The weight of the decision to trust Dorian had been on her mind. Elara could sense that he was hiding something, but she also felt the undeniable pull between them—a connection that transcended reason and logic. It was a feeling she had never experienced, one she hadn't even known she was craving. Like the dark, brooding forest, he was both her greatest mystery and her deepest longing.
Their first kiss had felt like an electric charge, igniting something in her she hadn't known existed. The fire of passion, the hunger, the desperation. It was as if the years of isolation, of pain, had built up to this moment. But even as their bodies intertwined, her mind warred with itself. Could she trust him? Was this really love, or was she simply succumbing to the need to feel loved?
"You feel it too," Dorian whispered against her skin, his breath hot and heavy. "The world is about to change, Elara. And you'll need me by your side."
But was he truly a confidant, or was he manipulating her for his own gain? The question lingered as she pulled away, unable to find the answer she sought.