Page 88 of Wild Flame

Taking a deep breath, I spoke into the quiet. “You asked me how I got my scars . . .”

Malik made no sound, but he went very still behind me, and I couldfeelhe was listening.

My voice was slightly shaky as I continued, “They’re burns . . . from a dragon. A wild dragon. When I was eleven.”

It was quiet for several heartbeats, and then his arm clenched around me as if telling me to go on.

I swallowed. “When I was young, I wanted to be a dragon rider more than anything. I know most children do, but I not only wanted to be one, Ineededto be. If I wanted any of my parents’ attention, I needed to be more—special. My parents weren’t unfeeling towards me then, but they doted on my sister. She was the oldest and the heir, so it was to be expected. And she was also much more adventurous and outgoing. Everyone loved Helene. I was much more quiet and cautious by nature, and when I was young, I was painfully shy and timid. My mother once told me she should have taken our birth as a warning of what we would be. When she went into labor, Helene came within an hour, squalling and demanding to be heard, but I took several and finally came in my own time. It was a difficult birth—nearly fatal to my mother—and the healer told her she would most likely not be able to bear any more children as a result.” I had always thought that it was part of the reason my mother despised me so. But I didn’t say that aloud.

“Each year, Helene and I were presented to the unbonded dragons, and finally, at eleven, almost the moment she stepped into the Nest, Helene bonded Nova. My parents were so proud,and I was so excited for her. Envious as well, but excited. I was sure I would bond as well, but when the time came and I was presented to the dragons, nothing happened. My parents were furious and disappointed with me."

Malik's scoff was soft in the quiet night. “That was hardly your fault. Bonding at the age of eleven would have been rare indeed.”

He spoke the truth. Hardly anyone bonded with a dragon at that age—it was usually much younger, and definitely not past puberty. The only exceptions I knew of were Queen Lethara herself, and well . . . Rin.

“They didn’t see it that way,” I whispered. “And neither did I at the time. I couldn't bear the thought of not being a rider like Helene, like my father. I was so crushed that I had fallen short again. There was still one day left of the bonding celebrations, and I knew the wild dragons would still be there. So that night, I decided I would sneak out and go to the Nest. I was convinced that if I stood before the dragons again, one of them would bond me . . . So that’s what I did. I snuck out of the castle and into the Nest.” Malik let out a low curse, but I didn’t stop speaking. I knew if I did, that I would lose my courage to finish the story. “What I didn’t know at the time was that Helene followed me. I startled the dragons, and one reacted. Nova blocked the brunt of the blast, but . . . both of us were still injured by the flames.”

What I didn’t tell Malik was just how badly Helene was injured; how close she had been to death—how close we both were. Nor the bargain I had struck with the gods—one god in particular—to keep her alive. Likewise, I didn’t explain about the significance of the talisman I carried—though I had seen him notice me reaching for it on multiple occasions—or the role it played that night as well.

“I don’t remember much after that. I was in and out of consciousness due to the pain,” I said aloud, remembering how truly miserable it had been and how I had just wanted relief,anything to make it stop. “We were eventually discovered and brought back to the castle. My memory is faulty from that time. Helene healed quickly due to her rider blood, while I was left to heal naturally. There was only so much that could be done for burns inflicted with dragon fire, and my mother only allowed the healers to do the bare minimum to help me. She claimed I deserved my pain and any scaring for my stupidity in nearly getting Helene killed.”

“Curse the Nine, siren!” Malik hissed, seething fury lacing his every word. “You were a child. Yes, you made a poor decision. But you were still a child. That woman should be drawn over burning coals for allowing you to suffer in such a manner.”

I didn’t contradict him. And I didn’t comment on the fact that he had just called me siren again, though it made my heart warm.

It was silent for a moment. “What happened after?” he finally asked.

I shrugged. “It was months before I could do anything but lie on my stomach. The pain was such that for a while after that, I needed a cane to walk or stand upright.”

Again, silence reigned as I tried not to think of all those endless days of Helene and Nova keeping me company and trying to entertain me while I healed. I knew Helene had felt guilty for recovering fully when I hadn’t. She blamed herself, but she shouldn’t have. It was my fault.

Pushing the thoughts back to the shadowed crevices of my past where they belonged, I rolled to my back so that I could look into his eyes.

He stared down at me, his gaze fathomless in the darkness. The only light was the smoldering fire and the stars overhead. “I’m sorry for what you endured. A child should not bear the weight of so much.” His fingers rose to stroke my cheek and comb back a strand of hair from my face.

“It’s in the past,” I said.

“Thank you for telling me,” he said after another weighted moment. “For letting down your walls for me.” His lips quirked. “I know sharing is not easy for you.”

I rolled my eyes, and he chuckled.

I grasped his hand where it now cupped my cheek. “I’m sorry for . . . for what I said. For what I accused you of.” I released a breath. “I want you to know that I do not think that of you. You are not that kind of man. It was wrong of me.” I glanced away. “Yesh explained things. And I am trying to learn your ways, I really am, but this is all new to me and I was just surprised and jealous and hurt and—”

His warm lips silenced me as they claimed mine in a slow dance that had me melting into the pallet and the sand beneath me.

When he finally let me up for air, I grinned breathlessly up at him. “Am I forgiven, then?”

A flash of white in the darkness. “Yes, you are forgiven. And given what you’ve shared, it is only fair—"

Azrun and Bhorag growled simultaneously. Both of their massive heads jerked up and toward the cave opening. Malik was on his feet in an instant and so was Taj, both with their sai blades drawn.

“What is it?” I asked, scrambling to my feet behind Malik.

“The dragons heard—”

Before he could finish speaking, a loud scuttling and chittering sound reached our ears.

Seconds later, a wave of giant scorpions burst out of the cave, swarming out of the opening like a plague. They scattered in all directions. The eight-legged creatures had to be about two feet long, each with a pair of grasping pincers and a narrow, segmented tail curving forward over their backs with a wicked-looking stinger on the end.

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