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Ravina looked around trying to find an escape from this conversation when their horses suddenly made aggressive movements. Their heads turned.

Darcy was trying to attract Rani by biting and smelling her. She reacted defensively and Malachi hurried to her side before she could start kicking.

“Hey… your stallion is being aggressively desperate.” He said as she quickly went to Darcy to hold him off.

“I thought it was a stallion thing. Reminds me of someone,” she mocked as Darcy made another attempt to get away.

“How come you know what to do with him then but not me?”

“You want to be tamed, dragon?”

“I don’t mind,” his eyes seized her, moving over her like hot iron.

Rani calmed down and he came over to help her with an agitated Darcy. Darcy stepped away from his touch. Ravina reached for him, caressing him gently to calm down and steering him away from seeing Rani.

“He knows you don’t like him,” she teased.

“Of course, I don’t.” He admitted, unashamed. “You caress him, you ride him.”

Oh lord! Now that she knew the meaning her mind was visualizing words.

She kept her face hidden but Darcy was insisting on having his way.

Malachi chuckled. “You really underestimate a stallion who wants something.”

His gaze followed her as Darcy took her in rounds. “Will you help?!” She asked.

“You are the tamer, princess. He doesn’t like me and I don’t like him either. We can sense each other.”

“I thought you were good with horses since you carve so many,” she replied, getting a firm hold of Darcy and turning his attention away again. She walked him to a tree to tie him up.

“The carving is… ” he began and then hesitated.

“Is what?” She asked, curiously.

He looked ahead, his lips pressed into a thin line. “It is… more about my love for trees.” He said walking closer to one and placing his hand on the trunk.

Love for trees?

When she said nothing, he glanced her way. “I know it sounds odd, but trees are also alive.”

His hand trailed down the trunk and he said no more.

“It is not odd,” she said hoping he would tell her more. There was more in his eyes as he looked at the tree. A passion she had not seen in his eyes before.

Malachi smiled faintly. He knocked on the trunk. “Different trees are good for different things. Some are easier to carve, others are easier for building things. Some are stronger and last longer, others are better for shaping. You can tell just by touching and listening if you know them.” He explained.

No wonder he reminded her of wood, she thought. He seemed to know a lot about them. She licked her lips and felt the taste of coffee on her tongue. Was this from the kiss? His skin tasted coffee?!

“You seem to know a lot about trees,” she said.

“Yes,” he said not sounding excited.

Ravina frowned. He liked trees. Fire easily eradicated trees.

“Who taught you?” She asked, walking along the trees on her side as he walked slowly to the next trees.

“No one. I just learned.” He looked over. “It is a strange hobby, isn’t it?”

He repeated it. She guessed that he was discouraged from liking them. He was told it was odd. She thought the opposite. She liked to see that he had this side, that there was more to him.

“No. Or perhaps I like the strange things.”

He looked at her with a smile in his eyes.

“You might not believe it, but I wanted to build my own house. Make my own furniture, paint it.” He admitted.

With his talent, he probably could. “Why didn’t you?” She asked.

He shrugged. “You don’t build houses when you are a prince, an heir to the throne.”

“Why not?”

He turned around and leaned against the tree instead with a sigh. “Because you are supposed to do more important things.”

Like terrorizing humans and controlling them. He looked away, his gaze looking into emptiness.

“You are king now.” She reminded walking over the distance. “You can do what you are passionate about. That only makes people admire you.”

People with a passion and a talent often impressed her. To have that one thing you burned for, that you learned everything about and became an expert in made you feel like there was something to live for. Made life a little less sufferable.

“Would I build a house now?” She noticed the slight shake of his head.

“Why not? You don’t have to start with the house. Perhaps you can build the furniture first. Make the doors and the windows. Sketch what it would look like and decide where you would want it to be.” She came to stand before him.

He watched her thoughtfully, his eyes saying many things but he remained silent. They looked at each other as the wind blew between them then he pushed himself away from the tree. “Shall we continue,” he said and she wanted to know what he had been thinking. What was that look in his eyes?

They mounted their horses and rode away. “Where are we going?” She asked.

“Have you ever seen a waterfall?” he asked her.

“No.”

“Then I will take you to one,” he told her.

After a while, Ravina could already hear the rush of water as they slowly left the woods behind. They arrived at the river, surrounded by rocks, cliffs, and greenery.

Malachi dismounted his horse and then came to help her down. This time he held her still, his fingers burning into her waist. She licked her lips again, tasting coffee still. Or was she smelling him this time?

Releasing her, he took her hand instead and led her to the river. She thought he would stop and not walk her into the water. She resisted. “What are you doing?”

“You need to try the waterfall.”

“I will get wet.”

“That is the plan,” he drawled.

“Malachi!” She couldn’t stop him and just had to throw her shoes off quickly.

“Trust me. It will feel good,” he promised.

Did she have a choice?

She stepped into the cold water, slowly getting used to the temperature as she stepped further in.

They stopped a short distance away from the waterfall. “Try,” he said motioning for her to go under the water and let it pour over her. Truth be told, it was tempting.

“You go first,” she told him.

“I think you have seen me wet and naked enough. It is a little unfair, princess.” He said eyeing her.

“I didn’t tell you to be wet or naked.”

“Well, then I am telling you to be wet. You can be naked too if you like. It will feel better on your bare skin.” His eyes swirled with wickedness.

This man.

Ignoring him, she went ahead to try. She felt the cold rush of wind as she stepped closer, drops of cold water already reaching her skin. She extended her hand, just to get a feel. It was cold, but it felt good.

Carefully, she stepped under the rushing water. She shivered, covering herself with her arms first as she got soaked, then her body adapted to the cold. It felt strange, like wild rain but much better.

She stopped hugging herself and pushed her hair back instead before leaning her head back, to feel the water on her face, soothing her, and causing the tension to melt away from her body. Oh, it felt so good.