Elara sat by the fire that night, the warmth of the flames offering little comfort as she tried to make sense of the whirlwind that had become her life. The battle was won, but the war was far from over. And yet, as the embers crackled, she couldn't shake the thought of Dorian.
His absence was more than just a physical void—it was an emotional one. She had trusted him with her heart, with her soul, and now, she felt as though he had disappeared into the very darkness that had once consumed her. But was it really his fault? She had shut him out, pushed him away, fearing that the bond between them was too dangerous, too powerful.
But in the stillness of the night, Elara could no longer ignore the truth: she missed him. She missed the warmth of his touch, the way his voice had soothed her in times of doubt. Even the way he had challenged her, pushed her to be more than she was. That spark between them had never really died; it was only waiting for the right moment to ignite.
And so, as the winds howled outside, Elara made a decision. She would seek him out. She would find Dorian, not just to reclaim what they had, but to confront the demons that had kept them apart.