Touch of Flame

Be by his side?

She looked at him not sure of what that meant. What was he asking her exactly?

He shook his head slightly with a smile. “My apologies. That was too fast.”

“I just… I don’t know what you mean.” She admitted.

He smiled gently. “It makes sense. We will have to spend some more time together for me to ask and for you to understand what I mean and be able to decide.”

Spend more time? She liked that. She was here anyway, waiting for Russell to wake up.

Ephraim took her on a walk in the large garden. “Tell me about yourself.” She urged.

“What do you wish to know?”

“Everything.”

He chuckled. “Well, my father was a silver dragon, a mix of a black and white dragon. My mother was a human. She was what we call a dragon tamer.”

“Dragon tamer?”

“Yes. Humans who will have great influence among dragons are called dragon tamers. Very few of them can even speak the ancient language, command, and call when dragons are in their dragon form.”

“They can just speak the language?” She asked surprised.

“Yes. It just comes to them.”

She nodded, fascinated. This was something new to her.

“How did your mother influence dragons?” She was curious.

“She fought against slavery and gathered dragons to be on her side. Freed many of her people with the help of my father. She grew to become admired by many but she also created many enemies who didn’t like the new changes.” He paused, his expression becoming grim.

Something happened. Something painful. She just knew it.

Darcy grabbed his arm in a comforting manner and he stopped walking and looked at her. His jaw clenched. “We were three brothers,” he said.

Oh no. And now he was all alone.

“I am sorry,” she said.

He smiled. “It was a long time ago.”

Yes, but the loss of loved ones was always so vivid.

“How long have you been… alone?” She asked, heart aching as they began to walk again.

“Almost six-hundred years.”

She gasped and halted. He had been alone that long?

Ephraim looked at her with a frown.

“Why?” She almost demanded, then felt harsh for saying so.

He seemed thoughtful for a moment. “When you lose all at once…” he was thoughtful again as if trying to find the right words to express his feelings. But his eyes already said it all.

“You are in too much pain to even entertain the thought of possibly going through more,” she finished for him.

He gazed at her, his smile reaching his eyes this time. “Yes.” He nodded.

But while he smiled, a strong sadness settled in her chest. That much pain. That much loneliness.

“Was it not painful to be lonely as well?” She asked.

“It was the most comfortable choice,” he told her. “Well, until you came.” He added with a smile.

She smiled as well.

He looked down, reaching for her hand, he looked at her while brushing his thumb over her knuckles. “You ruined the peace I knew, Darcy. The comfort I found in darkness. You made greedy and wanting to seek another type of comfort and light.” He gazed up into her eyes again. “Watching you from afar was the most peaceful yet tormenting feeling ever.”

Darcy frowned. “Why tormenting?” She didn’t like it.

He chuckled. “Because you were so close, yet so far. I wanted you closer, yet I was terrified.”

Alone and terrified? While he gave her the best people to be around, he kept himself isolated.

Still holding her hand he made them walk again. “I shouldn’t tell you depressive things about myself. Not the way to impress you.” He said with a light smile.

“You told me personal things. That means a lot to me,” she told him.

He gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

“How many know your real name?” She asked.

“Not many. Only those of my kind that I have known for a very long time and you.”

“I am the only human who knows?”

“Yes.”

He trusted her?

“Tell me about you,” he said.

“You already know everything about me.”

“I didn’t know much about your family. Did you get any memories back?” He asked.

Her heart squeezed. “I remembered. It seems that I am Corinna but… I am not sure who Russell is.”

“What do you mean?”

“I think he might be… my father.”

“How is that possible?” He asked.

Twins? It just suddenly came to her mind but she wasn’t sure where she got it from.

“Were the late king and Russell twin brothers?”

“I don’t know.” He said with a frown. “But if they were, are you suggesting…” he looked at her questioningly. “That is dangerous and how many could he possibly fool?”

He was right? At least her sister would know and the prince and the queen. That would be an impossible task.

“I don’t know anymore,” she shook her head with a sigh. “I am confused.”

He stopped and drew her in gently by the arm, watching her carefully to make sure she was alright with a hug.

A hug? No one had hugged her for as long as she could remember. The crew members were her family but they never hugged each other.

Ephraim carefully embraced her, stroking her hair with one hand. Her head rested on his chest, hearing his heartbeat, smelling his scent that made her feel safe and protected and his heat made her feel at home. Was this what a hug felt like?

She was so overwhelmed by the comfort of it that the tears burned in her eyes. “All will be alright, Darcy. I will take care of you.” He promised.

Darcy could not stop the tears from falling. She felt stupid. Why was she suddenly crying?

“Come,” he took her away from the garden and inside. She wiped the tears quickly.

He took her to a comfortable parlor. “Do you like herbal tea?” He asked. “Calming ones to help with sleep.”

“I could use that.” She said as they sat under the light of a large chandelier.

Ephraim’s skin glowed more honey under the candlelight, and she was still fascinated by his eyes. Gold surrounded by silver smoke.

“Do all half-dragons look more dragon?” She asked.

“Not necessarily but we have the bodies since we need to shift.”

“How come you can shift normally being half dragon?”

“The stronger blood and stronger qualities are passed on for survival,” he explained.

The servant came with tea and served them.

Darcy was not new to dragons. She had been among them. Seen what they looked like, how they dressed, and how they lived. She couldn’t deny that they were built stronger and one woman alone was able to handle her.

Darcy would never forget that one slap that bruised her face. The men she was being prepared for that would later sell her further, had been furious at the woman for bruising her face. Not because they cared. She had survived beating because they didn’t want any marks or bruises on her body, but Darcy had tried escaping many times and refused certain examinations, therefore they had to find a way to discipline her.

They lashed her feet soles, making her unable to walk properly, let alone escape.

Darcy had her calming tea. It didn’t taste the best.

After tea, Ephraim walked her back to her room. Oh Lord, she didn’t want to part from him. They had talked for a few hours, yet it wasn’t enough. His soothing voice was so pleasing to her ears.

“I hope the tea helps you sleep,” he said.

“Thank you for tonight,” she told him.

He brought her hand that he held up to his lips and kissed her knuckles. She felt like a lady again. “Thank you for your company.”

They kept holding each other and he smiled. He stepped closer, placing a soft kiss on her lips. Her heart fluttered. “Goodnight,” he whispered.

“Goodnight,” she said forcing herself to release his hand.

He motioned for her to go inside and she hurried back inside before she said or did anything stupid. When she closed the door, she wondered again what insanity this was, but it surely was the best night she had so far.

Ephraim. She repeated his name in her head. It sounded as beautiful as he was. She went to sleep thinking of his arms around her and that somehow chased her nightmares away.

In the morning, she woke up from low groans of pain. Russell was reaching out and she hurried to his side. This time he looked at her with eyes fully open.

“Russell? Are you alright?”

“Corinna.” He breathed. “My dear sweet Corinna.”

He reached out with his hand again and she took it. He held her tightly as if afraid she would disappear.

“I am here,” she told him.

“You are here,” he repeated, his voice strained. “You are here. Alive.”

He tried to touch her face. “I am sorry,” he cried.