Touch of Flame

83 Fears of a maiden

Ravina felt a bit dizzy after all the swirling and now sat with the ladies. Brenna came with wine. "Let's drink some without those men." She said.

Ravina was very careful with wine. She rarely had any because she knew the effect and she was afraid of becoming addicted, but this was the finest wine she had ever tasted.

She heard a female laugh and saw Joel with a woman on his lap.

"He is at it again," Brenna said shaking her head. "When he finds his breedmate, it will be a slap in the face."

"Why?" Ravina asked.

"Because he likes this lifestyle."

Of many women?

"Kenan is worse," Kayla said.

"Let's not forget Malachi and Saul in their younger ages," Georgia said.

"Yes, but they were beasts."

"What do you mean?" Ravina asked curiously.

The women looked at her and then at each other. Brenna then leaned in, "are you… untouched?"

Ravina's face turned red and they laughed. "You are." She said. "Oh my. Lucky bastard he is."

"I was untouched too. We have to consider her age. She is very young." Georgia said.

"I know. I know." Brenna said.

Ravina was confused. "Is it a bad thing here?"

"No." Kayla shook her head. "It just becomes a rarity when you live for so long."

Ravina nodded. But what did they mean with beasts? She was still afraid of… and as if being afraid of a man wasn't enough… this one was a dragon. She swallowed the hard lump in her throat with the wine.

"Are you afraid?" Georgia asked as if she sensed it.

Ravina became speechless. She was not used to speaking about such things with anyone.

"Should I be?" She asked.

Kayla laughed.

"No. It is normal to be nervous but you don't have to be afraid." Georgia explained softly.

"Just make sure to eat some more. I am afraid for you." Kayla said.

"Kayla!" Georgia glared at her.

"She is fragile." She said. "And I doubt their males are like ours."

Ravina's heart skipped. What did that mean?

"And don't forget she smells fertile every month. That must make him crazy." She added.

Right. Female dragons only had once a year.

Now her heart became erratic.

"Oh… I forgot that." Brenna said. "Alright, maybe poor man too but… still lucky bastard. That means more offspring."

Offsprings?!

Ravina became dizzy again and took some more of her wine to calm down.

"We are scaring her now."

"I am fine," Ravina said.

No! She was not. She was terrified.

She looked over at Joel. He had his face buried in the crook of the woman's neck and she had her eyes closed, leaning back with lips parted. Right. That woman wasn't as small or thin as she was. Ravina could see the way he grabbed her, one hand fist her hair and the other sinking into her flesh. She looked away quickly, feeling like she shouldn't have seen it.

People here showed skin and affection publicly.

Ravina didn't know when she finished her glass of wine but it was empty. She had not intended to drink it all.

The males came back chattering and sat with them. Ravina excused herself, saying she would go to Araminta but she just wanted to get away for a little while.

Making sure nobody saw her, she snuck away, just trying to find a quiet place.

Beast. Fertile. Offsprings.

That was a bad combination. Not a good motivation to become queen.

She was supposed to calm down but she walked faster instead, only slowing down when she heard the galloping of a horse. She stopped and looked behind her.

Oh no! It was him.

What was he doing here? Was he following her? Keeping an eye on her?

She watched him near on his horse. His jewelry glistening and his skin glowing. He looked down upon her as he arrived beside her. His skirt reached right above his knees and his boots below. His hair fell like obsidian to his broad shoulders.

"You should not be alone here," he said.

"Are you following me?" She asked.

His dark eyes seized her. "Are you surprised?"

"You don't have to."

"I do. You are in more danger than ever now," he held his hand out.

No. She didn't want to be near him. Not when both of them were so scarcely dressed.

"Well, it would save you a lot of trouble if I were dead."

"Do you have to make everything into an argument? Now take my hand." He commanded.

She swallowed and hesitantly took his hand. He pulled her up easily but instead of allowing her to sit behind him, he sat her in front of him. The part of her bare back that wasn't covered by her hair brushed against his chest and she stiffened as his arms came around her to grab the reins.

"Relax. I am not going to eat you." He said.

He moved his horse and she fell back against him. He crowded her with his large body and he was…hot. Very hot. Or maybe it was her, but she could feel the heat of his body even through her hair and the part where their skin touched, burned.

He didn't ride fast. He just let his horse walk.

"Why are you riding slowly?"

"I thought you wanted to be outside and get some air."

Yes, but he was crowding her and she couldn't feel the cool wind on her skin because he was surrounding her with heat.

She remained quiet.

"Shall I take you to my favorite place?" He asked.

His voice. It was deep and dark when calm. It frightened her, especially when she could hear it so close.

"Where is that?"

"You will see."

"Is it far away?"

"Are you in a rush?" He asked.

"No."