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Ares had woken up early, despite having slept late. He wanted to sneak away and go to the sea before the day began. He got ready and snuck out of the room, and as he walked around one corner, a hand suddenly snatched him aside.

He did not hesitate to pull his pistol as a strong grip on his shoulder pushed him into the wall. He stopped his finger from pulling the trigger when his eyes met Nazneen\'s.

"Not bad! You are quick." She smirked as he held the pistol between them.

"I could have shot you."

"It wouldn\'t be the first time." She released him, and he put his pistol in the holster at his side.

"What are you doing here?" Ares asked.

"I actually came to steal you away, so I can have you to myself before the day starts."

"Oh, am I being courted?"

She took a moment to think. "Yes." There was a slight hesitation in her response. She didn\'t know exactly what the word meant.

Silly woman.

"I must warn you then that I am difficult to please."

She grabbed his wrist, her eyes twinkling seductively as she drew him closer while stepping back. "We will see," she said, then turned around, her hold on him still firm. She led him out into the crisp morning air.

Once outside, Nazneen shifted into her dragon form, her scales shimmering in the faint light of dawn. Ares climbed onto her back, and with a powerful flash of her wings, they soared into the sky.

As they flew, Ares felt a sense of freedom and exhilaration that only came from being high above the earth, the wind rushing through his hair. Nazneen seemed to share in his joy, her swaying in patterns that carried on the breeze.

After a short flight, they descended into a secluded spot by a river, the water gently flowing over the rocks. Ares slid off Nazneen\'s back as she shifted back into her human form, the transformation as fluid as the water around them.

"It\'s not the sea, but I thought you could use a swim," she shrugged. "I just thought the river water was more soothing."

Ares watched her for a moment, touched that she had thought about it. "That\'s thoughtful of you," he said.

She walked closer, dressed in all white and still looking like a goddess. She grasped his face, her gaze drawing him in from the way she looked at him. "Last night felt like a wasted night without you by my side," she told him.

Ares felt a warmth spreading through his chest, and this time he allowed it, even indulged in it. He pulled her into his arms, "we shall not waste tonight then."

Nazneen\'s eyes sparkled with happiness. "Good," she said, her lips curving into a smile. "Let\'s make the most of this moment too, then, shall we?"

Without waiting for a response, she pulled away and started to undress, her movements graceful and fluid. Ares couldn\'t help but admire the way the sunlight danced on her skin, making her look even more ethereal.

He followed suit, shedding his clothes, and together, they stepped into the river, the cool water enveloping them as they moved deeper.

The sensation of the water around them was soothing, and his body temperature quickly adapted to the coldness. He watched Nazneen as she swam, her movements as natural and elegant as if she was the sea creature.

Ares joined her, and they swam and dove, forgetting the rest of the world for a moment, and as they did so, they drew closer to one another, the space between them charged with a magnetic pull.

"How are your injuries now?" She asked.

He ran his fingers through his hair to touch his head. "Less painful." He said, his arms naturally snaking around her as she stepped closer. She was a woman made to be held. The curve of her body perfectly fit in his arms, and he took the liberty to let his hands explore. And God, the way she so easily reacted to his touch was maddening.

Her lips were already against his while her arms came around his neck. They shared a long kiss, only breaking it off once they lost their breath.

"I don\'t want to go back," she breathed, the tip of their noses still touching, their eyes still half closed.

"Shall we not?" He asked.

Nazneen drew back, her eyes widening with disbelief as she looked at him. "Do you mean it?"

"Whatever you wish," he said, his gaze unwavering.

Nazneen\'s eyes darted, her mind running to a thousand places. Duty or desire? How she could be torn between the two was a mystery to her because she knew herself to always choose desire.

"We... probably shouldn\'t. We have the trials and guests awaiting us."

She studied his reaction, expecting him to be disappointed, but he looked at her with a slight smile in his eyes that made her feel that he was rather pleased to hear her answer.

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. "Some other time."

They spent a little more time together, talking, teasing, and stealing kisses in between, before getting dressed and going back.

While she focused on the trials, Ares took Ravina and Saul with him to discuss weapons and training. Nazneen felt more relaxed now with the idea of Ravina and Ares together. She still didn\'t like it, but it didn\'t bother her as much.

What bothered her on the other hand, was the witch. She put her discomfort aside and decided to take matters into her own hands. She couldn\'t let Ares protect her at all times.

Taking Tenzin with her, she first went to visit the prisoners from the attack. Although she didn\'t think it was Sylas who sent them, she wanted to be sure. Dragons would rather die from torture than speak up, which was why it was often useless to keep them alive, but Nazneen wanted to try at least.

"Look who is here," one of them purred as she arrived.

Nazneen decided that torturing wouldn\'t be the way to do it this time. She would try something else. She came to stand before the man\'s cell.

"I was very impressed by your combat skills," she began. "I felt it would be a shame for you to... just die, so I am here with an offer."

"I don\'t need your offers. I would rather die," he replied.

"That is a pity, but I\'ll let you think about it. Think about whether you want to die as the defeated attacker or be part of history, part of the biggest changes that will happen in our time."

He glared at her with hostility but said nothing. Nazneen left him to ponder on it. When she climbed up from the underground again, she heard the sound of a gunshot. It seemed like they had started their practice.

Tenzin followed her like her shadow as she went back to the trials. Everyone was handing in their assignment. As Sylas stepped forward and handed his paper to the messengers, Nazneen turned to Tenzin. "Tell him to meet me near the temple."

She shifted and flew to the temple in the mountains, waiting near a cliff for him. He arrived quickly, appearing like a mist. A slow smile curved his lips. He was just like she remembered.

"Princ...no, queen Nazneen now." He stepped closer.

Nazneen tried not to recoil. "Hundred years. HUNDRED years in a cave! Is that not enough for you?" She asked.

"It was not about me."

"Then... do you think I deserved hundred years in a cave?"

"It wasn\'t about what you deserved. It was about what was best for you."

"Best for me?"

He nodded. "It was partly a punishment, but I did you a favor, Queen Nazneen."

Favor? "You are delusional."

"I am not. Think for yourself. Hundred years in a cave or hundred years outside with the way you were? Who do you think you would be today?"

"You can\'t know."

"I can indeed. It is my gift."

She frowned.

"Why do you think I locked you away? Why not just kill you? Or lock you away forever?" He asked, tilting his head. "Could it perhaps be that I wanted to see you thrive one day?"

"You won\'t be fooling me," she bit out.

He crossed his arms behind his back, still watching her with a tilted head. "Fooling you for what reasons? What do you think I want that I can\'t take right now?"

She felt her heart tremble a bit. "I don\'t know, but I will find out."

He smiled. "The truth always reveals itself."

"What about Ares? Did you lie to him about his parents?"

He sighed. "What do you think I would gain from telling such a lie?"

"Are his parents truly...dead?"

For a moment, she thought he looked at her with sympathy. "Yes."

Her heart sank. None of their parents were alive. Their children would have no grandparents. She paused. Where did the idea of children come from?

She shook the thought away. As a dragon female, she wasn\'t as fertile as human females, so there would be no children any time soon. Did Ares want children? If so, then he would be very frustrated with her. She felt somewhat discouraged.

Forcing her gaze up, she looked at Sylas again. "Since you are so eager to join court and have many abilities, perhaps you can tell me who arranged for this attack."

"Who doesn\'t matter because it won\'t be a one-time thing. You and King Malachi will encounter a lot of resistance."