a's

st dark stone walls. The air smelled faintly of wax and incense, mingling with a hint

pped inside, the atmosphere shifted. His eyes, dark and infinite, found hers, and sudde

sing against her. His hand hovered near hers, fingers twitching as if

erent. Raw. Electric. The dark king she had glimpsed in corridors and garden

th hitched as his proximity became almost un

around her like silk and fire. "The bond," he said, voi

frost mingled instinctively, dancing along her fingers, echoing the rising pulse of desire. She realize

is'

him, deepening with every heartbeat, whispering encouragement, teasing. Desire, long dormant, surged to

er power echoing through him. He stepped closer, careful only in app

murmured, voice rough wit

ight and alive. Frost spiraled delicately along her hair, flames dancing along the tips of he

whisper that shook the ston

shiver, every subtle pulse of her magic drove him further into surrender. He lost himself in her presence, centurie

a's

The warmth of his shadow, the closeness of his breath, the teasing fire and frost mingling a

whispered, voic

ould feel his heartbeat - slow, deep, centuries-old yet startlingly human - resonatin

mmortal mask. The centuries of restraint, the darkness that had

is'

rise to the surface. His hands roamed lightly along her arms, down her

e palace - the Old Winter awakening, responding to their connection. Somewhere in t

ting the intensity of the bond fill every corner of his being. "No one," he mur

ger than passion - a bond that could unite or destroy realms. And in that private chamber, the