I wasn't sure if the healing was working and decided I needed to do more. I turned toward Reven, whose face was paler than normal. It was a miracle he'd been able to make it this far, although maybe my healing in the tunnels helped. I examined the wound and hesitated, then placed my hands on his thigh. The remains of his shredded black trousers hid the large bulge between his legs, but only barely. I tried not to stare at it, but my eyes kept finding their way back to that spot.
I pushed everything I felt into my touch as I ran my hands along his naked skin, feeling the hard muscles underneath my fingertips. After a few moments I began to see the wound close up. It was working!
He groaned and turned his head toward me, his eyes focusing on mine. He didn't say a word as I continued stroking his thigh, nor did he stop me when my other hand rested on his neck and moved up it into his silky black hair.
"What are you doing to me?" he finally asked.
"Healing you.” I trailed my fingers down his cheek and lightly touched his lips. Gods, he was beautiful. I so rarely got to be this close to him, or to stare into his eyes without him turning away. But for once he didn’t move.
"Is that all?" he asked.
My breath caught. If I brought my lips to his and kissed him, would he stop me? Or would he kiss me back? If I shifted my hand slightly to brush against that bulge, would he pull away, or touch me in return?
Before I could gather my courage enough to try, he caught my hand in his and his eyes narrowed. “You protected me today and nearly got killed in the process. Don’t ever do that again.”
I yanked my hand away. “I couldn’t let you die.”
“I would have been fine. Just as I’m fine now.” He rolled onto his side, facing away from me. “Don’t trouble yourself further.”
I stared at his back, wondering what that was about and trying not to feel rejected. But I didn’t have the energy to worry about his behavior, not when Auric needed me too.
I turned to Auric next. His breathing was shallow and the arrow wound on his back—his very well-defined back—was deep. I rested my hands on his shoulder, sighing as our skin touched. As warmth spread from my fingertips, I slowly rubbed his shoulder and ran my hands down his back, spreading my healing to his entire body. Or that's what I told myself anyway. Maybe I just wanted to touch him some more.
His eyes fluttered open and he turned his head to smile at me. "Mm, that’s nice."
I removed my hand and looked down at his shoulder, which was now healed up as if it had never been injured at all. "How are you feeling?"
"Like a horse ran over me," he said, with a low chuckle.
"That sounds about right," Reven grumbled.
I settled myself between the two of them, their bodies pressed close against mine. "You both need rest and more healing, so we're going to lie here for a while, since skin to skin contact seems to be what works best."
"I'm not complaining," Auric said, as he rolled on his side and curled up against me. He kissed me, while my one of my hands found his naked chest again, savoring the feel of his coiled muscle underneath his smooth skin.
Reven didn't say a word, but he turned onto his other side and stared at me with his dark, dangerous blue eyes. I was so tempted to kiss him, but I wasn't sure he wanted that from me. Instead I rested my hand on his strong chest too, and he reluctantly draped one arm around my waist.
With both men wrapped around me, I closed my eyes and felt a strange sort of contentment settle over me. The overwhelming desire for both of them was there too, but this was more than lust. This felt right, as if they both belonged by my side. The only way it could be better would be if Jasin and Slade were here too.
32
Kira
After both Auric and Reven fell into a deep sleep, I slipped out of bed, donned my clothes again, and quietly left the bedroom. Voices drifted toward me from the front room, along with the smell of something delicious. I looked forward to getting to know Jasin’s family, even if I wished it had been under better circumstances. Plus, I was curious about where he had grown up and excited about getting a glimpse into his past.
I stepped into the main room and the conversation died off as everyone turned to look at me. Jasin sat at a dining table made of shiny black stone with his parents across from him, though he jumped to his feet when he saw me. Slade was nowhere in sight, so he must still be getting the horses. I hoped he was safe.
Jasin moved to my side and took my hand to lead me to the table. “Mom, Dad, this is Kira. My…betrothed.” He glanced at me with his eyebrows raised, as if asking if that was all right.
I smiled at him and inclined my head. Betrothed was probably the closest thing to the truth, since we couldn’t exactly tell them what was really happening between us. “It’s very nice to meet you both.”
“Please join us,” Ilya said. “We’re about to have dinner and we’re so happy you could be here with us.”
“Thank you,” I said.
Jasin pulled out a chair for me and I sat down, unable to keep a small smile off my face. These past few weeks had been difficult and at times unbelievable, and hours ago we’d been running for our lives, but this moment felt refreshingly normal. It was nice to pretend the only worry on my mind was getting his parents to like me. If I closed my eyes I could even imagine this was real, and that Jasin was my betrothed and soon we’d be married and settle down somewhere. Except that wasn’t right, because I was missing the other men who shared my heart—but still, it was a nice fantasy to escape into for the time being.
Ilya began serving pasta with tomato sauce and tiny slivers of beef, a specialty of the Fire Realm that I hadn’t eaten in years. A loaf of bread coated in garlic and butter was also passed around, and I felt bad that the others weren’t there to share this feast with us. Hopefully there would be enough leftovers for the three of them.
I took a bite and it was the best thing I’d tasted in weeks. “This is delicious. I can see where Jasin gets his cooking skills from.”
“Thank you,” Ilya said. “Although I’m not sure I can take much credit for those.”
“True, he’s never made me anything this good,” I said with a playful smile.
Jasin huffed. “Only because we’ve been traveling. A meal like this needs a proper kitchen and fresh ingredients and—”
I rested my hand over his. “I know, I was only teasing.”
“Were you in the Onyx Army also?” Ozan asked in a blunt tone. Unlike Ilya, he didn’t smile at us, but stared at me with dark, unwavering eyes.
“No, I wasn’t,” I said, glancing over at Jasin with uncertainty.
“Where did you two meet?” Ilya asked.
“I met her in a small village in the Earth Realm,” Jasin said. “I showed up in her town and there was just this immediate connection between us.”
He met my eyes with a grin and I smiled back at him as that connection he spoke of flared bright. It was true, even when I’d been scared of him or uncertain of our destiny, I’d always been drawn to him.
Ilya gave Ozan a knowing smile, but he continued to watch us with a surly expression. “Ozan and I were both in the army, stationed in Emberton,” she said. “That’s how we met. Of course, I retired from service when I had my boys, and Ozan took a permanent post in this city to stay close to us.”
“Our entire family has always served in the Onyx Army,” Ozan said. “My father. His father.” He looked pointedly at Jasin. “And my sons.”
“I served for many years,” Jasin muttered. “I did my duty.”
“I can’t believe you left,” Ozan, his tone almost angry. “What were you thinking?”
“I was thinking that it was time for me to make a change,” Jasin said. “The army wasn’t for me, in the end.”
“Not for you?” Ozan nearly yelled. “How can you say that after what happened to your brother?”
“Ozan…” Ilya said, resting a hand on his arm.
He shook it off and glared at Jasin. “And what about th
is trouble you’re in now?”
“I already told you, I can’t talk about that,” Jasin said. He was normally so bold, but when facing his father, he’d shrunk back.
“Of course you can’t. Don’t tell me the army is after you?”
Jasin stared at his plate with his lips pressed into a thin line. When he didn’t answer, that only made Ozan’s face even angrier.
Ilya reached toward him again. “Ozan, please. Let’s just enjoy our meal.”
“No, I can’t sit here and listen to this.” Ozan shot to his feet. “One son dead and the other a deserter.” He gave Jasin one last harsh look. “You bring shame to our family.”
Without another word, he left the room.
Stunned silence descended over the table, until Ilya said, “I’m sorry about that. He simply needs some time to calm down.”
“It’s our fault for showing up here unexpectedly,” I said, glancing at Jasin, who stared down at his food with a pained expression. “We’ll be gone first thing in the morning.”
She waved a hand. “It’s no trouble, really.”
The front door open and I tensed, until I saw Slade’s large figure filling up the doorway. He shut the door behind him and was drenched from the rain still pouring outside. “I moved the horses nearby and got our things.”
“Thank you.” I wanted to rush to him and give him a hug, so relieved to see him back safely, but I couldn’t do that in front of Ilya without raising even more questions.
Slade joined us for the rest of the meal, although we spoke little after that. Jasin’s normal vibrant self had dimmed thanks to his father’s words, and I longed to get him alone so I could try to cheer him up.
When our meal was finished, I helped Ilya clean up in the kitchen, while Jasin and Slade spoke together in low voices about where he’d put the horses and the plan for tomorrow.
“I’m sorry again about my husband,” Ilya said, as she set the plates aside. “Sometimes his temper gets the better of him. I wish our first dinner with you had gone better.”
I nodded. “Can I ask what happened to your other son?”
“He was killed while fighting the Resistance outside Flamedale. It was supposed to be an easy raid, but it was a trap. His entire squad was slaughtered by those traitors.” Her voice turned venomous, until she glanced over at her painting of the Dragons. “Thank the Gods that Sark came and took vengeance for us with his fire.”
“I’m so sorry,” I said, though my throat was tight. Jasin’s family was completely loyal to the Black Dragon and supported her rule. No wonder Jasin had joined the Onyx Army when he was younger. How could he not, in this household? But if they found out what we truly were, I wasn’t sure how they would react.
33
Kira
While Slade slept in the front of the house, I checked on Reven and Auric, who were still passed out but seemed stable. Once I was sure they were fine, I joined Jasin in his old bedroom.
Like Berin’s, this room was sparse, although it had more paintings done in the style of the one in the front room, plus a blank canvas in the corner. The first painting was of a man who looked a lot like Jasin swinging a sword while wearing the black scaled armor of the Onyx Army. The other painting was of the Crimson Dragon in flight, his wings spread while he blasted fire down at something below him.
“Did you do these?” I asked.
“I did, yeah,” Jasin said, with some hesitation in his voice. Like he was worried what I would think about them.
“They’re beautiful.” I studied them closer, noticing the skill of the design and the blend of colors. I didn’t know much about art, but I could tell Jasin was good, even if the subject matter was rather disturbing for me. “You’re very talented.”
He sat on the edge of the bed and began removing his boots. “Thanks. I once wanted to be an artist, but of course my parents didn’t think that was a suitable career. My future was in the army and nothing else or they’d disown me.”
“I got that feeling. It’s a shame, because these are gorgeous.” I tore my gaze from the dragon painting and examined the other one. “Is this your brother?”
“Yes. Berin was about my age there.”
I took in the warrior’s handsome, determined face. “You look like him.”
“Do I? He was five years older than me and I always looked up to him. I thought he was perfect. My parents did too. When he died…it was a mess.”
I turned back to Jasin. “Your mother said he died fighting the Resistance.”
“He did, yeah.” He looked away, his face pained. “And when I heard that, I volunteered to fight them too.”
“That’s how you knew about the tunnels.”
“Actually, Berin and I found them when we were kids and used to play in them. But once I began hunting the Resistance, I realized their people were using the tunnels to hide and escape too. That’s how I tracked them down. And I was damn good at it.”
I swallowed, remembering the woman tonight who’d recognized Jasin. “The past is the past. Isn’t that what you said?”
“Maybe, or maybe the past never leaves us,” he said, his voice turning ragged. “You have no idea how many terrible things I’ve done. How many people I killed. Like that woman’s brother. I don’t remember her, but I probably did end his life.”
I moved close to where he sat on the bed and placed my hands on his shoulders. “You’re not that person anymore. Even before the Fire God came to you, you wanted to leave the Onyx Army.”
His throat bobbed as he swallowed. “I couldn’t stay. There was something I did that I couldn’t forget. Something I’ll never be able to forgive myself for.”
“What happened?” I asked.
He didn’t speak for some time, and when he did, he wouldn’t meet my eyes. “General Voor found a town near the Air Realm border that he claimed was made up entirely of Resistance members. He sent my squad to kill them all. Men. Women. Children. Even their pets. Every living thing went up in flames. We didn’t even need Sark for it.” A shudder ran through his body entire. “I swore I would leave the army after that, but I was too much of a coward. I could only work up the nerve after the Fire God visited me.”
I tilted his head up, forcing him to meet my eyes. “Maybe that’s why he chose you. To give you this second chance.”
He let out a bitter laugh. “Or maybe he chose me because I’m just like Sark.”
“You’re nothing like Sark.” I pressed a kiss to his forehead. “Tonight you helped save those people from execution. Sark would never do that.”
“I’m not sure that saving a few people tonight will ever make up for my past sins.” He rested his head against my stomach and I gently stroked his hair.
“This was only the start of something bigger. And once we bond together, you’ll be a much better Crimson Dragon than Sark ever was.”
Jasin pulled back and gave me a smile with a hint of his usual flirtiness in it. “I’m looking forward to that.”
“Being a dragon or bonding with me?”
“Both.” His hands rested on my waist, his thumbs brushing against the fabric of my dress, and I felt a flicker of desire at his touch.
“Me too,” I said, before bending down and finding his lips with mine. I kissed him softly, trying to show him I forgave his past and wanted a future with him, but it soon turned into more. Passion took over, making our kiss deeper, as if we couldn’t get enough of each other.
We kissed with an almost desperate need as heat flared between our bodies. He dragged me onto his lap, making my dress bunch up around my waist as I straddled him. I gasped as his hard length pressed against my core, while his hands found my bare legs. His fingers smoothed along my skin ever so slowly, inching higher and higher, until they rested on my thighs, so close to where I ached for him.
Together we removed my dress and tossed it aside, leaving me in only my nearly see-through chemise. His large hands rested on my waist and our mouths found each other again, but then I tugged on
his shirt, wanting it off. He lifted it over his head in one smooth motion, revealing that tanned, muscular chest I’d glimpsed before, not to mention his equally well-developed arms. I splayed my hands across his stomach, feeling the strength rippling beneath my fingertips, then began exploring up to his shoulders and down his arms. With each touch I wanted more of him.
I reached for his trousers but he caught my hand and stopped me.
“I’m ready,” I told him.
“I’m not,” he said.
I blinked at him. “You…don’t want me?”
“Oh no, I do.” He rolled his hips slightly, rubbing his hard length between my legs. “Trust me, I really do. But not tonight.”
“I don’t understand.”
He stroked my face as he gazed into my eyes. “We should wait until we reach the Fire Temple.”
“Why? I thought you wanted to get some practice in first.”
“Not anymore.” He pulled me down to the bed and drew the covers over us, then wrapped me in his arms. “When we bond together, I want you to know it’s not just sex for me. With you, it’s going to be a lot more.”
I snuggled up against him. “I know, Jasin. I’m sorry I doubted you before, or worried about your past.”
He touched my lips with his fingers. “You were right to doubt me. Before I met you, I was lost. I’d been told my life should be one thing, even though it never felt right. I let others mold me into what they wanted instead of standing up for what I believed in. I did things I wasn’t proud of. I never let myself get attached to anything or anyone. But all of that changed once I was sent to find you. The Fire God might have given me these powers, but you gave me purpose. You gave me something to fight for. And I care about you more than you know.”
My heart warmed from his words. “I care about you too, Jasin.”
“Now sleep,” Jasin said, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “Because once we reach the Fire Temple, I promise you won’t be getting much sleep at all with all the naughty things I’ll be doing to you.”
Stroke The Flame Page 14
