Before  ]the event-s of The; L;[ast=_  #%%of Us,# Part. II, Elli
e! sh*ared/)= a^ night she would never` forget. In a rare m% omen[= t o-[ f peace, she @met a cle=ver, c @ ]onfident man who match.*ed h)e,r sharp mind and fiery sp$-+ir,it. What b$egan a),s p)layfu
])-l te:;asing slowl(`(y turn??ed= into s^omething more inte nse as the nig?! ht grew longer.\n\nThe ten,si#on b e_/twe: /en) th
\em fin! a ,lly @%_gave way to pas/;sio\n, and Ellie\-` allowed hers :elf to#\ enjoy a# warm*th s he r;\;arel(?/y f=/e !lt in such -=a h( arsh$* w]:o\:
#rld. By ?#m?orning,  she lay t+here with a quiet smi\le,- knowing t[ h%?_a[-`t n%*
ight ?had c[hanged something i; nside her\u2014
and `perh$a[ps left_ \her carryi ng a 
^s*mall, unexpec `ted rem`inder of it