I came to form through the heat of flames that to me felt like a hug. I stood in Kara's bedroom as she slept, her blankets tossed aside. Her bandages sparked rage within me that only dampened when I told myself that he would die. He would be given a death befitting such a pathetic weasel.
Since I was a child I'd seen her dancing in my flames, I heard her voice calling to me, I felt her touch in my sweetest dreams. Now she laid in her bed, our children safely bundled within her, I approached her.
"Be careful," Her soul whispered to me.
I didn't believe she hadn't put the pieces together as to who I was. I believed that in her heart she knew but she didn't care.
Suddenly the door creaked open and my head whipped around to see the blonde Kara had met.
"Sarah."
She froze, her hand over her heart and her eyes wide. I slowly stood. I held out my hands as a sign of peace.
"It's alright, ma'am," I explained as I stood, "I'm the father. My name is Adrian."
"How did you get inside?"
"The balcony."
Her gaze shifted to the balcony door, then to me, "You can't come into this home unannounced."
"I apologize. I was desperate to see her. I swear I mean you no harm."
She watched me. My skin was white as snow with undertones of gray. My eyes were black and my hair was white. Some humans looked this way but every flamebringer looked this way as well.
I was tall. Six feet. I had an oval face but with a pointed chin and big eyes. My hair fell to my shoulders in curls.
"What are you?" Her voice was hushed.
"I'm a human."
"Please be honest with me."
"I am. I promise."
Sarah looked to Kara, then to me. Hesitantly Sarah walked to the bed and shook Kara awake. After Kara sat up and rubbed her eyes she showed a flicker of fear when she saw me, only to shift to the horror that stabbed my heart.
"Do you know him?"
"Yes. He's the father. I'd like to speak to him alone, please."
Sarah nodded and left, shutting the door behind her.
Once Kara knew we were alone she hissed, "You lied to me."
"Did I lie to you or did you lie to yourself?"
A low growl rumbled from within her. At the presence of my smile it only intensified.
"I love you, Kara. I love you so deeply. No fire can burn hotter or brighter than my passion for you."
She froze. Her lip quivered and her eyes fell. Her words were choked, "In your arms I felt invincible. Now I just feel betrayed. I never want to see you again."
"That's a lie."
She faced me then with tears in her eyes that lacerated my heart, "Do I look like I'm lying? That I'm joking? I looked at that night as something beautiful. but something beautiful wouldn't have caused me to feel so stupid, to lose any hope for the throne, to lose my family. Now I just feel defiled. You got what you wanted. Don't revel in my pain. Just leave."
"You think I enjoy seeing you this way?"
"Of course you do. You love that you made a strong royal weak."
"Maybe I was selfish to beguile you but I didn't deceive you. I told you who I was. You didn't believe me not because of me, but because in your heart you know me."
"I met you once."
"I've seen you dancing in the flames I've conjured. I know you've seen my face in the moon."
Her lips quivered again and her face fell into her hands. Her body shook as she sobbed. I laid down beside her and pulled her body to mine. I expected hostility. Instead she forced her face as close as it could get to my heart and sobbed until she was gasping for breath as I rubbed her back. When her body weakened against me I turned her onto her back. I stayed in her bed just stroking her cheek and kissing her wet face. I laid my hand onto her stomach. I closed my eyes and delved into her soul where our children laid. I saw them held in a chasm of red velvet. I knelt before them and they crawled onto my lap. I felt Kara sink deeper into nothingness as I held our children in my arms. I kissed each on the forehead. Looking at them I could see how they looked from when they first came to life under her loving touch, to them in childhood, to their teens, adulthood, to their elderly years that brought tears to my eyes.
"No matter what comes of life I'll be here for you both."
They wriggled together on my lap. When the vision faded I felt their loneliness. I leaned in to press my lips onto her forehead.
"I've loved you before you've given me this gift and I'll love you for eternity."
I stood and crossed the room to light the torch mounted on the wall. I eased my finger into the flame and like a warm hug the fire devoured me. In the blink of an eye I was within the home of her ex fiancée.
He sat at his desk beside his bed writing a note. Looking over his shoulder I could see he was corresponding with her hunters. I felt fire brew within me, boiling my blood. I stood there, watching him intently, until he turned around. The blood drained from his face and his eyelids peeled back. The corners of my mouth curved as my lips pulled back to form a sneer. I took several steps toward him. His breath caught. I could see the disbelief in his face.
My people were unseen. I spoke to my clients after they whispered my name into fire. Other than my meeting with Kara that was all.
"I pictured you as much more intimidating. Tell me, is it only with women you have a spine?" I growled, and when he didn't respond I punched him in the stomach, forcing him to coil into himself, "I'll let you gather yourself."
I sat on his bed, my weight rested on my elbow that perched on my knee. I watched as he gathered his breath.
"You're Adrian."
"No contract this time."
"You took the love of my life from me."
"The love you'd treated like garbage. You two hadn't met when I'd laid with her. You tried to harm her. You scorned her."
"She's creating a monster."
I brought myself to my feet and with every step toward him he shook more and more.
"She's creating nothing of the sort. You're about to see a true monster."
I pulled back and plunged my fist into his chest and ripped out his heart. I set the organ down on the desk. I then tore his letter to shreds before writing beneath the heart 'none shall harm her.'
I crossed the room and placed my hand into the fire. It took me into my quarters. It was a massive crescent with one half being my study and the other my bedroom. In the middle was a lounging area.
I fell onto my bed and turned to stare into the fire roaring in the stone fireplace. I fell asleep to the image of Kara dancing.
In my dreams she laid on my chaise lounge with a book as our children played before her. Her long hair was tied back in a ponytail. It accentuated her square face and high cheekbones. She had a cute button nose. Her catlike eyes were framed with thick lashes and bushy eyebrows.
I sat down in the chair beside her. I bent to scoop up our children and lay them in my lap. I cradled them as they continued playing with their dolls.
"You killed him?" Kara asked me.
"He hurt you. He forced my hand."
"So dramatic," She hummed, "I have to leave."
"Why?"
"My mortal form is of the belief that I must protect Sarah and her family."
"It isn't safe for you to look for a home in this state."
Her eyes flicked to me without turning her head, "Your actions have consequences."