Touch of Flame

Throughout the day, Ravina couldn\'t ignore the newfound energy pulsing through her veins. It seemed as if the bond between her and Malachi was not only a sacred connection but also a source of strength. The fatigue she had felt earlier dissipated, replaced by a surge of vitality. It was as if their bond had awakened dormant capabilities within her, heightening her senses and granting her newfound clarity of mind. 

She wondered if this was how dragons felt, having the blood they had? 

Amidst her tasks, her gaze often found its way to Malachi, observing him engrossed in intense conversations. She could see the weight of responsibility etched upon his face, the toll of the recent events, and the ongoing challenges they faced. Her heart went out to him, empathizing with the burdens he carried.

As if sensing her gaze, he turned his head, and their eyes met. A soft smile graced his lips, and she couldn\'t help but return it.

Ravina could see the exhaustion in his eyes. Even before seeing it, she had felt his weariness in her slumber, sensing his worries and hearing the whispered concerns that plagued his mind. The weight of responsibility he carried, coupled with the attack on their home and his concern for her well-being, had taken a toll on him.

Her heart ached at the thought of being a source of anxiety for him. She wished to alleviate his worries, and assure him that she was by his side and that all would be alright. 

With her smile widening, Ravina sent a silent message of reassurance. 

As Ravina continued to carry out her tasks, Malachi approached, offering his assistance. "Is Walker on a walk?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice. "You humans have strange names."

Ravina playfully teased, "We just make it efficient. If you are a smith, you are called Smith. If you walk, then Walker."

Malachi contemplated for a moment, "So what would I be called then?" 

Before Ravina could respond, the old woman they were helping chimed in, nonchalantly saying, "the humans already have a name for you." 

Malachi paused, realizing what she meant. The humans naming him the terrorizer.

Ravina interjected with a smile, suggesting, "Well, given your artistry and fiery nature, how about Emberbrush?"

Malachi raised an eyebrow, considering the suggestion. "Emberbrush?" he chuckled. "Yes, that sounds less fearful," he admitted, a touch of amusement dancing in his eyes. 

After helping the women and more people, Malachi tried to stop her. "You should go home now and rest. You shouldn\'t be lifting all of this. You just recovered." 

"I am fine. I feel stronger than ever. You forget I have dragon blood." She reminded.

"Still," he insisted. 

"Malachi, it\'s alright. We will go home together." She said, and then went on to finish her work.

Meanwhile, Walker spent the day feeling confused and unsure of his place in this new dynamic. Jonathan and Eric, kept him occupied, introducing him to the female dragons as if he were an intriguing meal to be enjoyed. Though initially wary, Walker found himself slowly easing into the company of these dragons, realizing that not all of them were hostile.

By the time dinner arrived, Walker\'s guard began to lower. He found it difficult to maintain outright hostility when everyone around him was so polite and accepting. Ravina believed that personal interaction and open dialogue were the keys to bridging the gap between their two worlds.

As they gathered around the table, Ravina\'s vision of unity and understanding started to take shape. It was through conversations and shared meals that they would come to realize that they were not so different from each other after all. The barriers of fear and mistrust would gradually crumble, replaced by a growing sense of camaraderie and the hope for a peaceful future.

Since everyone was present, Ravina thought it was a good opportunity to bring up the topic of the party that Ares had suggested. She glanced towards Nazneen, hoping for more information.

Nazneen took the lead, explaining, "We will also have half-dragons in attendance, including Ephraim and his crew. Ares will need to make arrangements to ensure that all of us can attend."

Araminta, who had been smiling, suddenly grew thoughtful and turned her gaze towards Ravina. "Since we are going to your world, we should dress according to your costumes," she suggested.

Ravina hesitated for a moment, realizing that she no longer had access to the attire of her previous world. However, Nazneen quickly stepped in, assuring them, "I\'m sure we can arrange for that. I will bring a collection of costumes for you to choose from."

Relieved, Ravina allowed Nazneen to take over that task. Fashion had never been her thing anyway.

She shifted her attention to Walker, who sat lost in thought, seemingly absorbed by his own contemplations. She knew the importance of gaining Pythagoras\' support. With the black and white dragons already on their side, as well as the crew of half-dragons, her father\'s army, and Ares and his men, adding Pythagoras to their alliance would further increase their strength. The organization possessed the right weapons and expertise, making them a valuable asset.

Ravina desired their collective power to grow so significant that any attempts at attack would prove futile. She wanted their united front to be impossible to defeat, sparing lives and preventing further loss. The toll of death and destruction had been heavy enough.

The rest of the night continued with talk about the party, costumes and what each would wear, and what the dance and food would be like. Who would have thought that one day dragons and humans would party together. Although Ravina wasn\'t a party person, she looked forward to this one. 

As they retired for the night, the house fell silent, and she could almost feel Malachi\'s exhaustion as he tossed his vest aside. Because of her and the attack, he hadn\'t been sleeping. 

He sat on the edge of the bed and looked at her. "I have been having these strange dreams…" he began. "It feels like they are yours but I can see them." 

Ravina\'s brows furrowed in confusion. "What dreams?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued.

"A couple, a human male and a dragon female," he explained, trying to make sense of the visions that had been haunting his sleep.

Arshan. The name echoed in Ravina\'s mind as she recognized the connection. "That is Arshan," she revealed. "I asked you once if you had a memory of a past life. I think he is me from the past."

Malachi\'s frown deepened as he absorbed this revelation. "What makes you think so?" he asked.

"It\'s mostly just a feeling, a connection I feel to him while having the dream," Ravina explained. "Chanan also mentioned that we are reincarnated until we fulfill our goals. Arshan, too, yearned for peace."

Malachi nodded thoughtfully. 

Ravina watched him, her eyes searching his face for answers. "Were you the woman, perhaps?" she ventured trying to understand why he would see her dreams.

Malachi shook his head. "I don\'t think so," he replied. With a subtle gesture, he adjusted the pillows, creating a more comfortable space for them to rest. 

Ravina extinguished the flickering candles, plunging the room into darkness, and they settled into bed.

"I wonder why you saw my dreams then?" She wondered as she nestled her head on the pillow, facing Malachi. 

"It is normal to share things when mated. The bond allows for it." He explained. 

Mated? They were already mated. She let that sink in for a while, and then she thought of how it happened, which concerned her because she knew it was probably not the way Mlaachi wanted it to happen. She knew this meant a lot to him.

"It was not the way you wanted it to happen," Ravina said softly.

Malachi reached for, his fingers tracing the edge of her face. "You\'re right, it wasn\'t how I had envisioned it," he admitted. "But… the mating saved you. What more could I wish for? No ceremony will replace that and…" he seemed to think for a moment. "In that moment, I found a strength in myself I didn\'t know I had. I think I like that our bond was forged in the midst of chaos." 

Ravina nodded, understanding what he meant. A bond forged in the midst of chaos merged through the storm. She liked it too. It gave a different meaning to the vows \'in sickness and in health, until death do us apart\'.

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A/N

Thank you for all the congratulations. As this book is coming to an end, I hope you can place all your votes on "midnight surrender". I am also happy to see many of you on myfavreads. I will release 3 chapters on 19th June, so you can look forward to that. Thank you for all your support <3