The enclave was set half a day’s journey from the castle. Though beautiful in its own right, the people inhabiting it were even more enchanting. Races he never heard of huddled together, working for the same purpose. Freedom. Ezekiel wanted nothing more than to pull out his journal and jot down notes on the things he had seen, but his body refused to obey his whim. As it was, the trip took a lot out of him. More than he cared to admit, even though Sophia fussed over him. He liked having her be his nurse. Though he hated that he was in the state he was in. He thought he could be more useful coming up with tinctures and potions to help heal the sick and wounded that filled the enclave more than lying on a comfortable mattress.

When they arrived, the dryads (as he had come to know them as) spoke of the efforts he and his group had made to help them. As a token of appreciation, they gifted an entire cottage to them. Sophia had insisted that he take the most comfortable bed so he could rest well. He would’ve rather had Sophia sleep in the bed, but she wouldn’t have it. Afterall, he was the one injured and succumbing to the sickness the mountain magic gave him.

“Are you comfortable?” Sophia asked as she checked the bandage on his torso.

“I am.” He nodded and smiled at her when she met his gaze.

She was so much more than what she seemed, and the mystery surrounding her was just a fraction of what drew him to her. They had a similar history. A broken childhood. A family stolen from them by death. She had become the center of his universe, and he would never be the same now that she was a part of his life.

“Where’s Andreas and Edric?” he asked, hoping for casual conversation.

She smiled. “Playing with the children.”

“You’re kidding?” His eyes widened. He couldn’t quite picture the event.

“I know. I would have a hard time believing it myself if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.” She tucked a strand of blond hair that had fallen out of her braid behind her ear. The motion of that simple thing stirred a fire in Ezekiel’s gut.

“Those poor children,” he said and chuckled. Stabbing pain shot through him. He winced.

“You should be more concerned with resting,” she said, leveling her blue eyes on him. Eyes that threatened to consume him each time he looked into them.

He reached for her hand and wove his fingers through hers. A warm, tingling sensation shot up his arm. She brushed her fingers through his hair. That move of hers pushed him over the edge of all his self-control. He pulled her to him, kissing her with such powerful force. It was like he was starving for her, and she sustained him in such a way no food or drink ever could.

Though injured, just kissing her made him feel so much better. His kisses turned more aggressive and she moaned against his mouth which made his need grow even stronger. Emboldened, he massaged her breasts through her shirt and she responded by climbing carefully on top of him. He worked her out of her shirt while she ran her fingers over his chest, gently scratching her nails against his skin, causing the ache of need to course through him stronger than ever.

If he was doomed to die in the mountain, he wanted to have her one last time. Fill her with his love and be satisfied that he had the chance to be with her once more before his time in this world was over and done for.

Sophia helped him out of his pants and she climbed back on top of him. But he would have none of that. He wanted to be in control, even if it took the last of his strength. But even as that thought crossed his mind, he felt stronger, more powerful. Almost whole again.

She giggled as he tossed her to her back and planted kisses along her stomach toward her breast, where he paused to suck and nibble on them. Her gasp of pleasure and her fingers clutching the back of his head egged him on further. He continued up, leaving a trail of kisses from her chest to her neck and jawline, all the way to her lips.

His cocked rubbed at the supple mound of flesh between her legs and her warm wetness was both enticing and inviting.

He edged the tip of his erection near her entry where her breaths quickened at the mere touch of him. He smiled devilishly at her and kissed her some more. When she least expected it, and her body quaking with need, he pushed himself inside her and damn near exploded right then and there.

Biting back that aching feeling, he focused on the moment, the freeing feeling of being with her like this. The way he felt healed and wondered at the magnificence that was Sophia.

Her love flooded him with so much gratitude. And he was ever so grateful that even if he would die in the mountain, he could never leave her side. She was his family. To live without her would be to live half a life. If even for a day.

As he finished her off, with the echoes of her pleasure ringing in his ears, he himself finished and curled her into his arms as they both worked to catch their breath.

In that moment, he knew he was better. He was stronger, healthier, like the mountain had never poisoned him. She strengthened him and it was through sex with him that he was refueled in both magic and health.