Touch of Flame

The grand garden of the courthouse was filled with the sound of trumpets and curious chatter as the people gathered to witness the coronation of the new queen of the X-clan.

Nazneen, former princess and soon-to-be queen arrived in a golden skirt with a matching top complementing the golden glow of her skin. Her eyes were adorned with black Kohl that made the amber in her eyes pop, and her lips had a sheen golden gloss.

Her jewelry was a few heavy pieces that made a statement. It made her appear powerful but not intimidating. She was a sight to behold and people gathered to witness her coronation were all stunned. Women and men from all clans were mesmerized by her beauty.

​ Nazneen showed no hint of nervousness as she walked toward the throne, where the king of all dragons sat beside his future queen. Beside them stood the head of the messengers ready with the crown.

Ares' gaze switched between the two future queens, this time thinking that he would leave them both and looking at Ravina beside Malachi he thought perhaps he should help Nazneen settle down as well. Find someone she could rely on. Then he shook his head with a smile. Why was he matchmaking these women? He should stop caring.

The priests, from the X-clan and Azar clan began the ceremony with traditional prayers and blessings, led by the Chanan and Ankine.

Ares stood among the crown and watched the Nazneen join in the prayers and then they blessed her by tattooing on her arms and hands.

"She is a beauty," Ares heard a few men speak about her. The way the man spoke made him frown. "Our queen needs a man by her side. I am sure she won't be difficult after being locked away." He chuckled.

"I heard she used to only bed those who are purebred."

The other man scoffed. "That was before. Our queen now must be desperate. I heard she found her breedmate in a human. There he is."

Ares didn't have to see to know that the man was nodding toward him. He pretend to have human senses and was unable to hear what they were saying.

"Poor woman got unlucky."

If they only knew...

Once the prayers were finished, Nazneen continued her walk toward Malachi.

"Our king got unlucky too. It seems our leaders are cursed." The men continued to talk. "Imagine having to deal with that fragile woman."

Fragile?

If she was fragile then what would that say about their king?

Ares ignored them and listened to what people were saying about Nazneen instead. Many were surprised because they expected something else as Nazneen appeared calm and confident in comparison to what they had heard about her.

"She looks lovely," a woman whispered. "I like those pieces of jewelry."

Ares knew what impressed them. Rich people and royalty were one of his many expertise.

When Nazneen arrived at the throne, Malachi turned to Ravina. He told her something that made her eyes widen.

"Is he asking her to crown her?" He heard someone in the crowd say. "She isn't queen yet." The person sounded upset.

Ravina said something in response but Malachi seemed to insist. He stood up from his seat, holding his hand out for Ravina. She took it, hiding her hesitance, and then the messenger came to hand him the crown.

Malachi took the crown from him and then led Ravina forward so they came to stand infront of Nazneen.

"He is making a mistake. He should take her as his queen instead. That would also bring the two clans together." Someone said.

Malachi and Nazneen? Ares almost smiled. That would be a sight to see but what a mess it would be.

"What a mess," Someone suddenly spoke from behind him.

Saul. He came to stand by his side. "My brother certainly likes complications. Wouldn't be easy to just take Nazneen as his queen?"

"Perhaps if you were a good adviser but your brother is in need of one."

Saul scoffed. "Are you then saying, Nazneen, is not good with advice?"

"It depends on what you need advice on but politics is a no."

"I am sure she will be glad to hear your opinion."

"I am sure she isn't easily offended. She knows her weaknesses." Ares retorted.

"Do all humans have a sharp tongue?" He asked.

"Are all dragons eager to pick a fight?"

Saul became silent and both continued to watch the ceremony. Malachi spoke a few words to Nazneen and then she kneeled before him and Ravina.

Malachi shared the crown with Ravina and together they placed the crown that was different from the humans. It was more of a headpiece, placed like a helmet of gold on the head and decorated with back peace looking like the tail of a peacock.

The crowd erupted in cheers and applause as the Nazneen rose from her knees, now officially crowned as the new queen. She stood tall, her eyes scanning the crowd as she took in the sight of people gathered to witness her ascension to the throne.

Nazneen stepped forward to address her subjects as he told her to. Some people also approached her to congratulate her. She kept her smile friendly, following his instructions, and took her time to speak to those curious.

Saul was silent and watched her with that suspicious look he always had. Unlike his brothers, he was completely uninterested in her. He seemed in fact to be uninterested in anything but conflict.

"Is it uncommon for dragons to mate with someone other than their breedmate?" Ares asked him.

"No. Nazneen's parents weren't breedmates nor were mine." Saul replied.

"Except for a desire of a purebred child, why would they otherwise?" He wondered.

Saul shrugged. "They might want a family and can't wait for their breedmate since they don't know when he or she will appear so they pick someone close to that."

"Close to what?" Ares frowned.

"The smell. It is what differentiates a breedmate from others, but we can be compatible with many. Some are more than others so we naturally pick someone with a scent we are attracted to but not necessarily as strong as the strongest which is our breedmate."

Ares nodded.

"Why? Are you worried?" Saul asked.

Ares smiled. If he only knew...

So someone with a closer scent?

"What about beauty?" Ares asked.

"It is part of the attraction as well but it can't be the only thing. The smell is strongest and even then, other factors are important."

"Then it seems your brother has found those other factors as well."

Saul's gaze shifted to Ravina and he watched her with his brother in silence. "It seems." He said without tearing his gaze away from them.

Ares watched them as well. It was interesting what he had learned. The instinct was just the driving force. Not the upholding one. Like Chanan told him, it was the compatibility of breeding. An attraction that could grow into something deeper.

His gaze then shifted to Nazneen. Perhaps Nazneen could find that deeper bond with someone else instead. A soulmate perhaps. If such a thing existed. Or perhaps, just a friend. Friends were the strongest bonds he had formed in his lifetime.

Nazneen continued to chatter with a few women and when they asked her about her jewelry, "my friend gifted them to me. He has good taste, doesn't he?" She said and then nodded toward him.

Friend?

The women turned to look at him, a few of them frowning. Everything was going well for her, why did she ruin it?

"Isn't he your breedmate?" One of them asked.

She looked at him, knowing he had told her to tell everyone that he was her adviser. Then she looked at the women again and smiled. "He is, indeed."

"Do you plan to make him king?" They wondered.

Nazneen chuckled. "He is too adventures to settle down."

Ares smiled. Good answer, he thought.

Now the women were offended for her. "Did he deny you?"

Oh, the woman could never win.

"I never asked him. I like our friendship and he is here to provide us and help us with matters concerning his kind. It is good to have someone from the other side."

They nodded. "Yes."

Ares tilted his head. She was better at this than he thought. Their eyes met for a moment as she listened to the women and they exchanged a smile.

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