you." He replied.

She looked at him as if he should be more anxious. God! Could one of the sisters not be a little gentler than the other?

"You were the one looking for me?" she said. "The ship?"

"Yes."

"Very reckless," she pointed out.

"I did it for Ravina."

"Very heroic, then?"

She did NOT like him.

"I am sure you don't think I am a hero," he said.

"I am sure my sister thinks that you are at least a decent being, if not more."

"And do you trust her judgment?"

"I don't doubt that she has good reasons, but I have my own good reasons for thinking otherwise. Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong."

Malachi took a deep breath. "You have every reason to feel the way you do. There are no excuses for the things I have done, and I am deeply ashamed and guilty," he began. "Your sister and I got the time to know each other, and she has had a great influence on me. I am not that person anymore."

Darcy could tell he was sincere, and she hadn't expected less. She had assumed that the man would be a changed man. She didn't think her sister would be corrupted, but this didn't do much to change her heart since she couldn't see the change for herself that would put her at ease. Someone like him had a lot of making up to do if he truly meant what he said.

"I am curious about when this change happened, King Malachi, because I have kept a record of how many towns and villages have been attacked during the last four years under your rule. Some of which you took part in, I assume. You also didn't stop your people from taking human females as breeders, did you?"

A muscle ticked in his jaw, and she looked sick when he hesitated. He had been in a bad place during the first years of his rule and truly hadn't done much better than his father. In fact, he had turned against what he fought for, and all his anger was directed toward the humans for what his sister went through.

"I admit, it took me a long time to get here. The steps are small, but I assure you I will keep walking until I have reached my goal. Peace is also what I wish for."

She nodded slowly. "A few steps are better than none," she said, and he breathed a sigh of relief. "But peace should be your minimum achievement, King Malachi. Don't relax. I will keep my eyes on you."

Malachi smiled with a nod, relaxing despite her telling him not to because he heard expectancy in her voice rather than unlikelihood.

As her face relaxed, revealing that she had been tense too, he saw hurt and pain swirl in her eyes before she gave him a light nod. "I shall be on my way," she said, her voice losing the slight masculine tone.

Malachi was taken aback, suddenly wondering if he missed something as she walked away.

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