Touch of Flame

His hand was hot as usual and she was surprised by the sudden touch. There was something about it when he sat there below her as if begging to touch her but also making himself vulnerable in a way. Showing her that he wasn’t a threat, even if his touch was. Even if his words were.

He gave her a few strokes that made her mind sway before she withdrew her leg.

Making love? That sounded more horrifying than breeding.

“I don’t think we call it that,” she said.

“What do you call it then?”

“Intercourse.”

He tilted his head thoughtfully. “That is something you can do with anyone.”

“Yes.” You could not make love with just anyone.

He looked at her for a long moment, his eyes calm. Then he just stood up.

“Everyone is coming over for breakfast,” he told her. “I told them we couldn’t go there because of your leg.”

“Is Aaron coming?” She asked with a smile, just to annoy him a little.

He narrowed his eyes.

“Malachi! He is your brother! Younger brother, so act like the older one.” She said trying to sound as stern as she could.

“Alright, professor. Now let me help you to the table.” He was about to carry her up but she stopped him.

“I know you don’t have patience which is why I want you to help me walk instead. I need to do it at some point.”

He sighed. “Alright.”

He put one arm around her waist and she grabbed his vest at the back. She limped her way to the table, feeling as if the pain got worse than yesterday. The maids began to serve and soon everyone arrived.

Araminta came to her first, wondering about her leg as Zoila pretended to be sad for her standing behind.

“What happened?” She asked.

“I just fell.”

“Are you sure you can handle a stallion if you fall so easily?” Joel asked as he took a seat.

“A stallion?” Malachi was confused.

“Yes. She won at chess and demanded a stallion. Have you not told the oldest stallion here?” He asked her.

Oldest stallion? She found that funny.

Everyone took their seats and the maids began to serve.

“Your breedmate said she is good with the aggressive.”

“Well, it was Malachi who told me a stallion would be less aggressive with me.”

Malachi almost choked on his water and strangely his brother Saul too. The rest of the males laughed while Zoila had a knowing smile.

Joel had the most fun. “It depends on the situation,” he told her.

“Joel!” His mother who sat beside him gave him a stern look.

“I am sorry,” he chuckled and put his hands on her ears but she hit him lightly.

Saul put down his cup, almost hitting it on the table. “Malachi has been busy talking about stallions and left the kingdom to rule itself it seems.”

A silence fell. Malachi looked up from his plate. “What are you trying to say?” He asked.

“It seems like you have forgotten your people, brother.” 

Ravina looked at Malachi’s strained face and then at Saul who had a challenging look.

“Going on your… vacations. Just disappearing. You seem to have lost focus.” He continued.

“It happens. The span in which someone can focus is short. Many studies have shown that…” and she began to rumble about the studies just to annoy him. “So you see. He needs a break in between and vacations just sound like the right thing.”

They all stared at her and she could see their minds trying to process all the information, except for Malachi. He just wore a faint smile and continued to eat.

Saul was about to say something and she quickly cut him off, “you should go on a vacation too. I am sure Malachi would be kind enough to allow you to disappear for a while.” She put her hand on Malachi’s arm as she turned to him.

He gazed her way, a slight look of surprise in his eyes before turning to his brother. “Of course. You should go find some peace and rest your mind for a while,” he told him.

“My mind is rested, but thank you for your concern,” Saul said annoyed.

Zoila looked at her hand on top of Malachi’s arm briefly and then looked away to eat.

Ravina removed her hand and decided to eat her porridge before it got cold. As her hair almost fell into the food when she leaned forward, she was about to quickly push it back when her hand collided with Malachi’s. She paused as he removed her, gently pushing it from her shoulder to fall down her back.

“Careful,” he said, his hand briefly touching her skin.

She sensed how everyone took notice of them, but Malachi didn’t seem to care.

“Thank you,” she said nervously holding her spoon and trying not to see the faces around the table.

Ravina noticed that Zoila was awfully quiet today. She was mostly focused on her food. She wondered if it was because of yesterday and remembering it her face turned hot again.

After they finished eating, the brothers were about to leave. Malachi stood up, placing his hand on her shoulder to get her attention. She looked up at him. “I won’t return for lunch, so make sure to eat,” he told her.

What was this? She nodded.

“And… do you need more rest?” He gave her a certain look.

Her mind began to work hard to understand this hidden language. “I could use more rest.” She said thinking that he was perhaps saving her from Zoila.

He was. They took the hint and decided to leave her to rest.

Once she was alone, she decided to find ways to occupy herself. She asked the maids for pen and paper and began to sketch her latest weapon. Vegetable stripper, she called it. But who would make it for her? She needed a smith.

“My husband is a smith,” the maid told her when she asked for one.

“Really? Could he do this?” She showed her the sketch.

“What is that?”

“It is a device to help peel vegetables.”

The maid looked at her confused. “We have knives.”

“And now you can have money,” Ravina asked.

The maid seemed thoughtful.

“Would you like to make a lot of money?”

“Of course,” the maid said.

“Well, this is something everyone would want to buy if your husband made it. You can take all the money.”

The maid looked at the sketch. “This won’t make money. No one will buy it.”

“Alright then. I shall give this chance to someone else,” Ravina said.

The maid began to become hesitant. “I will bring my husband.”