"If you're gonna kidnap people, once in a while you'll have to deal with them fighting back!"

"Most of the people who fight back can't actually hurt me that badly!"

"Well, don't I feel special."

He giggles.

"You're cute when you giggle. C'mere."

He smiles and moves closer.

She kisses him and burns herself again.

"You're very forgiving."

"I don't hold grudges."

Kiss.

"You're right," he says, "I like you better this way."

"Good." Kiss. "I like you better this way too."

"I want to hold you down and choke you and burn you and fuck you," he says. "Again. Sound good?"

"Mmhmm."

So he does that.

And this time, she really likes it.

"Well, you're better than I deserve in just about every conceivable way," he says, snuggling her.

"It's nice that you recognize that."

He laughs.

"Want to go pick up my girlfriend? I imagine she's wondering why her house burned down."

"Sure, where is she?"

"Teach me your flying trick and I'll show you."

"All right."

He pulls them both into the wind and lets her steer this time. She's a pain mage, she can handle it.

They circle the room once and then flow out the window and down the mountain.

She's sitting by the side of the road, a ways south of the adorable cottage, watching the column of smoke contemplatively. Not nearly as lovely as Anleisin, but not bad-looking either.

They materialize in front of her, both of them still completely naked.

"Hi!" says Anleisin. "I got kidnapped by the Lord of the Howling Mountain and you should too!"