Ezeas saw her come to a stop in front of him and every inch of his body felt ablaze with barely controlled emotions. Her eyes seemed to clear and she watched him with strangely calm curiosity, almost as if his presence in this storm were more illogical than her own.

Her red curls were darkened from the rain, clinging to her face and clothes. Even at their distance he could sense the restless energy coursing through her, his eyes catching every tiny movement her body made in impatient anticipation.

When he had realized she was moving, she was already right in front of him, her hands grabbing at his jerkin as she pulled him towards her.

Her lips found his and in an instant, all thoughts left his mind and something primal exploded in his chest. There was no time to hesitate as desire and instinct took over and he returned the kiss with insatiable desperation. His hands wound themselves around her slender body, pulling her close, eager for her body to press against his in its entirety.

Her fingers were wrapped into his hair, clenching and pulling, the pain sending sweet shivers through his body. Everything seemed to have led to this moment, every quiet moment between them, every dangerous event, which pushed them to their limits, it was all right there, under the rain.

As their lips parted, he looked into her gray eyes with wonder and confusion. She looked back with open and honest desire. No, what shone through her gaze was not just desire, it was something deeper, something far stronger. She was open to his rejection, the hurt he might cause her and she was willing to endure it for this moment, alone.

He sought her mouth again, unwilling to waste even a second of being close to her. His tongue grazed her lips and she parted them, letting him deepen the kiss further, as his hands started touching her body, through the drenched clothes.

A low moaned escaped her, spurring his fervor on and he quickly lifted her up, so she could wrap her legs around his waist, his mouth never leaving hers. He walked with her clinging to him, until he could press her back against the trunk of the nearest tree. Lightning flashed and the thunder cracked through the air, with deafening loudness. The danger of being so close did nothing to dampen the desire between them, as Saelina desperately tore at his clothes, seeking the feel of his skin.

When her fingers finally trailed across the pale expanse of his chest, her touch stoked the flames inside him. The intensity of his lust surprised him as her renewed his efforts to feel more of her pressed against him. He groaned against her mouth as her teeth bit his bottom lip. He broke away from her and started trailing kisses along her jawline, causing her to gasp and hum appreciatively.

As he reached the part where her neck connected with her shoulder, he sank his teeth into her skin and she moaned even louder. His hand went into her mane of red curls and he firmly adjusted her head, so he had better access to her neck, as he sucked and teased the skin there.

She had managed to free his upper body and her nails were raking across his skin in delectable pain and a low growled rumbled through his body as he bit her harder in response. He slowly lowered them both to the ground before he started undoing her clothes, eager to see and touch her naked body.

When her breast were finally freed, his fingertips circled her hardened nipples as she writhed on the ground, below him. He took great pleasure in watching the droplets splash against her supple skin as she was stretched out on the ground her gray eyes locked with his. Lightning flashed, casting dark shadows over the shapes of her body, every inch inviting and alluring him in the darkness that followed.

He felt her hands pull at his pants and every feather light touch along his length sent his body into a frenzy of need and longing. He sought her lips again, delving into the exploration of her. The heat from her closeness, the knowledge she wanted him as much as he wanted her, the exposure of being outside, yet safely away from prying eyes, the danger of the storm raging around them, it all added up and became a heady, dizzying mix, overtaking his senses.

When they were both finally naked, he had to stop himself from taking her, right then and there. Instead he took his time to touch her, his fingers finding her nipples and squeezing them gently, reveling in the way she squirmed and gasped. His hands roamed over her skin, feeling every plane, every indent and scar, every curve. He slowed down as he neared her lower abdomen and softly grazed the hairs between her legs.

Her small gasp and the shudder running through her made him smile as he touched her more directly. She moaned as his fingers caressed her with practiced movements. Her voice heightened into a desperate whimper as he located her center and touched it, softly.

“Ezeas.”

His name from her lips sent a thrill through him and a sense of possessiveness rushed through him. He teased and prodded, eliciting more of her encouraging sounds. After a few minutes, he moved his hand away and sought her mouth, once more. Her soft lips melted against his own and her sweet breath mixed with his.

As the droplets fell from the branches above, she allowed him to join with her, the sensation unlike anything he had expected. As he moved, she moved with him, every thrust making his blood soar. She whispered his name, begging for more and his mind revolved around her only. Every gasp and shudder, every touch and move, it all mesmerized him and kept him firmly locked to her, body and soul.

His eyes were trapped in hers as her expression kept changing with the growth of her pleasure. Molten heat started pooling in his core, itching for release. He kept his gaze on her, his movements smooth and firm. Her voice became louder and her body began to tremble as she raked her nails over his back, clinging fervently to his body. The moment he saw the ecstasy explode in her eyes, he followed her, the pleasure wracking through his body in sweet, warm waves.

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In the afterglow, he could not stop kissing her, the softness of her skin, her mouth, her hair so very precious to him. She returned his eagerness, nuzzling closer to him. As her breathing grew deeper and she dozed off, he dressed them both and carried her to a nearby cavern; he got a fire going and held her close, to make sure she did not get too cold.

The thunder storm raged on, outside. He watched the rain, deeply lost in thought as he considered the future.

* * *

Saelina opened her eyes to see the sunlight filter through the cave entrance. Ezeas was sitting against the opposite wall, his expression dark and foreboding.

“You're not coming back,” he stated, without hesitation.

She sat up, her mind calm.

“I can't.”

He nodded but did not ask for clarification. She observed him closely and he met her gaze. The connection was still there, the magnetic draw between the two. He broke eye contact and looked towards the entrance.

“You need to leave. As long as the sun's up, I have an excuse not to track you down. But come nightfall, I'll be sent for you.”

He reached over and grabbed a backpack, tossing it towards her.

“There's enough to last you for a few weeks.”

“Ezeas-”

“Don't,” he interrupted, his voice pained. “Tell me nothing. The less I know, the harder it will be for me to find you.”

Saelina's heart ached as she grabbed the bag. She wanted to explain everything to him but he was right, she would only make it harder for him to give her this chance. So she fought back her tears and nodded, before standing up. He stood as well, and crossed to her side. Before she could catch his intentions, he kissed her, deeply and desperately. She kissed him back, wanting to get closer. Her hands wound around his neck and into his hair, pulling him closer.

His arms wound around her, squeezing her tightly. His tongue sought hers and she met it with equal fervor.

They were locked in an embrace for several minutes before he pulled back, resting his forehead against hers.

“Mia za'ora, my fate, Saelina...I'm sorry.”

“For what?”

He closed his eyes and she saw something glistening on his cheek.

“For stealing you away. For putting you in danger. For not realizing what I had done to you before it was too late.”

“Who says it's too late?”

“It has to be,” he told her.

“Why?”

“Because I love you,” he whispered and she choked back a sob. “I love you, and this is the best way I can protect you from what I've done.”

“I love you, too.”

He grabbed her face in his hands and forced her to meet his eyes.

“If you truly love me, then don't let me catch you! Not ever!”

He held her gaze until she nodded, then stepped back, leaving her feeling cold and lonely.

“My phu'ria is right outside. Take it and flee. I will stall as long as I can but it's already been several days and I can't be absent forever. What's more I can't abandon my people.”

She stepped close, pressing her lips against his, one last time.

“I don't regret meeting you, Ezeas. Not even a little.”

Then she walked out, willing herself not to look back. She found the raptor and mounted it, directing it to run across the most rocky surfaces, to minimize her prints. The bipedal was energetic and quick and she had trouble staying on the creature at the fast pace. After a few hours, she finally fell off. The phu'ria stopped immediately but Saelina had to take a break, before deciding where to go.

Dhíanvhúr, I need your advice.

What do you need?

I have some unfinished business back where I came from. But I also need to seek you out and stay ahead of the Islasan forces.

My time is limited.

Got it.

She observed her surroundings, breathing deeply. The air was hurting her lungs and seemed almost too fresh for her. The sudden abundance was making her dizzy. As she got her bearings back, she noticed something flicker out the corner of her eye; she looked closer and saw a softly glowing string, which seemed to come from herself and shot off into the distance.

Do you know what the glowing strings are?

Bonds of destiny. Those who're bound to you in fate are beyond the strings.

She saw more strings, one more clearly visible than the others, reaching back the way she came from.

Ezeas, she realized.

Another ran alongside but their distance widened as it disappeared in the distance, but the ones she was most interested in, ran towards South, the direction of Lissón. One veered off slightly towards the east. Looking closer at it, she felt it tug, more than the other; it also seemed stronger, more clearly defined. Without being told, she knew what awaited at the end.