[Book Two] After facing the truth and accepting her new life, Milaia must embark on a dangerous quest to reach the Tree of Life to save her former kingdom and her true love, with the help of a ruthless ally who may be more important than she realize...
You don't know someone until you know their greatest fears.
I would never have suspected that all that darkness was hidden behind a smug smile.
But now I had seen it, witnessed what Caelus was hiding, and I needed to go with him, to help him, to be with him.
My body, my mind, and my heart were crying out for it.
To be with him.
Why did I feel this way? I hated him.
I hated him. Right?
'Caelus! Wait!' I implored him once more, climbing up the hole that had taken us inside.
Once I was out, the rock moved, making it clear that it would not let us through until further notice.
When would we return to that horrendous place?
I didn't want to know, I didn't even want to think about it.
I just concentrated on following Caelus' footsteps.
I found him in the meadow we came through the portal.
He was sitting, watching the sun slowly descend, giving way to the three moons that heralded the coming of night.
I approached quietly, pretending he didn't hear me, though I knew he did.
I sat beside him, wrapping my arms around my legs.
The wildflowers brushed my hands, leaving their perfume on my skin.
I wanted to say so many things to him.
I wanted to tell him that I was with him, that I wouldn't leave him, that I would help him in any way I could. That we were together in this.
But the words wouldn't come out.
Only silence flooded me and the image of the sun saying goodbye made it clear that I just had to stay there.
There by his side.
We watched the sunset together, appreciating how the sky changed from light blue, to a combination of orange and purple, until it turned completely black.
I will always remember that moment as one of the most beautiful in my life.
For a second, time stood still, and I could appreciate being alive, being able to see something as beautiful as that sky, sitting next to him in the soft grass of that foreign Kingdom.
I released my hands from my legs, resting them on the grass.
His hand took me by surprise, but I didn't let him notice.
He took my hand gently, as if he was making sure I was really there.
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