Elijah’s hands moved with gentle intent, sliding along her sides and resting at her waist. He paused for a moment, searching her eyes. “Are you ready?” he asked softly, his voice laced with both care and desire.   Sophia’s answer came not in words but in the way she leaned into him, her hands finding the hem of his shirt and tugging it upward. He helped her pull it over his head, the fabric discarded carelessly onto the ground.   Her fingers traced the lines of his chest, marveling at the warmth of his skin beneath her touch. “You’re incredible,” she whispered, her cheeks heating at the admission.   Elijah’s lips curved into a small smile. “You’re one to talk,” he teased, his hand

Sophia’s breathing gradually steadied as she leaned into Elijah’s embrace, her lips brushing against his chest. She could feel the strong, rapid beat of his heart beneath her fingers, a reflection of the moment they’d shared. Her gaze lifted, locking with his, and she smiled softly, her cheeks still flushed. “Elijah,” she murmured, her voice carrying a new note of confidence. Her hands slid down his sides, fingers grazing the waistband of his boxers. “Let me take care of you.” His brow quirked slightly, curiosity flickering in his eyes. “You don’t have to…” he started, his voice gentle yet laced with anticipation. She silenced him with a kiss, her lips pressing firmly against his, full of intent. “I want to,” she whispered against his mouth, her voice steady and sure. Guiding him toward the edge of the bed, she urged him to sit, her hands never leaving his body. Elijah obliged, his muscles tense with restrained desire as he watched her lower herself to her knees before him. He

“Sophia, are you ever going to let me out of bed?” Elijah’s voice was warm, carrying a note of playful exasperation as he lay sprawled across the sheets. His dark hair was mussed, his chest bare and still faintly glistening from their earlier intimacy. Sophia turned from the window, where the early morning sunlight bathed her in a soft glow. A teasing smile played on her lips. “Maybe not. I think I like having you right where I can see you,” she quipped, crossing the room with light steps. Her cheeks were rosy, a mixture of contentment and lingering shyness. He caught her wrist as she came close, tugging her gently onto the bed. She landed with a small gasp, laughing as she found herself straddling him. “If you keep looking at me like that, we’ll never leave this tent,” he warned, thoug

“You’ve led them right to us,” Elijah said, his voice colder than the night air. His eyes bore into Lily, who stood trembling at the edge of the clearing. Around them, the team was already forming a defensive line, weapons drawn and senses sharp.  Lily took a shaky step back, her face pale. “I didn’t have a choice. Mark… he threatened me. He said he’d destroy everything if I didn’t help.” Sophia’s breath caught in her throat. “Lily, how could you?” Her voice cracked, the betrayal cutting deeper than any blade could. “After everything, I trusted you.” Lily’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry, Sophia. I didn’t mean for it to go this far. I thought I could protect

“Do you really think they’ll listen to me?” Sophia asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She stood in the heart of Evendore’s central square, her hands nervously gripping the edges of her cloak. The weight of the crowd’s gaze, even from afar, felt overwhelming.Elijah stepped closer, his eyes steady and unwavering as he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “They will. Because you’re not just speaking for yourself. You’re speaking for every person who’s been wronged by your family. Show them the Sophia I know. The one who’s brave, strong, and unafraid to do what’s right.”Sophia took a deep breath, nodding slowly. “Alright. Let’s do this.”As the pair approached the platform, Doug’s voice broke the tension. “Marshal, this crowd’s bigger than expected. I’d say half the city’s turned up. Either they’re curious or they’re still deciding whether to throw tomatoes.”Elijah chuckled softly. “Let’s hope for the former.”Doug grinned but quickly straightened, adopting his usual profess