The Fire Maiden's Desire Read online

  Jack threw a punch at her side and it nicked her on the way through. It was a little painful but she shook it off. It had been her fault. She was too busy paying attention to his body and not paying attention to what he was doing.

  Jack’s stomach fell as he felt his fist contact her side. He had expected her to move. This is what he always did. Throw a punch that was almost aimed correctly and she moved. If he’d hurt her, he’d never forgive himself. Hit her in the shoulder, sure, the thigh, sure, even the ass was fine but not the stomach. Not somewhere that would actually hurt. Not her face and not her stomach. He’d been careless, he wouldn’t do that again.

  Rachel countered with a right hook to his jaw and Jack let it land. He’d seen it coming in the way she held her shoulders and in her stance. He knew exactly where the blow was intended to land and he just took it. He deserved it for hurting her. It meant that the sparring would be over but he might get something else out of it. He smiled as the punch landed and then fell on his back.

  She was quite strong. Even though he saw it coming it still dazed him. The fall backward hadn’t been all for show. He seriously felt dizzy for a second. She was getting a lot better.

  Rachel rushed to his side and knelt over him. She cradled his head while he looked up at her. She bent down and kissed his cheek where she’d landed the punch.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to hit you so hard.” She looked so distraught and so compassionate. Why couldn’t she always look at him like this? Getting hurt was the only time he actually thought she saw him. One of the fleeting moments where Rachel looked at him and didn’t see the ugly thief.

  “My fault,” he apologized. “I got so distracted when I actually hit you for once that I didn’t notice the retaliation coming right at my face.” He laughed and put his hand on his jaw.

  “You have to pay attention, Jack.” She continued to hold his head and slid it onto her lap. “You scared me.” Her heart was pounding so hard that it filled her ears. She needed to quit daydreaming about him. It was dangerous. She couldn’t allow herself to have these feelings for someone, especially not Jack. The one person she really wanted was the one person she would never let herself have. The more she wanted to be with him the less she wanted to hurt him and that is exactly what would happen.

  Jack laid there for as long as he could until it started to get awkward. Staring at Rachel, his head in her lap was about the most enjoyable thing in the world. Despite this, every glance she gave him made it more difficult to stay there. She looked into his eyes and he was mesmerized by her gaze. She leaned in closer, the look on her face was very confusing. He wanted to kiss her but as the urge pulsed inside him he forced himself to stand.

  If he kissed her she would just punch him again and this time there’d be no regrets. Just like the last time he kissed her, she’d be mad for half the day. It wasn’t worth the feelings that came afterward. He still remembered that kiss. It almost seemed like she kissed him back, at least at first. Then she came to her senses and beat the hell out of him. He still didn’t understand why she’d gotten so mad but he didn’t blame her. It was stupid. You don’t just kiss a woman like Rachel. That type of woman, one so beautiful that it took your breath away, had to kiss you first. Especially when you looked like he did.

  Rachel stood up, very uncomfortable. Was she really just about to kiss Jack? He wasn’t drunk this time. Would he kiss her back? He sure looked like he wanted to. She thought back to their first kiss. How wonderful it felt. He was an amazing kisser. Then the frustration and anger hit her again. He’d been drunk and probably mistook her for one of his waitresses, either that or he wasn’t all that particular about whom he was kissing. Her chest hurt just thinking about it. She’d wanted to kiss him for so long. Why did he have to be drunk? Today he wouldn’t have been drunk and she bit her lip as she turned away from him. He’d wanted to, she was almost sure of it. Why had he stood up so quickly? She couldn’t have much with him but a kiss. She could kiss him if he wanted to.

  Rachel shook it off. Thinking this way was stupid. Even a kiss would hurt Jack in the end. He’d want more, he’d expect more…then she realized that it was Jack. Jack wouldn’t expect more, not Jack. She smiled and glanced at him walking around. He looked nervous, either that or upset. He was confusing sometimes. Perhaps it was for the best. She had been right, even a kiss could hurt him.

  The band of them packed up their things and headed off to Teralane. They stopped by Chuck’s house so he could grab some things for himself and Dave before a heartfelt goodbye from his parents. It seemed like Chuck’s dad was happy to see them go, though his mother cried. Maybe the blacksmith saw this as his son’s chance at a life. His son wasn’t the best blacksmith, in fact, he was horrible but he had helped kill a Drahlbeere. A job worthy of his father’s pride.

  On the way to Teralane they saw a sign in the road. It had drawing of King Daniel Volneer on it and the words below were ominous. ‘One hundred gold reward for the safe return of the king’s daughter. Anyone seeing the princess or providing details that result in her return will be paid in coin.’ Below this was the torn scraps of what looked like a portrait. The top half was missing and only her pretty dress was left.

  Jack laughed as he read it.

  “Maybe we should go find her.” Then he looked at the sign and stabbed the king through the face. “Nah, even the spoiled princess doesn’t deserve that bastard. She probably figured out what he was really like and split.” Jack walked on while Dave looked at Rachel knowingly.

  “Don’t you dare,” she warned.

  “I have many secrets,” Dave smiled. “I’ll gladly add yours to the pile.” He walked on and Rachel sighed. Dave was way too smart. In fact, he was too smart to be doing this job. Why was he not in some college somewhere, learning to be a banker or a teacher? Thankfully, Jack was not as observant nor as perceptive.

  Rachel caught up to Dave and stretched to put her hand across to his opposite shoulder. She pulled him closer.

  “If you ever need anything. You let me know,” she smiled then removed her hand.

  “I hope I never have to cash that in,” he said kindly then stood up straight again.

  Chuck kicked at the rocks along the road, completely oblivious to all the deception going on around him. He had friends and a job. That was all he cared about. His dad would be proud of him someday. This was his chance to prove that he wasn’t a screw-up.

  As they neared Teralane the day was turning to night. They set up camp a little ways from the settlement. They could see the dim lights in the distance and even hear some of the commotion in the town square. It sounded like the soldiers from Dahring had made their way here and were busy persecuting people, looking for the princess.

  “They sure want to find her don’t they?” Jack asked, looking off into the distance at the town.

  “Why do you hate the king so much?” Rachel asked. Dave and Chuck had turned in already. They were not used to walking so much but Rachel and Jack were far too familiar with it. They didn’t even break a sweat anymore. They had been walking almost constantly for a year now. Barely staying a day or two at each town as they meandered their way across the kingdom. Jack had no idea where they were going but Rachel insisted they keep moving to avoid the bounty on her head.

  “Not important,” Jack said sadly. Rachel hated to do it but she needed to understand. She had one card to play and she felt it was time to use it.

  “I told you my secret. It’s your turn.” She felt guilty because she had lied to him but it was for his own good. This was also for his own good. If she could understand maybe she could help him.

  “Fine,” he said, giving in. “It’s just hard to talk about.”

  Rachel was chilly so she snuggled up against him. This gave him courage.

  “When I was nine a band of the king’s men came to my house. The king’s brother led them and…” This was clearly difficult to talk about. Rachel picked up his hand and held it. Jack looked at his hand in hers and found
the desire to continue. He’d do almost anything to keep this moment going.

  “They killed my parents, my two brothers and my sister. They even tried to kill me. I was the baby of the family so they left me until last. Xavier stood over me and told me that King Daniel had ordered their death. He blasted me with magic and a woman that was with them threw herself on top of me. The blast killed her but I was saved. I was knocked out by the blast but she saved me. I never even knew her name.” Jack looked at Rachel longingly but she returned the gaze with compassion. It wasn’t what he hoped for but it was still nice.

  “I woke the next day and found my way to a town. I guess Xavier thought I was dead. I thought I was dead.” Jack laughed to mask the pain but Rachel could tell it was a rouse. She squeezed his hand more tightly.

  “It’s ok, Jack. Xavier is a cruel man.” Rachel looked down at their hands and for a moment Jack thought she was giving away one of her secrets. If he could just figure out what it meant.

  “Well, you know the rest. I stayed alive by stealing food then worked my way up to stealing bigger things.” He paused and looked at her. She returned his gaze and he saw something else there this time. It wasn’t much but it was more than just pity and compassion. He decided that this look deserved some honesty. “I’m glad I met you, Rachel. I never really thought about it before but stealing from peasants is wrong. They don’t have much more than I do. I have you to thank for that.” He thought on this for a moment. Maybe he wasn’t such a bad man. Rachel had shown him a better way and he actually believed it now. She made him want to be better.

  She pushed her head against his arm and squeezed his hand tightly.

  “You would have seen it yourself eventually. You’re a good person, Jack.” She yawned and released his hand to cover her mouth.

  “You should get to bed,” Jack said. He put his arm around her and squeezed tightly.

  “You know, you shouldn’t blame King Daniel,” she looked up at him, her green eyes pleading with him to believe her. “Xavier is an evil man, or so I hear.” She looked down again, she was hiding something from him. “King Daniel might not even have known what Xavier was up to. I hear that Xavier wants the throne.”

  “Really?” Jack asked in shock.

  “Yeah, and from what I hear. King Daniel is now his prisoner. He can’t afford to kill the king until they find his daughter. She knows the truth and if she ever found people to believe her it would ruin Xavier’s plans.” She returned her gaze to Jack and he looked down on her with a new understanding.

  “So you think it was Xavier’s idea? Why go to all the trouble to kill a family of farmers? I mean, what’s to gain there?” Jack’s eyes begged for another piece of enlightenment.

  “One of them must have been a threat. I hear…” Rachel looked down again and Jack caught her look once more. Every time she said ‘I hear’. It was like she was hiding something. “I hear that Xavier is looking for a man that could be a threat to him. He uses seers to find him. A man so strong that he rivals Xavier. But that is just what I hear.” She forced a laugh and Jack could hear something in her laugh. A sadness. Even though he could tell she was hiding something he believed her as if the king himself had told him. She knew something. Something more than she was saying but Jack was not about to push for more. She was still snuggling against him, his arm around her and he’d do anything to keep her right beside him.

  They sat there deep in thought for a while, staring at the fire. Jack could feel her drifting off to sleep in his embrace and he finally forced himself to stand up. He could sit here all night but the thought of her waking up beside him and being upset made him cringe. As good as it would feel, he would never hurt her or give her a reason to be upset with him. Not if he could help it and this time he could help it. It wasn’t winter and she hadn’t wanted him to snuggle. It would be selfish to assume.

  He lifted her up and moved her to her bedroll. She didn’t even stir until he had her safely inside it. She opened her eyes briefly and smiled at him.

  “Thanks, Jack,” she said softly then pulled the bedroll tightly to her chest and rolled onto her side.

  He smiled then put his bedroll on the opposite side of the fire from her. He didn’t want to take any chances. He could watch her from here. It would be a stupid mistake to lay beside her unless she asked. She might get angry and think he was assuming something else. He’d tried a few times and it always ended badly. All of them had been when he was drunk but the result would have been the same, even if he’d been sober. If there was ever going to be something there she’d have to be the one to start it.

  Chapter 7

  Rachel woke and noticed Dave was gone. Chuck and Jack were still sleeping. She frowned as she looked at Jack. She had hoped he would curl up beside her and hold her like he used to. The disappointment was tempered with remorse. She was being selfish again. It would only serve to hurt Jack. She pushed her disappointment aside and started the oatmeal with some water they’d brought with them. This campsite didn’t have fresh water anywhere near it. As she waited for the water to boil Dave came walking back, grinning from ear to ear.

  “What’s got you in such a chipper mood?” she asked returning his smile.

  “Figured these could heat up the fire a little,” he said as he handed her a stack of papers. There must have been at least ten pages. She looked at them horrified as she realized what they were. “Don’t want anyone to recognize the princess do we?” Dave smiled.

  Rachel looked at Dave with new respect. He wasn’t just keeping her secret, he was actively helping her. What a kind and generous man.

  “You sure you don’t need anything?” she asked.

  “Actually,” he started and looked at Chuck sleeping. “Can you make sure Chuck stays back? He won’t listen to me. He’s good at planning. He can get supplies and help with the chores but he’s not a fighter. That Drahlbeere was a fluke. He had a spear and distance but if it had turned on him…” He trailed off and Rachel saw something on his face. She had caught it several times before but as Dave looked at Chuck again she was sure of it now. This was the reason Dave wasn’t at some college somewhere. Chuck was his boyfriend. They were in love.

  “Does his family know?” Rachel asked.

  “Yes, we wouldn’t hide it from them.” Dave sat down beside Rachel, feeling much more at ease now.

  “You should have seen the look on his dad’s face. It was priceless. The relief and the understanding. He knew but was afraid to ask. The story about Chuck stealing for a girl.” He started but Rachel finished it.

  “He stole it for you. That story was for our benefit.” Rachel understood it all now. The strangeness at the blacksmith’s house. It all made sense.

  “Yes, Chuck’s dad doesn’t want anyone to treat us differently. He assumes everyone will react like the city guards.” Dave looked solemn now.

  “No one turned him in did they?” Rachel asked.

  “Nope, the guards went straight for Chuck. Even if he hadn’t done it, they would have blamed him anyway. They just got lucky. Believe me. They got really lucky. You don’t want to make Chuck’s dad angry. He may be old but he’d take on the whole city guard. They’d lose most of their men before they took him down.” Dave said this with respect. She wanted to ask about his own parents but from the appreciation and love he directed at Chuck’s dad she knew the answer. His own parents hadn’t understood or he hadn’t told them.

  “Well then, seems like I still owe you. I’m holding your secret, you’re holding mine but you went that extra mile to make sure nobody found out,” she said appreciatively.

  “Mine isn’t really a secret, just not something I want to announce,” Dave said smiling.

  “Fair enough,” she replied. “Still means I owe you.”

  “Just taking us along is payment enough. If we can find something we can do together…Chuck isn’t that good with reading and studying.” Dave looked at Chuck tenderly again.

  “He’s what? Eighteen?” she asked
as she stirred the oatmeal. She tossed the flyers into the fire and watched her drawing crumple and disintegrate.

  “He’s twenty,” Dave replied.

  “See, he’ll grow up soon. You two might just make good monster hunters,” she laughed. She heard Jack stirring from the other side of the fire and fell silent.

  “What’s that?” Jack asked, groggy.

  “Nothing. Morning Jack,” she replied and smiled at Dave.

  “Could you do me a favor?” Dave asked.

  “Sure, anything.” She stirred the oatmeal and pulled out some to taste.

  “Teach Chuck how to fight?” he asked meekly.

  “Sure, I’d love to,” she replied and then waved at her mouth. “Hot!” She waved some more then smiled. “But it’s done.”

  They grabbed their bowls and dug in. While they ate Jack looked on full of envy. Dave and Rachel had a secret. He’d heard part of it as he woke and it sounded pretty bad. If Dave stole Rachel right out from under him, just as he was making progress… He couldn’t even give the feeling words. Then he realized that Rachel didn’t belong to him, she didn’t even see him. If she wanted Dave then who was he to stand in their way. Dave was a decent guy. Nice, funny and kind. He sure knew how to talk to a woman. Maybe she deserved someone like Dave. Jack angrily scraped his bowl then used as little water as possible to wash it out. The worst part was Dave seemed to know how he felt about her and he was moving in on her anyway.