I did not know that the princess could do anything to make me feel any angrier but being smacked in the back of the head by a cold, hard object pitches my mood down a notch further. My body temperature flares and the irritating thing slides down my back before evaporating.

Now to deal with the other irritant. I turn slowly and advance on the girl. The slight smirk quickly fades from her face and she gulps.

Just a reckless child playing in an adult's world. I think a lesson is overdue. I slide off my leather belt and makes a show of testing its strength.

Her eyes widen and she edges towards the other side of the bed. "W-what are you doing?"

"I am going to tie you up. The question is, should I gag you? Because you are going to scream. Now, while this will no doubt add to my 'barbarian' reputation, it would be so satisfying to shut you up."

Kai. Antares gives a warning growl through our mental link. Leave her be.

She is an irritating troublemaker who needs to understand that life is not a game.

You misjudge Elissa. I sense a noble soul.

Your senses are normally impeccable.

They are. I can feel the dragon's displeasure.

Antares and I are a team, and it is rare that we disagree like this. The discord between us, combined with the vulnerability portrayed by the girl, makes me wonder whether I am taking this too far. Obviously I will not hurt her. My aim is just to scare a little sense into her.

Pushing aside my concerns, I lunge, but she is so damned fast that I only manage to grab a fistful of material. She struggles wildly and there is a horrible ripping sound before she springs away, leaving me holding on to the remains of her dress.

Before I know it, she is across the tent and grabbing one of my daggers from the table. Witnessing her take a fighting stance, I do not know whether to laugh at the foolishness in daring to challenge me or to be impressed.

"Do not be a fool. Submit and put the weapon down before you hurt yourself."

Her posture remains steady and she responds defiantly, "I will die fighting before I submit to you."

Stood there in figure-hugging leather, with anger sparkling in her eyes and a flush to her cheeks, she does not look so much like either an ice maiden nor a child. Her spirit is much more like a Dragonite than any elf that I have met.

The image of us entwined in an amorous embrace comes unbidden into my mind. I immediately quash it, but it is too late to stop the flames from writhing beneath my skin begging to burn free or to stop the blood from starting to flow south.

"Do not flatter yourself princess. Why would I want a spoilt child? You do nothing for me." I throw the belt at her feet and turn my back on her, not wanting her to be aware of my lie.

"Spoilt child!" she exclaims angrily.

Anger resurfacing, I turn to face her. "Did you tire of your cosseted life as a princess in Alfheimr? Do you court trouble simply to amuse yourself?"

"How dare you?" She approaches me and the air between us almost crackles with tension. "You know nothing about me."

"Then enlighten me, princess."

"I would hardly call my life cosseted and maybe I do unwittingly attract trouble, for you are not the first to hold me captive nor threaten me with violence."

Perhaps I have misjudged her. Either she is an incredibly good actor, or she has suffered.

She shakes her head, refusing to look at me. "I was told that a great hero would help me. Instead I get you."

Closing her eyes, a single tear trickles down her cheek. The sight cuts me deeper than her words. I am filled with shame and my anger evaporates. Before I know it, I am brushing that teardrop away with my thumb.

"Please accept my apologises for my uncouth behaviour. It has been a long day..." I leave the sentence hanging, for there is no reasonable excuse.

She gives me a tentative smile. "I'm sorry too. I have hardly been easy."

"I ruined your dress and will of course, purchase a replacement," I insist as I guiltily eye the lump of brown material on the floor.

"Do not worry. That thing was hideous," she responds crinkling her nose and giving a dismissive flutter of one hand. "I don't suppose that there is a rain chamber that I can use."

"Follow me." I pull aside the canvas hanging behind the bed, which leads to a bathing area.

Elissa rushes over to circular, tiled bathing pool and she grins. There is something infectious about her joy and I find my own lips curling in response.

"Oh, it's cold." Her face falls.

I want to restore her smile and after rolling up my sleeves, plunge my arms into the water. We Dragonites generate our own heat. Preparing a warm bath for her is the least that I can do to atone for my brutish behaviour.

.....

While Elissa is bathing, I finish removing my weapons and inspect each one. Absentmindedly, I rub at my arms, then roll my shoulders. My skin feels tight and my inner fire is burning hotter than is normal. Uncomfortable, I shuck out of my breastplate and shirt.

I am sat on the bed, nursing a tumbler of firewater when she emerges, dressed in a white silk nightgown and her hair wrapped in a towel. Remembering my manners, I rise. Her eyes widen slightly taking me in and she flushes prettily before looking away. I suppose I could consider putting a shirt on.

Her gaze not meeting mine, she shyly asks, "What are the sleeping arrangements?"

"You must take the bed," I insist gallantly. "I will sleep on the floor."

"No, I think that you should take the bed. You deserve a proper rest. I have spent many a night sleeping on the ground during my time in Elysium."

"No my princess, it is impossible for me to take the bed." I find myself growing irritated. "Do you think me so soft that I cannot lie upon the floor?"

"Of course not. It's just that I cannot vouch for your mood if you do." She raises one eyebrow and there is a glint of humour in her expression. "We could both be stubborn and sleep on the floor if you like. Alternatively, we could compromise and share the bed."

I scrub my face with my hand and encounter several days worth of bristles. Need to do something about that. I sigh, her stance reminds me of the stubbornness of Dragonite women, I guess women in general. "You are not going to back down are you?"

When she shakes her head, I hold up my hands and admit defeat. "Very well, I shall lay on top of the covers."

She nods and offers me a brief smile before sitting on the bed and busies herself trying to towel her damp hair. Droplets of water drip onto her nightgown. I am about to go and shave, when she looks up at me and bites her lip.

"Lord Kai, may I ask a favour? I had a Dragonite friend, who used to help to dry my hair. I don't suppose that I could impose upon you?"

"It is no trouble," I respond taking a seat behind her.

I run warm hands through her hair and marvel as the silken strands slip between my fingers. Her hair could have been spun from moonlight. The simple task is surprisingly intimate and I am grateful to escape into the bathing space.

When I finally step into a cool pool of water, my heated skin sizzles and the air fills with steam. With my head resting on the edge, I close my eyes and reflect upon the day. I cannot believe how wrong I was about her.

Well you should have listened to me. Antares pipes in peevishly.

Yes, I am sorry my friend. I should have trusted your sage council.

I almost fall asleep in the water and hastily get out. Unable to bear a shirt, I pull on leather trousers and pad barefoot into the sleeping compartment. Elissa is already asleep and looks so petite and innocent curled up on one side of the bed.

Beyond weary, I lie back and am thankful for the soft mattress. My flames rush to the side closest to Elissa, where they flicker beneath my skin. Irritated, I grumble under my breath and turn onto my side. Only that is worse because the flames lick at the underside of the huge red dragon tattooed across my back.

This is ridiculous. It is like being a youth again. I am a warrior. Wielding an iron will, I subdue my unruly inner fire and resolutely close my eyes.

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