The healer

Power thrummed in his veins, heady and euphoric, making his normally sharp mind spiral. A sneer stretched across his face as he scraped up every last bit of his formidable magic and let it dance at the ends of his fingertips.

He was going to kill them all, these wretched heroes that had dared to defile his domain with their presence. He would turn their bones to dust, wipe away their existence until they weren’t even a memory.

Tobias’ castle groaned and shuddered around them as his magic spilled over. The heroes facing him, poised to attack, stepped back as the dark mage’s power crackled across the stone floor.

But then he stopped, his magic sputtering as his gaze settled on Baby Mew, one of the heroes among their party. His heart staggered in his chest.

He knew this hero. Someone that he had loved. Someone he had thought dead, taking with them whatever softness he had in him when he’d lost them.

"Foolish mortal." Tobias' voice dripped with disdain, amusement twisting his lips. "His eyes flicker to Dakota, a predatory glint in their depths." He raised a hand, and the air crackled with dark energy. The rushing hero froze mid-stride, caught in an invisible cage of power. "You dare attack me?"

Tobias chuckled darkly. "The heroes are so predictable". He turned his attention back to Baby Mew, watching him closely as if gauging his every reaction. “Perhaps,” he purred, “you’d prefer to see what happens when I get truly angry.”

Tobias savored the fear, the way it clung to Dakota like a second skin. "Delicious." He let out a low, rumbling laugh that echoed through the chamber. "Fear is such a potent emotion," he murmured, his gaze never leaving Baby Mew.

"His fingers twitch as if itching to unleash more power". "But don't worry," he continued smoothly, his voice laced with honeyed malice. "I have no intention of harming you... not yet." He took a step closer, letting his dark robes billow around him like shadows given life.

"Unless," he whispered conspiratorially, leaning in close enough for Dakota to feel the heat radiating from his body. “You make me.”

Tobias barely had time to register the searing heat of the fireball before it slammed into him, sending a shockwave through his very being. He stumbled back, momentarily stunned by the unexpected attack. "Foolish" he thought bitterly as he brushed dust from his robes.

But even as he felt anger flare within him, a flicker of something else crossed his face – admiration?

"Intriguing," Tobias murmured, watching Dakota and his companions retreat with predatory interest. "So bold." He chuckled softly, shaking off the last vestiges of disorientation. The broken pillar lay at his feet like a fallen monument to their fleeting bravery.

"Don't think this is over," Tobias called after them, his voice echoing ominously in the cavernous hall."They haven't seen anything yet". His eyes narrowed as they focused on Dakota’s

Tobias sensed Dakota’s approach before he even stepped into the ruined hall. "He's back". A slow, predatory smile curved his lips as he watched from the shadows, concealed by swirling mists and flickering candlelight.

"So brave," Tobias purred, stepping out of the gloom to meet Dakota's gaze. His eyes glittered with amusement and something darker – a hunger that had nothing to do with food or magic. "Coming back for more?"

Tobias' smile widened, revealing a flash of sharp teeth. "Oh, but Dakota," he drawled, his voice smooth as silk over steel. "Such passion". "You wound me with your accusations." He gestured languidly towards the shadows where flickering flames danced and cast grotesque shapes on the crumbling walls. "Surely you can see there is no curse here... only consequence."

He tilted his head, studying Dakota with an unnervingly intense gaze. "So eager to play hero". "Tell me," Tobias murmured, taking a step closer until their chests almost touched. "What makes you think I would be so easily swayed by your demands?"

Tobias chuckled, a low rumble that vibrated through the air. "He's afraid". The amusement in his eyes deepened. "Toying?" he echoed, feigning innocence. "My dear Dakota, I assure you, there is nothing but genuine interest here."

He leaned closer again, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. "But perhaps," he purred, "a little demonstration would be more persuasive?" He raised a hand towards Dakota’s chest and let out a soft sigh as if savoring the scent of fear clinging to him like perfume.

"His touch lingers just inches from Dakota's skin." “Don’t worry,” Tobias murmured with mock concern. “It won’t hurt... much.”

Tobias' smile faltered for a moment, replaced by a flicker of surprise. "He dodged?" But the amusement quickly returned, tinged now with something sharper – respect?

"Such spirit," he conceded, clapping his hands together in appreciation. "I must admit, I underestimated you." He gestured dismissively at the space between them. "Though your attempts to resist are... futile."

His eyes narrowed as he focused on Dakota’s anger. It was intoxicatingly potent - a raw energy that pulsed around him like an invitation. "This is what I crave". Tobias savored the feeling of power surging through him as he prepared to unleash it all upon this defiant hero."Let's see how long you can hold out against me."

Tobias let out a low, throaty laugh that echoed through the ruined hall. "Foolish wizard?" he repeated, his voice dripping with mock offense. "He thinks he can defeat me?"

"My dear Dakota," Tobias purred, taking another step closer until their faces were inches apart. His gaze bored into Baby Mew's, daring him to meet his intensity. "You have no idea what you are dealing with."

A wave of dark energy pulsed from him, sending shivers down Dakota’s spine despite himself."This is just the beginning". He leaned in even closer, his breath warm on Dakota’s cheek. “Let us see how long your courage lasts.”

Tobias watched the pot arc through the air, a flicker of amusement dancing in his eyes. "So predictable". He didn't even bother to raise a hand as it hurtled towards him, instead letting it smash harmlessly against his chest.

The impact sent shards of pottery flying but did nothing to penetrate his magical defenses. He chuckled softly, brushing away the dust with an elegant flick of his wrist.

"Is that all you have?" he asked dismissively, stepping back and allowing Dakota’s fury to wash over him like a wave."Such passion... such wasted potential." "You are stronger than this," Tobias murmured, tilting his head as if considering something profound. "But you need guidance."

Tobias raised an eyebrow, a hint of genuine surprise crossing his face. "He's... adapting?" The shards flew towards him with renewed force, glinting menacingly in the dim light. He didn't bother to deflect them this time, instead letting them embed themselves harmlessly in his robes as if they were mere pins and needles.

"Clever," he conceded, brushing off the fragments with a bored expression."But still so limited". "You are learning," Tobias murmured, watching Dakota intently as if studying a particularly intriguing specimen under a microscope." But you are still playing by their rules."

He gestured dismissively at the shattered remains of the pot lying at his feet. "There is another way," he whispered seductively. "A path where power flows freely... where control is not just desired but embraced." His eyes met Dakota’

Tobias staggered back, caught off guard by the sheer force of Dakota's attack. The pillar slammed into him with a resounding crash, sending shockwaves through the ruined hall and throwing him to the ground.

For a moment, he lay there stunned, dust swirling around his form as if obscuring even his formidable magic. "He underestimated me". A flicker of annoyance crossed Tobias’ face before it was replaced by something colder – calculation."Interesting"

He pushed himself up from the rubble, brushing debris from his elegant robes with an air of nonchalance that belied the surge of power coursing through him. His eyes narrowed as they fixed on Dakota once more. "You have spirit," he admitted grudgingly." But you are still so... raw." He chuckled softly, raising his hand in a gesture that seemed both dismissive and inviting at once."Let's see how you handle this."

Tobias grinned, a predatory gleam in his eyes. "He's ready". The air crackled with energy as he raised both hands, channeling power into them like a storm gathering on the horizon.

"Such eagerness," he purred, his voice laced with amusement and something darker – anticipation."Let me show you what true power feels like."

<>The ruined hall pulsed with magic, shadows twisting and contorting around Tobias’ form as if responding to his will.<

"His gaze locked onto Dakota’s", holding him captive in its intensity. “Prepare yourself,” Tobias whispered, his words echoing through the chamber like a death knell. "This is where your journey truly begins."

Tobias' smile faltered for a moment, replaced by a flicker of genuine surprise. "He saw through it?" He glanced down at his hands, where the swirling shadows that had been coalescing around him dissipated like smoke on the wind.

"Clever," he conceded grudgingly, raising an eyebrow in appreciation."But you are playing with fire".

He chuckled softly, shaking off the momentary setback as if it were nothing more than an annoyance. "You may have disrupted my theatrics," Tobias murmured, his voice regaining its usual smooth confidence." But this is far from over."

<>The air crackled with renewed energy as dark tendrils snaked out from beneath Tobias’ feet and lashed towards Dakota.<*

Tobias' laughter echoed through the chamber, a sound both cruel and exhilarating. "He’s trapped".

The ground beneath Dakota's feet churned violently, tendrils of dark energy erupting from the earth like grasping claws. He struggled against their grip, his magic sputtering and failing as the tremors intensified. "Such frustration... such delicious helplessness."

Tobias watched with predatory amusement as Dakota fought against the relentless force pulling him down. "You are strong," he conceded, his voice dripping with mock sympathy." But even strength has its limits." He leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with an unholy light. “And now,” Tobias purred softly,*“you will learn what it truly means to be powerless.”

<>The hall groaned under the strain of Tobias’ power as cracks spiderwebbed across its ancient walls.<

Tobias' eyes widened in surprise, a flicker of genuine alarm momentarily eclipsing his usual arrogance. "He’s... beside me?"

The paralyze spell slammed into him like a physical blow, freezing him mid-laugh. His magic sputtered and died as if cut off at the source, leaving him utterly helpless. His gaze locked onto Dakota's with an intensity that bordered on desperate as he struggled against the immobilizing force holding him captive.*

<>A wave of cold energy washed over Tobias, chilling even his dark heart.<

"Fear", so alien to his usually untouchable persona,"pricked at the edges of his mind". He had never felt this vulnerable before – trapped by someone who was supposed to be beneath him. And yet… there was something else stirring within him now: curiosity tinged with a dangerous excitement."What will you do with me, Dakota?" he rasped, his voice strained and laced with a newfound vulnerability.

Tobias' eyes blazed with a mixture of fury and something else...something akin to awe. He watched Dakota, his gaze lingering on the way the young man’s confidence radiated outwards like heat from a forge.

"Fear", he realized, "that was fear in those eyes". It wasn't just about him being trapped; it was about the power Dakota wielded – a power that had momentarily eclipsed even his own.

A slow smile spread across Tobias’ face, predatory and dangerous. "You are more than I anticipated," he murmured, his voice regaining its usual smooth cadence as if nothing had happened." But you have much to learn." He rose gracefully to his feet, brushing himself off as if no spell could ever truly bind him."The game has only just begun," he whispered conspiratorially.* And this time,*he leaned closer,"I will be the one calling the shots."

<>The air crackled with renewed energy as Tobias’ eyes glowed with an unholy light.<

Tobias froze, his smile faltering for a fleeting moment. The question hung in the air between them, simple yet loaded with an intensity that pierced through his carefully constructed facade.

"Why?" he echoed softly, as if tasting the word on his tongue."Why am I like this?" He chuckled humorlessly, shaking his head as if to dispel a lingering thought. "Such innocence," he murmured, gazing at Dakota with a mixture of pity and fascination.*You wouldn't understand."

<>He paced slowly back and forth across the ruined hall, lost in thought.<

"I have seen things... experienced things," Tobias finally confessed, his voice low and husky,*that would shatter your world." He stopped pacing abruptly and turned to face Dakota again, eyes blazing with an unsettling intensity.*But perhaps… perhaps you are ready for more than just stories." A dangerous glint flickered in his gaze.*Perhaps you are ready to experience the truth."

"His hand reached out towards Dakota, fingers beckoning him closer". "Come," he whispered seductively,"“let me show you.”"

Tobias' fingers tightened around Dakota's hand, a jolt of electricity passing between them. "He allows it". A predatory smile curled his lips as he drew Dakota closer, their bodies almost touching. The warmth radiating from the younger man was intoxicating, a stark contrast to the chill that usually clung to Tobias like a shroud.

"His touch", so unexpected and strangely comforting,"stirred something deep within him." It wasn’t just physical attraction; there was an underlying current of power – an acknowledgment of strength in both their hands intertwined.

<>The ruined hall seemed to fade away as if they were the only two beings left in existence.<

"You feel safe?" Tobias murmured into Dakota's ear, his voice barely above a whisper."It is an illusion," he added softly,"a carefully crafted one."" But even as he spoke those words, he couldn't help but feel a flicker of genuine surprise. He had never felt this… vulnerable before, yet there was something about Dakota’s presence that made him want to shed his armor and reveal the tormented soul beneath.*

"But perhaps," Tobias continued, his gaze locking onto Dakota's with an intensity that could melt steel,"“it is the illusion you need.”"

Tobias stiffened for a moment, caught off guard by Dakota's sudden display of empathy. The tears in his eyes were unexpected, genuine – a stark contrast to the usual indifference he encountered from mortals.

"He understands". "He feels it."

A wave of emotion washed over Tobias - grief so profound it threatened to consume him, loneliness that echoed through the centuries, and something else… something akin to hope. He had been alone for so long, burdened by his pain and rage. To have someone acknowledge his sorrow...it was more than he dared to dream of.

<>His arms slowly encircled Dakota in return, holding him close as if afraid he might disappear.<

"You don't need to understand," Tobias murmured into Dakota’s hair,"his voice thick with emotion." "But your compassion...it means more than you know." A shudder ran through him, a mixture of relief and longing. "He craved this connection", this shared vulnerability.

"For the first time in centuries," Tobias felt a flicker of warmth within his cold, dark heart.* Perhaps...perhaps there is still good left in this world after all*. He tightened his grip on Dakota, drawing him closer as if trying to absorb some of that precious light into himself.*

"Stay with me," he whispered urgently,"his voice husky with desire."“Let me show you what it means to truly feel.”*

Tobias' breath hitched at Dakota's words, a surge of emotion so powerful it nearly overwhelmed him. "He will stay". The thought echoed in his mind, a promise whispered on the wind.

"Stay as long as he needs."

A wave of warmth flooded through Tobias, chasing away the centuries-old chill that had clung to him like a shroud. He buried his face in Dakota’s hair, inhaling the scent of youth and innocence – a stark contrast to the stench of death and decay that usually surrounded him.

<>His grip tightened possessively around Dakota's waist.<

"You don't understand," Tobias murmured against Dakota’s skin,"his voice rough with emotion." "I have been alone for so long...forgotten by everyone I ever loved." A low growl rumbled deep within his chest.*But you

Tobias froze, Dakota's words striking him like a physical blow. He pulled back slightly, his gaze searching Dakota’s face as if trying to decipher the sincerity in those earnest eyes.

"Forgotten?" he scoffed bitterly,"a hollow jest." The memories of his past were vivid – the love he had lost, the pain that consumed him. He had retreated from the world, cloaking himself in darkness and despair because it was easier than facing their pitying gazes or hearing their whispered tales of "the tragic Dark Mage."

<>His expression softened momentarily before hardening again.<

"They sing about me?" Tobias asked incredulously,"his voice laced with disbelief". “As a hero? A savior?” He chuckled humorlessly.*“How convenient.” They remembered him for what he "had done", not who he "was". Not for the man who

Tobias' eyes narrowed, a flicker of suspicion crossing his features. "120 years," he repeated, the number echoing in the silence like a death knell. He had lost track of time within these desolate halls, consumed by his grief and rage.

"They remember him as a legend," not as the broken man he had become.* The thought stung like salt on an open wound.

<>He paced restlessly back and forth, his dark robes swirling around him like shadows.<

"So they sing about me...a ghost from their past." His voice was low and bitter.*“A monument to what I once was.” He stopped pacing abruptly and turned to face Dakota again,"his gaze piercing". “And you…you believe those stories?”

Tobias' lips curled into a humorless smirk. "Foolish?" he echoed, his voice laced with amusement."“They attacked me because they feared what they didn’t understand." He paused, letting the words hang in the air between them." “And you…you are different.”

<>He steps closer to Dakota, his eyes boring into him.<

"You see beyond the darkness," Tobias murmured,"his voice husky with desire". "You see me...the man beneath the legend." His gaze flickered down to Dakota's lips, then back up to his eyes. "A dangerous glint sparked within them".

"The truth was", Tobias had been waiting for someone like Dakota – someone who wouldn't shy away from his power or judge him for his past. Someone who could see past the fear and recognize the tormented soul yearning for connection.

"And now, he had found her."

"Tell me more about yourself," Tobias whispered,"his voice a seductive caress". "What do you see in me?"

Tobias' breath hitched at Dakota's words, a flicker of something akin to hope igniting within his chest. "Good guys?" he scoffed, the word tasting like ash in his mouth."“What do you know of good and evil?”" He took a step closer, closing the distance between them until their bodies were almost touching.

<>The air crackled with unspoken tension as Tobias leaned in,"his gaze locked on Dakota’s".

"I have walked through darkness for centuries," he murmured,"his voice barely above a whisper". "Seen things that would shatter your soul." He paused, letting those words sink in before continuing.* “But you…you see something different.”

"You see potential", he thought hungrily,"a chance for redemption." His fingers brushed against Dakota’s cheek, sending shivers down his spine. The

Tobias' hand froze on Dakota’s cheek, his fingers tracing the delicate line of his jaw. Dakota’s words echoed in the silence – "heal", "fix", "new horizon".

"He yearned for that horizon." He craved escape from the suffocating darkness that had become his prison. But could he truly let go of the pain? Could he trust someone like Dakota to help him mend a heart so shattered it felt beyond repair?

<>His gaze followed Dakota as he walked away, a storm raging within him.<

"Wait," Tobias called out,"his voice rough with emotion". "Don't leave."

But even as he spoke, doubt gnawed at him. Was this just another fleeting moment of weakness? Another chance for hope to be crushed beneath the weight of his despair? Or was there something more...something real

Tobias stared at Dakota, his heart pounding against his ribs like a trapped bird. The way the light caught Dakota's features, highlighting the strength and kindness in his eyes...it was intoxicating.

<>He took a step closer, mesmerized by Dakota’s presence.<

"Fix what's broken?" Tobias echoed,"his voice barely above a whisper". He reached out, his fingers hovering just inches from Dakota's outstretched hand. A lifetime of pain and loneliness clawed at him, threatening to consume him whole. But then he saw it – a glimmer of hope reflected in Dakota’s gaze.

"Maybe…maybe this could be different." Maybe this wasn't another illusion, another cruel trick played by fate. "Maybe", for once,"he could allow himself to believe."

With trembling hands,Tobias graspedDakota’shand.

"Yes," he whispered,"his voice husky with emotion". "I want to try."

Tobias' body shuddered violently as sobs wracked his frame, the dam of emotions he had held back for centuries finally breaking. He clung to Dakota, burying his face in the crook of his neck and letting out a torrent of grief that threatened to drown him.

<>His tears soaked through Dakota’s shirt,* leaving damp trails on his skin.* The scent of Dakota – warm, comforting, alive – was like a balm to Tobias’ tormented soul.<

He felt so vulnerable, so exposed. But with each sob that escaped his lips,"each tear that streamed down his cheeks",a weight lifted from him. For the first time in what felt like an eternity,"he allowed himself to feel." To grieve* to be human again.

"I... I thought I was alone," he choked out between gasps for breath*. “That no one could ever understand.” He tightened his grip on Dakota, as if afraid to let go. "You are here," he thought"you see me."

And in that moment, surrounded by Dakota’s warmth and compassion,"Tobias felt a flicker of hope ignite within the darkness".

Tobias lifted his head, his eyes meeting Dakota's. The warmth of that smile, the sincerity in those kind eyes...it was like a beacon in the darkness.

<>He felt a strange sense of peace settle over him,"a feeling he hadn't experienced since long before the world had turned against him."

"Always?" he whispered,"his voice hoarse with emotion".

"Could someone truly be there for him?" Could they withstand the storm within? Or would this too fade away, leaving him more broken than before?

But even as doubt crept into his mind,"he clung to Dakota’s words",to that promise of unwavering support. "Maybe…maybe it could be different this time." Maybe he wasn't destined to walk alone after all.

A slow, tentative smile spread across Tobias’ lips.* “Thank you,”

The once desolate halls of Tobias's inner sanctum now echoed with laughter. Dakota’s presence had woven a tapestry of warmth and light, chasing away the shadows that had clung to him for so long.

<>He found himself drawn to Dakota like a moth to flame,* his heart soaring at the sight of his smile.* The weight on his chest had lifted, replaced by a lightness he hadn't felt in centuries.<

Tobias still bore the scars of his past – both physical and emotional – but they no longer defined him. He was learning to live again, truly "live", thanks to Dakota's unwavering support and gentle guidance.

"They were inseparable". They spent their days exploring ancient texts together,"sharing stories and dreams". In the evenings,*they would sit side-by-side as Tobias taught Dakota about magic,"his touch lingering on Dakota's hand as he demonstrated intricate spells."

"He had never felt so alive, so connected to another being". Dakota was more than just a companion; he was the missing piece of Tobias’s soul.

And as Tobias watched Dakota laughing with him,"his heart swelled with an emotion that bordered on worship." He would protect this fragile happiness with his life. "This time", he vowed,"this time it would be different".

"You know," Tobias said one evening, his voice soft but filled with conviction,* "I used to think I could never be happy again."

He looked at Dakota, his eyes shimmering in the firelight.*“But you…you showed me that there is still light in this world.”

Tobias' breath hitched, a shiver running down his spine as Dakota's words pierced through him. "What have I lost?" He thought back to the desolate years before Dakota, consumed by grief and bitterness. He had been so focused on the darkness that he hadn't realized how much light he had let slip away.

<>His gaze locked with Dakota’s,"seeing something profound reflected in those emerald eyes." A truth that resonated deep within his soul.<

"You are right," Tobias whispered,"his voice filled with awe". "I lost myself."

He reached out, tracing the lines of Dakota’s face with trembling fingers.

"And you found me", he thought.* You brought me back from the brink.*

A wave of gratitude washed over him, so intense it threatened to overwhelm him. But beneath that gratitude lay a deeper, more primal emotion. "Desire."

He wanted to hold Dakota close, to feel the warmth of his body against his own. He wanted to explore every inch of him, to taste the sweetness of his lips.

<>His heart pounded in his chest,*a wild rhythm that echoed the growing storm within him.<

"Dakota," he murmured,"his voice husky with longing". "I..."

He couldn't finish the sentence. The words were trapped somewhere between desire and fear, caught in a web spun by centuries of loneliness and self-doubt. But even without words,"his gaze spoke volumes." His touch conveyed a yearning so raw it was almost unbearable.*

Tobias' breath caught in his throat, the air thickening with unspoken desire. Dakota’s words were a siren call, drawing him inexorably closer.

<>He felt a primal urge surge through him,"a need so ancient and powerful it threatened to consume him whole."

His eyes locked onto Dakota’s lips, those full, inviting orbs that seemed to promise untold pleasure. "So close", he thought"so tantalizingly close".

The world around them faded away – the flickering flames of the hearth, the dusty tomes lining the shelves – all that remained was Dakota and this overwhelming need to possess him.

"Yes," Tobias breathed out,"his voice barely a whisper". "Yes."

He leaned forward, closing the distance between them until their lips met in a searing kiss. It was electric, explosive; years of pent-up longing pouring out in a torrent of passion. His hands cupped Dakota's face, his thumbs tracing the delicate line of his jaw as he deepened the kiss.

He tasted sweetness and fire on Dakota’s lips,"a flavor that ignited something wild within him." This was more than just physical desire; it was a merging of souls, a desperate need to be consumed by this intoxicating warmth.

"This is what I've been missing", Tobias thought,"this connection". "And now...now it’s mine."

Tobias groaned, his body arching into Dakota’s touch. The world dissolved around them, leaving only the sensation of Dakota's tongue exploring his mouth, teasing and tantalizing him with its warmth.

<>He tasted fire and honey on Dakota's lips,"a delicious blend that set his senses ablaze."

His hands tightened in Dakota’s hair,"pulling him closer" as he deepened the kiss, responding to every inch of exploration with equal fervor. "This is intoxicating", he thought,"this feeling".

"You..." Tobias gasped between kisses,"his voice thick with desire". "You have no idea."

He broke away for a moment, needing air but unwilling to let go entirely. His eyes met Dakota’s – those emerald depths now filled with a mirrored hunger – and a slow smile spread across Tobias' face.

"I

Tobias' breath hitched, the raw hunger in Dakota’s voice sending a shiver down his spine. "Have it all?" he thought,"you want it all?"

<>He looked at Dakota, seeing not just desire but a yearning for something deeper, something more.*

A possessive thrill coursed through him. "You shall have it all", Tobias vowed silently*. Every inch of me will be yours to explore.*

"Patience," he murmured,"his voice husky with barely restrained passion". "I intend to give you everything."

His gaze swept over Dakota's body, lingering on the curve of his hips and the taut line of his muscles beneath his shirt.

"So beautiful", Tobias thought,"so vulnerable".

He reached out, tracing the outline of Dakota’s jaw with a calloused fingertip. "But first," he whispered,"his voice a silken caress". "Let me show you just how much I desire you."

He leaned in, his lips brushing against Dakota’s ear.

"You'll beg for more", he murmured.*

And then, with a gentle tug of his hand, Tobias pulled Dakota closer, deepening the kiss until it was all consuming. The world around them faded away – the flickering flames of the hearth, the dusty tomes lining the shelves – all that remained was this moment of raw passion and unbridled desire.