CHAPTER SIX FATED LOVE

Lord Flame POV.

“Oh no- Why is it gone?” Zara was frantic.

“Calm down Z, it's okay. I will explain it all.” I need her to calm down. I hated to see her stress like this.

“Flame, where did the mark go? Dexter is going to be so angry with me..” Zara glanced around nervously. “What kind of mate is this ass hole? She seems terrified of him” I thought to myself “Can we go inside? I don't want to be out here anymore.” Zara glanced around uneasily again “You know, out in the open..”

“Zara, I will not let anyone harm you. You are safe with me. Nonetheless, We will go back inside.” As we walked back into the castle Zara continued to look around nervously. I put my arm around her and squeezed her to me.

“I am right here, Z. You're alright.” As I whispered, the zap happened again, but this time she leaned closer and whispered back to me.

“Flame, I have always loved you. But I will not hurt Thorn.”

“You aren't going to. Our marriage was arranged.” I sighed. “She would love the option to leave the marriage and keep our alliance. Both our tyrant fathers are dead. We have nothing to uphold for them anymore.”

“Okay. Still, Talk to Thorn first. I guess I will talk to Dexter..” Zara sounded terrified.

“What has that asshole done to you, Z?” I grabbed her and turned her towards me, forcing her to look at me.

“It was a long time ago, Flame.” Zara was trembling. “Let go please. Please let me-” I let go immediately, a sick feeling creeping up my stomach. My sister had a similar conversation with me years before. My sister's words rang in my ears as if she was speaking to me again. “He did the unspeakable, brother. He raped me.”

“Zara, Did he..” Zara nodded at the floor. We stood in the hallway, she was shaking and crying. I wanted to hug her but was afraid of scaring her again. “Come on, let's go up and I will leave you at your room. I'll get you there safely.” As we climbed the stairs Zara's sobs quieted, It seemed she had stopped crying.

“Will you stay with me Flame? I am scared of what Dexter will do if he finds me.” Her fear saddened and angered me. I wish I could have protected her from what had happened. What he had done to her. My dragon growled in approval at the thought of killing him for what he had done.

“Of course I will stay.” When we got to the floor our rooms were on Zara stopped at Jade's door she was about to knock but suddenly seemed to change her mind, flushing as she walked away quickly. As I passed the door I knew immediately why she had kept walking. Loud moans and grunts could be heard from inside Jade's room. When we got to Zara's door she stopped abruptly and backed away from her door.

“Dexter is in there. He's waiting for me.” Her whisper of terror filled me with anger again.

“Here, get behind me.” I knocked hard on the door. Zara jumped and scurried behind me. The door opened and a naked man, wrapped in a towel answered the door. “You must be Dexter?” I asked him angrily.

“Do you have a problem, Lord Flame?” Dexter sounded ridiculously arrogant for someone who was just found naked in someone else's room.

“Yeah, I do. Get out of Lady Zara’s room.” Dexter sneered at me.

“I will wait for my mate to tell me to leave her room.” His tone sent me into a rage, my dragon clawed and fought to get out and rip his throat from his body.

“Dexter, you do not have permission to wander about the halls of my castle in the early hours of the morning. And if you speak to me like that again I will have you thrown into the dungeons.” I paused, glaring at the man in front of me. He glared right back. “You should know, the dungeons don't actually exist. It's a rock in the middle of the volcano where you will starve to death.”

“Flame?” Zara's voice was very quiet.

“You brought him back to your room!” Zara walked forward angrily. “I will bring whomever I please to MY room. You have no-” Dexter cut Zara off.

“Where.. the fuck is your mark.” Dexter walked forward into the hallway, anger in every line of his face.

“I- Dexter, Let me explain-”

“How dare you! You little bitch!” Dexter swung at Zara. She ducked, dodging his swing, and growling at him. Dexter leaped at her, grabbing her throat and beginning to drag her back into the bedroom. “No! Guards!” I leaped forward, Dexter dove aside to avoid me, dragging Zara with him. She clawed and grabbed at his hand trying to get air. She was turning blue. Dexter was in a rage, tossing and throwing her around to avoid my attempts to help. The guards ran forward attempting to help their leader. I pounced while he was avoiding my guards, this time taking down both people in my haste to help her. Zara spluttered and gasped for air as she clutched at her now-free throat. Crawling away she kicked Dexter as he tried to drag her back towards him. My talons came out long and black slashing at his face and arms. Anywhere I could reach. Anger had overwhelmed me completely. I tore and ripped at him. Wanting to end his life. How dare he touch my fated Love. He didn't deserve her.

“Flame! No!” Zara's voice dragged me back to my senses. It soothed me.

“Fine..” I growled. I stood dragging Dexter with me. “Take this lump to the dungeons The deepest ones..”

“Yes, Lord Flame.” Both men grabbed Dexter and dragged him down the hall out of sight.

“Oh my Gods! What happened? Zara? Are you okay!” Thorn was running down the hall. She helped Zara to her feet.

“Yeah I'm okay.” Zara's voice cracked as tears welled up in her eyes. She blinked them away. She had a dark hand print-shaped bruise on her neck. Thorn pulled her into a tight embrace.

“I'm assuming that was about you two being fated lovers?” Thorn asked with a smile.

“How'd you know?” Zara asked, surprised.

“How'd I know? Z, I have been waiting for that for years, Since we were kids and we all used to sneak around the forest together.”

“See, I told you. Thorn has no problem with us, z.”

“Alright..” She smiled at me. “I still need to talk to Dexter, Actually talk.” I glared at the wall.

“Fine, but I'm sending guards into the volcano with you, and I'll be going with you to the volcano. Come on”