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The first time he kissed her was on the back of her hand. He was but a young soldier, anointed as part of the Natlan’s Royal Guards.
The first time his lips landed on her fiery hand made his young, foolish self feel ecstatic. He was not Capitano, just a young guy with a name that he had long considered dead. The young boy thought that this was it. Standing to guard the safety of her people, aiming to be the best among the knights was his goal. He would dedicate himself to the remainder of his life as a knight.
“Never forget your oath, soldier boy.”
It wasn't a matter whether she would land a gaze on her as one amongst the many soldiers of Natlan. As long as he had the opportunity to fight, kill, and die for the Pyro Archon, it was enough.
By her blazing fire, he would be reborn once more.
✦
The second time he kissed her was on her lips. He was but a man, recently awakening his draconic origins, having the remnant of the old sovereign in his body. Having taken the Pyro Archon’s fancy, he was taken into her chamber for examination, interrogation, and… something more.
The second he tasted her lips, he was surprised at how gentle the warmth of her lips was, but more so at the fact that she would gaze upon him with a stare only a lover would give to him—not that he was sure, there wasn't any that came before Mavuika.
“Don't take your eyes off me.” Her whisper was warm, passing like a candle flick. “We still have the whole night, just for us.”
He supposed that was something not too unexpected. Even the gods may have curiosity of engaging in human things. Fire was the element of life and passion, after all. It was only right that she looked at him with such confidence, having met each other by destiny in this moment, in this lifetime.
By his blazing passion, he would adore her from then on.
✦
The third time he kissed her was on her neck. Before he was Capitano, he was her dragon, wanting to take possession of her. Even a dragon should know not to covet what was not his.
The third mark he left on her neck was bluish, a kiss of ice left in her ever-burning flame. He had hoped it would stay forever in her skin. A shallow expression of his desire, Mavuika had mockingly said.
“You and your desire to take back your sovereignty, and my responsibility as Pyro Archon… Should've expected that we will never work out.” Her eyes were still as bright as embers, but there was a hint of melancholy beneath it all. Fire always behaves and flickers the same, and sovereigns were just simply observant. “We cannot oppose what has been written, after all.”
That was true, but a dragon's desire was not enough to be contained in such a small entity of a mortal vessel. Was that wrong to possess such feelings?
Was that why Mavuika stabbed him in the heart?
Was that also the reason she tore his stomach and ate his core?
Was there any reason why Mavuika, his fury, his beloved, his subject of passion and possession, still dared to look at him with such remorse? When all she could do was just ask, and he would give her everything?
Perhaps they weren't too different from each other, after all.
By his blazing frost, granted by Her Majesty the Tsaritsa, he swore that he shall be reborn anew and took back the flame that had once belonged to him.