A Savior of Flames

Chapter 31

Ascian and Elios both turn a ghostly shade of pale. Another tear slips from Ketzie's eye, and the sight of it clears the emotions fogging my head. I shake my head. "What are you talking about? That doesn't make any sense." Three sets of eyes turn to me, and Abraxis's arms tighten around my waist, almost as if he's frightened.

Ascian clears his throat, returning to a normal color—and frowning. "That's not possible. The Lost Savior prophecy states the individual would be a Dragon. It's particularly clear about that—and I would know, since you've made me study the ancient scrolls a hundred times over."

Ketzie breathes deeply, wiping a sleeve of her deep blue dress across her cheeks. "We should sit down. A bathing chamber is hardly the place to have this conversation." She doesn't wait for answers, and starts for the bedroom.

"I wouldn't go in there." Abraxis warns.

Ketzie pauses with her hand on the doorknob, turning with narrowed eyes. She takes in Elios, his shirtless form much like Ascian was moments ago—covered in oozing blood and forming bruises —and decides not to ask. "The library, then." Ascian follows after her instantly, leaving three of us.

Abraxis's arms stay tight around me. "Sweetheart? Can I let you go?"

Elios still holds the cloth over his arm, but the blood must have stopped flowing, or I must have lost my appetite. I nod. "You can let me go. I need to heal him and get the blood cleaned up."

Abraxis's arms loosen, as he places a kiss on the top of my head. "Don't be too long, I'll inform the others."

"Princess...what happened?" Elios asks quietly, after my brother's scent has faded from the room.

I motion for him to take a seat, and he silently obeys. I grab a clean cloth from the cabinet and replace the bloodied water in the basin with clean water. I begin working, starting with the cuts on his arms. "Ascian offered to let me bite him. At first he wanted the sensation, but then we both agreed I could use the extra power if I were to come heal you after he knocked you out." Elios stays silent, letting me work and speak. I move to his other arm, and my breath rattles as I watch goosebumps rise on his skin where my fingers touch when the cloth slips. "I couldn't help myself, truly. I can't stop thinking about blood, and he's more than willing to give it. While I was drinking, he asked to bite me too...and I had no idea how to refuse."

I feel the burn in my throat and behind my eyes, but I keep working, rinsing the cloth and washing the blood from his muscled chest and abdomen. "When his teeth sank into my neck I nearly lost all sense, and I knew there was no way either of us would be able to pull back from each other. It was so dangerous. The two of us can't drink from each other while alone." Or maybe ever again. I step back, the bloody cloth held limply between my hands, and my eyes fall to the floor. "But you pulled me back, and I'm so sorry it even had to come to that. I know what it must have looked like, when you came in to find me in your brother's lap, drinking from each other's throats. I'm so sorry Elios. This is all my fault." I set the cloth in the basin of soiled water and move away, giving him space.

He doesn't speak or move and I choke back the rioting emotions. I don't deserve to feel bad. I brought this upon myself. I wait nearly a minute in silence, and he remains frozen.

"Erista." He speaks the one word—so soft—full of forgiveness I don't deserve and tenderness that shouldn't be there. My lip trembles and my eyes remain on the floor. I hear the chair shift as he moves, reaching for me, and I let out a cry and throw up a shield of air around myself. I don't deserve his touch.

Erista, don't shut me out.

I hug my arms around my body and step back from him, taking my shield with me. I don't deserve your forgiveness.