Touch of Flame

Ravina was drowning in pain, her throat constricted by the claws digging into her neck. Each breath was a struggle, and the taste of blood filled her mouth, suffocating her further. Coughing only worsened the situation, causing the claws to cut deeper and intensify her agony.

Suddenly, a violent crash shattered the room, the wall breaking down and revealing the chaos unfolding outside. Through her haze of pain, Ravina caught a glimpsed Nazneen of, holding a woman drenched in blood in the crook of her arm. "Is this your sister?" Nazneen asked, her voice mocking.

Ravina could feel Zoila stiffen, but instead of releasing her grip, she tightened it even further. "Release her!" Ravina heard Nazneen\'s commanding voice.

"No. You release the woman first!" Nazneen\'s determination rang through the room.

Zoila defiantly refused. "That won\'t happen!"

"Then your sister will be dead," Nazneen warned, her words heavy with consequence.

Zoila\'s resolve to bring destruction upon everyone was apparent, fully aware that her own demise was imminent. However, the tension was abruptly shattered by the piercing sound of a gunshot. Ravina was startled and then suddenly Zoila released her and collapsed to the ground. Outside the broken wall stood Saul, his pistol still smoking. 

With trembling hands, Ravina instinctively pressed against her bleeding neck, desperately trying to stop the flow of blood. She could barely keep herself on her feet, feeling the room sway before two strong arms caught her. Panic gripped her as she struggled to breathe, her tears burning her eyes and her body convulsing in desperation.

The voices around her became distant, their panicked tones fading into the background. Among the chaos, someone urgently declared, "It\'s her neck. She\'s in critical condition. We need to act fast."

Ravina felt as though she was drowning, her attempts to reach the surface of consciousness met with failure. Her body thrashed, reminiscent of a fish out of water, as she fought for precious air.

Malachi, overwhelmed by panic, found himself unable to think clearly. He issued a flurry of commands, desperately trying to find a solution. However, even with his frantic instructions, the realization dawned that time was running out. 

The ongoing war outside had diverted attention and resources, making it difficult to provide immediate medical assistance. Saul, torn between his duty to protect and the urgency of the situation, had no choice but to swiftly return to the fight. Only Nazneen remained by his side, armed, and any attackers at bay while he tried to find a solution. 

"Malachi!" Nazneen called out, her voice filled with urgency as she shot down another dragon. "You need to give her a significant amount of blood, and if she can\'t swallow it, you have to mate with her."

Malachi froze, his mind racing with uncertainty. How was he supposed to accomplish that? The idea of mating in such a critical moment was overwhelming.

"She needs to be conscious for it," he responded, his voice filled with concern. "And I need to... shift. I can\'t just do it."

"You\'re a katharos!" Nazneen\'s tone turned stern. "You can do it without assistance. If you start the mating, hopefully, she\'ll regain consciousness for the other half. But time is running out, hurry!"

Resolute, Malachi decided to begin by giving her his blood. Biting into his own wrist, he lifted Ravina\'s head and attempted to feed her.

"Ravina!" He called out, trying to rouse her as he offered his blood. However, it seemed to have the opposite effect, as it felt as though he was drowning her. The blood seeped out of her mouth instead of being consumed.

She grew increasingly pale, her pulse weakening as time slipped away. Malachi knew that if he mated with her, just a taste would be enough to potentially save her. With no other options at hand, he forced a small amount of blood into her mouth, desperately hoping for a positive outcome, but the gravity of her neck injury left no room for hesitation or waiting. He had to exhaust every possible means to save her.

His heart pounded in his chest, fear coursing through his veins as he grappled with the possibility of losing her. Taking a deep breath, he mustered his focus. He needed to reach that delicate balance between his human and dragon forms, a state he rarely achieved unless his own life was hanging by a thread.

In that moment, he realized that their lives were now irrevocably intertwined. Ravina was his reason for existing, and the thought of losing her was unbearable. 

His fists clenched, the thought making his blood rush hotter in his veins, his skin thickening in response, his claws lengthening, sharpening. The pain seared through him as he tried to stay in control and not shift completely.

Meanwhile, chaos raged outside, the sounds of battle echoing through the air. Nazneen stood as a stalwart guardian, shielding them from further harm and creating a protective barrier that allowed Malachi the space he needed to shift and ultimately save Ravina.

The protrusion of Malachi\'s fangs marked the culmination of his transformation, his body trembling with the restraint required. Ravina lay in a pool of her own blood, her body weakened and lifeless. 

Malachi rushed to her side, cradling her upper body in his arms, her neck bearing multiple puncture wounds. Uncertain if this desperate act would work, he knew it was their only choice now, and he prayed for it to be the answer. Leaning down, he sank his fangs into her flesh without another moment of hesitation.

Her body jerked in response, a sudden surge of life coursing through her. Her hand instinctively grasped his shoulder, her nails digging into his skin. He could sense her pain, but he held on, biting harder than he should, delving deeper in a desperate attempt to save her. This was not the ideal version of mating he had imagined, but at this moment, all that mattered was her survival. He prayed that it would work, that this sacrifice would be enough to bring her back from the brink.

Ravina\'s nails embedded in his shoulders could aid in the mating process, as she, too, would need to draw blood. However, he longed for her to be awake, to have her conscious participation in this crucial act. He knew that her lack of claws, like a dragon, meant she would likely need to bite him as well for this unconventional union to take effect. Small marks from short nails wouldn\'t do. 

As the pain initially overwhelmed her, Ravina was drawn out of the drowning abyss of darkness. Her constricted throat found relief as the excess blood was forcefully drawn away, allowing her a precious moment of respite. The icy coldness that had gripped her gradually yielded to a warm sensation, as if she had been rescued from the frigid depths of the sea and brought to a sunlit shore.

Her senses awakened, and she could almost see the ethereal light, the blue sky adorned with billowing white clouds. The distant sound of waves reached her ears, and as she looked ahead, she saw him standing there, extending an invitation. "Do you want to fly?" he asked.

Nodding in response, she found herself among the clouds, swaying with their ethereal dance and feeling the gentle caress of the wind in her hair. The panorama unfolded before her, revealing majestic mountains, winding rivers, and fields blooming with vibrant flowers. Sunflowers.

In an instant, she found herself navigating through the sunflower field, her eyes drawn to a figure standing in the distance. At first, only his silhouette was visible, tall and muscular, his skin seemingly glowing under the warm embrace of the sun. His hair danced in the wind, and as she drew nearer, a smile graced his lips.

Malachi!" she exclaimed, and without hesitation, she closed the remaining distance, running into his awaiting arms.

In that embrace, Ravina found solace and security, sheltered from the chaos that engulfed them. The world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in a comforting darkness.