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The first time they met, it felt like fate. The second time, it felt like a warning.

She was running from a past that refused to die. He was chasing a future that seemed just out of reach. When their worlds collided, it was more than just love—it was an obsession, a wildfire that threatened to burn them both alive.

But love isn’t always salvation. Sometimes, it’s destruction in disguise.

Bound by Fire: Ashes of Desire

The silence that followed Elena's declaration was thick with tension. Luca's pulse roared in his ears, his fists clenched at his sides. He didn't trust Dante—hell, he barely trusted himself around the bastard. But Elena's choice had been made.

Dante leaned against the stair railing, watching them with amusement. "So, we're all in agreement then? We fight." His lips curled. "What a beautiful disaster this will be."

Elena shot him a glare. "Cut the theatrics. If they're coming, we need to be ready."

Dante chuckled but straightened. "They'll come in waves. First, the scouts. Then the cleaners." His expression darkened. "And then him."

Dante hesitated, then exhaled. "Valerio."

Luca noticed. "Who the hell is Valerio?"

Dante gave a humorless laugh. "You don't want to know."

Luca stepped closer, his patience snapping. "Try me."

Elena's voice was quiet, but it cut through the air like a blade.

Luca's chest tightened. He had pieced together fragments of Elena's past, but this name—this man—had never come up. Until now.

Dante's eyes locked onto Elena's. "He never stopped looking for you. And now that he knows you're alive?" He shook his head. "He'll burn this whole city down to get to you."

Luca didn't like the way Elena's body tensed, like she was bracing for impact. He reached for her hand, squeezing it. "Then we end this before he gets the chance."

Dante smirked. "Finally, something we agree on."

Elena took a breath and pulled away from Luca, stepping forward. "We need weapons, an escape route, and a plan."

Dante's grin widened. "Now this is the Elena I remember."

Luca ignored him. "I'll handle the weapons."

Dante rolled his eyes. "Of course, you will."

Elena shot both of them a look. "Save the pissing contest for later. Right now, we need to move."

Dante clapped his hands together. "Then let's get to work."

But as they left the mansion, one thought lingered in Elena's mind.

Valerio wasn't just coming for her.

And this time, there might be no way out.

Next Chapter: The Shadow of Valerio—Elena and Luca prepare for war, but Dante knows something he's not telling them. And time is running out.

Fire and Blood