Touch of Flame

Ravina’s body jolted at the sudden touch of his lips. Her eyes shot open, fully awake, not expecting the kiss, and alarms rang through her. Her body got into a fight or flight mode but all she did was freeze and then slowly melt.

Heat rose from her stomach to her chest, making her heart flutter in a familiar way as her eyes fluttered close. The taste of him, of warm coffee and heady desire, washed over her like soft waves of heat, unfurling her senses as the taste and smell of him silenced her thoughts.

He pulled her closer against his body, wrapping her in warmth, and igniting a small fire low in her belly. A fire fanned by the strokes of his lips on hers.

He tasted her, slowly, tentatively taking his time as if her lips were as sweet as delicacies. He then pulled each of her lips into his mouth, sucking them and leaving them with a toe-curling tingle.

She whimpered, a low sound of need coming from her lips. His hold on her tightened and he tilted her head back more, his tongue teasing its way into her mouth and filling her with an addictive flavor.

He explored her mouth; stroked and tasted. She grasped his shoulders, her knees turning weak. His mouth became more demanding, kissing her hungrily. His fingers grasped her waist possessively and pressed her harder against his solid body.

She was too lost to protest or even be alarmed. Although he was big and could squeeze the life out of her if he lost control just for a moment, she didn’t fear that he would. Her fears came from something else. Something that threatened to consume her.

With a pained groan, he tore her away from him. Thankfully he still held her because she was unsteady on her feet. In the haze of desire, her eyes found his. They were a light brown with a golden glow. They changed color?

He seemed to tremble or was it her, suddenly pulled away from the warmth? He drew her back into his arms. Yes, he was trembling and he was… hot. He warmed her instantly.

He grabbed her face, making her look at him. Her heart became wild in her chest. “Don’t regret this now,” he began. “Not yet.” He cupped her cheek. “Give me a chance to change your mind first.”

Change her mind?

A frown settled on his face and his expression turned hostile. His hands quickly grasped her arms in a painful grip and he pulled her back. Ravina was confused by the sudden change of mood.

Malachi turned her around violently. Ravina gasped shocked as he pulled her into the river. Oh, God! What was happening to him?

“Malachi?”

He just half-carried her in so fast as if in an extreme rush. “Get into the water!” He then ordered in an alarming voice as he looked up quickly.

Ravina shuddered in fear.

Dragons? Were they being attacked? Did danger finally come?

Malachi pushed her into the water and she fell with a splash. As she pulled herself up in a panic Malachi was already gone and she could hear the flexing of large wings. As she looked up, the fire traveled the distance and she dived into the water again, her heart beating for a different reason.

Fire? Darcy, she thought, almost choking on the water. She swam following the sound of the waterfall. She needed to breathe after a while so she pulled her head up again, her gaze quickly searching around. She spotted dragons fighting up in the sky. White dragons, against a black one. She tried to count when one came flying down, toward her. She was the target.

Ravina dived again. She would die burning to ashes or drowning. She wasn’t sure which one was worse. Perhaps her time came. She stayed underwater, when a hand suddenly grasped her hair and pulled her up. Ravina had her headpin ready in her hand and didn’t hesitate to stab the dragon in the eye and then knee him in where it hurt the most.

She tried to run away as he screeched in pain, taking a dragon form again. She dived again, barely getting away. The pain of his claws scratching her back burned before her blood colored the water. Something stopped him because he didn’t try again. from the splash of water, she knew a fight was going on just above the surface.

She saw more red, seep into the river. Malachi? Was he alright? They were many attacking. She stayed under the water as long as she could and then had to reach up for air.

When she came to the surface, she was gasping and coughing while her eyes wildly looked around. The woods nearby was one fire, smoke erupting into the air. Darcy and Rani were gone. Two dead men lay around, one in the river and one nearby.

She looked up, searching for Malachi. He was nowhere to be seen. The smoke reached her as the fire spread covering the sky. She couldn’t see clearly. As she turned to look around, two claws suddenly snatched her off the ground and flew away with her.

She hoped it was Malachi but noticed it wasn’t. Her heart dropped to her stomach as he flew away with her over the burning trees. Then she realized he was going to drop her.

Ravina’s heart dropped to her stomach, fear prickling her entire being. This was truly different from ending her own life. She was going to die in the hands of a dragon, just like her parents.

Corinna, she thought again. Her reason to live, even more now as she sensed her.

The claws eased around her and Ravina braced herself. At least this would be the last pain she would have to endure. And then she fell, her eyes shut tightly, the gravity pulling her down faster than she expected. She didn’t think falling would be so bone-chilling. So terrifying. A scream rose to her throat but her lungs couldn’t breathe at the moment. She had already taken her last breath.