Touch of Flame



As the party dwindled down, only the families remained. There was Malachi's kin, Ravina's family, and the trio: Ares, Nazneen, and Ephraim. It was an intimate gathering meant for the families to bond, but intoxication made its presence rather bold.

While everyone else seemed to have been swayed by the drinking of the night, Richard alone had the foresight to stay sober.

Ravina, flushed from the liquor, leaned heavily against Malachi, her voice a touch too loud. "Father!" she exclaimed, eyes half-closed. "Malachi and I… wed… mate… you know…" She slurred.

The stoicism on Richard's face was unwavering, but Malachi looked as though he'd seen a ghost.

"Is that so?" Richard remarked, all eyes now on Malachi.

The air grew thick with suspense.

"Your Majesty, I intend to marry Ravina," Malachi voiced out after swallowing hard.

Saul, in his slurred speech, chimed in, "Yes! A marriage! Humans have their ways, don't they? Need to save her virtue or something since they've been sleeping together?"

Araminta shot him a reprimanding slap, but it was the humans in the room whose faces registered shock. Ravina, cheeks aflame, looked both mortified and sober all of a sudden. "Father…" she murmured.

Richard was a sea of calm kept his gaze on Malachi. 

"I… my  intentions are honorable."

Very well, Ares mused. The man seemed to have studied some human etiquette. 

"You'd best make it official soon, then," Richard suggested.

Everyone relaxed a bit thinking it was over but Darcy, more steady than her sister but still emboldened by the wine, piped up. "Father, I wish to be with Ephraim." She linked arms with the flustered man. 

Ares couldn't help but empathize with the predicaments the men found themselves in tonight.

Ephraim offered Richard a silent promise with his eyes, hinting at a private conversation to follow.

Surveying the room with amusement, Richard asked, "Are there any other confessions to be made?"

Nazneen, snuggling against Ares. "I don't just want to marry, Ares, I will."

Laughter warmed the room, cutting through the tension. 

"So, which couple is going first?" Aaron inquired.

The room was thick with hesitance until Nazneen and Ares shared a knowing glance. "We can wait," Naznee replied. "You can proceed."

The sisters, too tipsy to give a straight answer, merely murmured incoherent responses. 

"Considering the circumstances, I believe Ravina and Malachi should be first," Richard remarked, gauging both families' reactions.

Araminta's face softened and she nodded in agreement. "It's been two hundred years that I have been waiting for the moment my eldest son settles down," Her eyes met Malachi's with warmth and longing. He smiled back at her. 

The night continued with chatter about marriage and then Ares offered the residence for the night, ensuring everyone could rest without the hazards of traveling under the influence. 

He had been eager to share the good news of living with Nazneen, but she was too consumed by the night's indulgences, drifting into sleep almost immediately. Ares soon found himself succumbing to the same slumber.

*****

The first sensation Nazneen registered upon waking was a thudding headache. Fragments of memories told her that such discomfort often accompanied excessive drinking – something she wasn't accustomed to. Twisting uncomfortably, she became acutely aware of the constricting gown she had inadvertently slept in. The elegant fabric felt like chains in her groggy state.

After a failed attempt to free herself, frustration bubbling up, she sighed audibly. Ares stirred, one eye peeking open. "Is something wrong?" His voice was a gravelly murmur.

"You forgot to help me out of this dress last night," she mumbled.

A small grin tugged at his lips, "I'll have countless nights to make up for it."

Well, she wanted out of it now, so she got out of bed and tried again. Ares rose from bed after watching her struggle for a while and came to help her. 

"Why don't we head to the beach?" he proposed. "The weather is nice." 

Gazing outside, she was met with a radiant sky, the sun beaming in all its glory. She nodded and after freshening up and changing, Ares asked the servants to serve them breakfast on the beach.

In mere moments, an idyllic setting had been laid before Nazneen. A soft cloth was spread across the white sands, laden with an array of breakfast treats. The tantalizing aroma of fresh bread and coffee mingled with the salty embrace of the sea breeze. The picturesque view of the horizon beckoned them, and they settled, primed for a breakfast like no other.

Ares found himself lost in the vastness of the horizon, where the azure sky met the deep blue sea in a seamless embrace. This timeless spectacle had always been a source of solace for him, but beside him today, a new view rivaled that serenity. Nazneen- a captivating that stirred emotions more turbulent. More fiery. 

She, too, was drawn to the ocean's magnificence, her hair dancing to the gentle whispers of the wind. "I can understand your love for this," she mused, stretching her legs out and wiggling her toes into the soft sand, feeling its cool embrace.

Her attire today mirrored the ocean's hues, with a skirt wrapped gracefully around her hips and a top that delicately hugged her chest, its heart-shaped neckline and short sleeves accentuating her bosom.

Ares just stared at her for a moment, taking in her exquisite body, her beautiful face, and her lush hair. This woman was his, and he could now be with her longer. He could come with her to this beach again, watch the sunrise or set, or spend the morning or afternoon resting on the sand, watching this beautiful view. 

He could sail again, this time with her, and go on long journeys, and more adventures. He could build a life and have the family he wanted. It still felt surreal, as if he was in a dream, but this was his life now.

Nazneen turned to him, smiling gently. "What is wrong?" She wondered.

"Wrong? Nothing is wrong. Everything is right at the moment." 

Her smile widened. "Then why are you looking at me like that?" 

"Like what?" 

"Like… you want to imprint me in your mind." 

He chuckled. "I do want to. I want to remember your expression each day we spend together, but... are you sure you want to be with a dying man?" 

"I know I want to be with you, dying or not." She said. "And... you won't die." 

"How do you know?" 

"I just know." She said, confidently. "Oh, I also heard you and Sylas last night." 

He frowned. "You knew?" And she managed to keep it to herself the entire night. 

She shrugged. "You think I would let you out of my sight with the witch?" 

"Hey…" he gave her a playful nudge with his shoulder. "I am supposed to be the protector, not you." 

She looked at him, her expression soft, her eyes looking deeply into his. "Well, last night you proved to be my protector. Always." She leaned closer and said, "I think you stole my heart once again, Pirate." 

"Well, maybe I am not done collecting treasures." He declared. "Because you are not only one, but a sea of them." 

She opened her mouth as if to respond, but then only drew a breath before suddenly pushing him down on the cloth and straddling him.

"Oh!" He was startled by the sudden action. 

"You can't say such things and expect me to remain controlled," she husked, her eyes suddenly smoldering.

"I don't expect you to." 

She looked back at the mansion and asked, "Can people see us from here?"

"No. It is a blind spot." 

She looked down at him again, her amber eyes ablaze. "Good," she said, leaning in and kissing him.