I felt Kar, I felt Aurora, but I also felt someone else. I felt a warm presence,someonestrong and alluring. That was what pushed me over the edge, I realized during the night. Not Kar, not Aurora. It was, so strangely,the sensation of adragon,thedragon. The same one that’s been occupying my thoughts lately and messing with my senses and instincts.

I’ve never seen the guardian dragon of the volcano, except in my dreams. Did I hallucinate during the act, or was I in such a trance that I created his presence. There was a feeling of heat, of molten rock; He touched me, kissed me, slid fingers and lips up and down my body ...

“Mili,” he whispered with his lips while kissing my neck. A flash of golden hair, a flicker of blue eyes; a handprint on my heart, my soul. “I found you.”

He caressed me, deep blue eyes staring down the bridge of his strong nose into me. I inhaled as he pushed in deeper and deeper. As I moaned loudly, he inhaled to catch it. I held on to his broad chest and strong arms, all the while, he continued thrusting into me, the smell of him perfuming the air. Tendrils of apple cider and leather curled around me and spread up, up, into my body. I felt the warmth of the spicy smell enter my sex, unfurling within me, spreading out in waves of heat and passion.

It felt as natural as breathing, as easy as smiling, as exciting as...

... “Well, don’t deny it,” Kar says, snapping me back to reality.

I sigh, sad to leave the memory of the dream, which felt so good, so safe, so right; still, I have to face the day. “Don’t get worked up, I won’t deny it.”

“Ha!” he guffaws. “I showed you the best sex of your life, did I not?”

My brows furrow with concern; this might be harder than I thought, if he’s determined to be cocky about it. “Yes, it was good, Kar. And I so appreciate you sharing yourself with me. The thing is, I –it’s not a good idea for you to stay here any longer.”

The coldness I’ve been trying to ignore from him comes out in full force, then. His eyes shutter off into blank orbs, detached and judgmental. He smiles, devoid of emotion, and cocks his head to the side. “Well, I’m sure that’s a mistake. What, did your littlefriendget jealous? I could have a little word with her, I’m sure, help her to ... come around.” His grin grows into something even more sinister, and I step slowly back from him.

“No, that won’t be necessary. It’s just – I’ve never been with a man this way before, and Aurora is so good to me. I’m sure I’ve just complicated things between the two of us, and I cannot bear to do so further.”

He slowly presses in, closer and closer to me, and I continue stepping back, slowly losing my balance as I become more and more frightened. I stumble back into the living room chair, and Kar steps forward again, forcing me to fall into it.

I’ve ignored the signs from the start, he was handsome so I’ve indulged without thinking straight and without taking precautions. I’ve made a big mistake, and now that mistake is unleashing more trouble.

Once I’m down in the chair, Kar places both his hands above my shoulders, and I feel myself shrinking beneath him. “Kar–” I start to whisper.

“Oh, shut up,” he hisses. “Foolish girl. You welcomed me here, you practicallybeggedme to come home with you, to sleep with you. Do you realize the depth of this transgression?”

“What transgression?” The whisper barely escapes me before he’s pressing his hands down on my shoulders, sharp fingernails digging into my collarbones.

“Inviting me, just to turn me away.” After a moment, he releases me, and I try to hide my shaking (and to ignore the small trickle of blood coming from the wounds left by his nails).

“I helped you. I healed you.” I say as I muster up some courage and I try to remember who I am, and make sure he knows it too. “It was a mistake to bring you here and put you between me and Aurora, but you came willingly. Now it’s over. I’ve helped you enough.”

He stands, staring down at me like a hawk, before smirking cruelly. “You know,” he says, “You did help me, I think I’ve begun to remember.”

I stutter, “R-remember? Remember what, Kar?”

His smile widens into a ferocious, wild-eyed grin. “Everything.”

In an instant, he scoops up the woolen coat I gave him, laces up his boots, and practically dances over to the front door. Istare after him in shock, but at least I’m not shaking in the chair anymore. Once he’s at the door, he sends it swinging open like it weighs nothing, and I gasp as it slams into the wall.

“I’ll be seeing you, Mili,” he whispers, still smiling coldly. Then, just like that, he’s gone into the early morning light.

I run to the door to close it behind him, and see the Moon shining down on him like a silver cloak.

CHAPTER 11: MAX

Port and I have begun training again, thanks to Cory’s promise to protect us. We’re stomping to the woods outside the volcano, near the Northernmost point of Ethelinda before the volcano’s dominion. When we arrive, we’ll practice bending our elements (fire for me, water for Port), hand-to-hand combat, and weaponry. There’s just one problem.

I am dreadfully, dreadfully out of shape.

As if he can read my mind, Port nudges me with his shoulder. “Cheer up, friend,” he says. “Today will be better. We just have to regain our rhythm.”

“Damn our ‘rhythm,’” I scowl, “I need mystrengthback.”

He sighs as I plant my heavy satchel in the cold and dewy grass, but I ignore him. I motion impatiently for him to drop his short sword and start stretching. He plops down on the ground beside me, and together we flex our legs and backs.