Rayne of Fire

by Michelle Young

  “Remove your dress and join me,” Keegan invited, his voice husky.

  Tempted, lustful imagines filled her mind. She swallowed and shook her head.”Nay.”

  “Don’t forget who I used to be. You swam in the castle’s lake dozens of times in my presence.”

  “You weren’t supposed to look.” The thought made her whole body tingle.

  “It was my duty to keep a close eye on you.” Keegan smirked. He tickled her toes under the water, and then pulled her into the spring. She yelped in protest, but her outcry was muffled by another kiss. Keegan wrapped his arms around her. “I love you, Rayne,” he whispered.

  Rayne wanted to reply, but the words stuck in her throat. A piece of her defenses wouldn’t let go. Keegan didn’t seem disturbed. He kissed her neck while unlacing the back of her dress. After removing her clothes, Keegan lowered his lips to her breasts, which were barely above the water. His hands caressed her legs and worked their way up to her buttocks. Rayne melted in his touch.

  “I’ll stop if you want me to,” Keegan said in a husky voice.

  Rayne barely managed to reply, “Nay, don’t stop.”

  He moved his hand between her legs. He knew exactly where and how to touch her, bringing pleasure as she’d never known. The water somehow increased the erotic sensations. She wondered if it was Keegan’s water-magic at work. Ecstasy convulsed her body. Keegan parted her lips with his tongue, pressing his body against hers. Desire coursed through her veins again. His hardness pressed into her lower belly through his breeches. She untied his laces, wanting more of this man.

  “Well, what do we have here?” a male voice sneered.

  Rayne gasped and Keegan moved in front of her. Three men, swords drawn, loomed a meter from the spring. “How convenient—the two of you here, together.” He kicked Keegan’s discarded sword out of reach.

  “Who are you?” Rayne demanded, still nestled behind Keegan.

  “They’re Raptors,” Keegan spat. “During times of war, they linger after battles, rummaging through the dead and stealing anything of possible value.”

  “Aye,” said the leader. “And your little union is going to put a big damper on our profitable business. But when the water-prince is found dead”—a savage smile creased his bearded face— “it will cause a full-blown war, like the old days.”

  The spring water stirred and whirled. Dozens of droplets levitated and then shot forward. The Raptors hollered when the droplets turned into tiny darts and attacked.

  “This is not over,” the leader cried. The three men turned and ran, pursued by hundreds of water darts.

  ****

  The romantic spell broken after the encounter with the Raptors, they abruptly left the hot spring and rode through drier grasslands. Mountains bordered them on the right. Sporadic trees, rocks, and boulders broke up the flat landscape.

  Since leaving the stream, Keegan had constantly surveyed their surroundings. As they passed a cluster of boulders, his hand found the hilt of his sword. “Show yourself!” Keegan shouted at the boulders.

  “Well done, water-prince.” The leader of the Raptors came out from behind an enormous boulder, clapping his hands. His two companions came up on horseback and flanked Rayne and Keegan.

  Cold fear gripped Rayne when she saw what was draped over the leader’s shoulders: a large drake. The intelligent, yet deadly, dragon-snake fed on fire and was often used in battles against Pyros. This one stretched as long as Keegan and was as thick as his thigh.

  “I have an early wedding gift for you both,” snarled the leader. He threw the drake to the ground in front of their horses. Flames flew from his palm and hit the drake, who immediately hissed as though in pain. Its scales sparked and its body expanded. Within seconds, it had grown to four times its original size.

  Rayne’s mare bucked in fright. She lost her grip and fell to the ground, landing only a meter from the drake. She couldn’t breathe, let alone move. In an instant, Keegan was at her side. He kicked the drake, which merely startled the creature, but it was enough.

  Keegan tossed Rayne onto his stallion. “Ride south. Don’t stop until you get to your father’s castle.”

  The drake shook off its stupor. Its red eyes stared at Rayne as though searing her soul. Cold sweat coated her neck. Her heart pounded, and all she wanted to do was get away from this place. Time seemed to slow as the drake sprang toward her, dodging Keegan’s blade.

  “Go!” Keegan’s yell penetrated through the blood pounding in her ears. The stallion took off as if he’d been smacked.

  Terrified, she kicked the horse, imagining the drake chasing her, his venomous fangs ready to penetrate her back. She risked a backward glance. The drake wasn’t there. Rayne slowed her horse and realized the drake had remained by its master. Her relief was short-lived. She looked past the drake and reality struck.

  Keegan clashed swords with the three Raptors, but was soon overpowered and battered to the ground. Even from a distance, she could tell they were beating him mercilessly. It felt like an iron fist hit her in the chest.

  She turned the stallion. The Raptors didn’t notice her. They backed away from Keegan, allowing the drake full access to his defeated, motionless body. The fear of losing Keegan crushed her fear of the drake. Rayne leapt off the horse while still several meters away and called, “Come and get me, drake.”

  The drake whipped around and darted toward Rayne. Steeling her courage, she produced a flame in her open palm and forced serenity into her voice. “I won’t hurt you.” The drake stopped and cocked its head. Rayne held out the flame as if offering it a treat. Her heart hammered against her chest as the drake slithered closer and gingerly sucked the flame into its mouth. She produced another, which it ate, this time without hesitation. The drake had accepted her as its new master.

  The Raptor leader cursed and drew his sword. Before Rayne could react, he stabbed Keegan in the gut.

  She screamed, “Nay!”

  The Raptors laughed.

  Rayne pointed to them. “Attack.”

  Obediently, the drake raced toward the men, chasing them beyond Rayne’s sight. “Keegan!” Rayne dropped to his side. His brown eyes were weary but awake. “I’m sorry…” She choked on her tears. “I tried to stop them.” She lifted his blood-soaked tunic, revealing the wound. Her stomach churned with fear and panic.

  “It’s all right, Rayne.” Keegan’s voice was weak, though calm. “Send four fireballs through the sky, seconds apart.” He took a labored breath, “Your father knows our route. His scouts will spot the signal and come.”

  “I need to tend to you first.” She’d seen enough wounded men in the castle to know, without treatment, Keegan didn’t have much time. She put the waterskin to his lips, insisting he take small sips. “This is going to hurt,” she said, and placed her hand over his wound. She summoned just enough heat to cauterize his wound and slow the bleeding. Keegan slipped out of consciousness. Rayne expelled four separate balls of fire into the air. She repeated the signal every few minutes until she saw a reply signal shot from several kilometers away.

  Rayne placed a tender kiss on his lips. “Someone will be here soon.” She only hoped it wouldn’t be too late. Keegan’s eyes stayed closed this time, and tears streamed down Rayne’s cheeks. “Nay, you can’t die on me,” she whispered, not knowing if he was conscious. “I love you.”

  ****

  Marcus and Rayne entered the castle’s infirmary as Keegan finished dressing.

  “I leave your side for a short while and you’re already escaping,” Rayne teased and kissed Keegan on the cheek.

  His body ached, but his wound was well tended and healing nicely. “I’m fine.” Two pairs of eyes held him in feigned contempt. “What? Why are you both looking at me like that?”

  “Considering your history with the Raptors,” Marcus asked, rubbing his chin, “why did you ride straight into their territory?”

  “Momentary lapse of judgment.” Keegan shrugged.

  Rayne cont
inued the mock interrogation. “I know your skills. Your sword alone can take on three men.”

  “And,” Marcus chimed in, “I’ve seen you find and manipulate water in the middle of a blasted desert.”

  “So, we’re wondering,” Rayne said, circling Keegan, “how they got the better of you.”

  “It all happened so fast. I didn’t have time to think,” Keegan said half-heartedly. He knew they had figured it out.

  Rayne shook her head. “It was a huge risk, Keegan.”

  “One that I promise never to take again.” Keegan wrapped his arm around her waist and lowered his eyes. “Forgive me?”

  Rayne smiled. “Aye, I forgive you.”

  “I don’t understand.” Marcus’s brows wrinkled in confusion. “Why take the risk?”

  Keegan answered, “Because now I know.” No doubt, Rayne loved him as much as he loved her.

  Marcus was still lost. “Know what?”

  “He’s the man I cannot live without.” Rayne’s loving gaze never left Keegan’s. “It took nearly losing him for me to realize it.”

  “Was it worth it?” Marcus asked.

  Keegan and Rayne embraced and answered in unison, “Absolutely.”

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