Serenity lay eagle-spread on the ground, soft grass tickling her skin, staring into the blue, blue sky and the woolly clouds stretched across it.
"Earth is so beautiful," she breathed, still finding wonder in this miraculous planet.
A deep laugh, slow and sweet like honey, met her ears. "It is, isn't it?" Endymion said. She could feel his gaze on her, warming her cheeks.
Serenity rolled onto her side, facing him. She wasn't supposed to be here, on Earth, in the palace gardens. With the prince. But — she looked at his shining blue eyes, his messy dark hair, his rosy cheeks — how could she stay away?
Endymion threaded his fingers through hers. "I'm glad you're here," he whispered.
Serenity felt her heart swell. "Me too."
He smiled, looking at her as if he was committing her face to memory. Then she noticed the faint circles under his eyes, the air of worry that clung to him, the sadness in his smile.
She frowned. "What's wrong?"
He didn't try to deny it, which was one of the things she loved most about him. He didn't hid things from her like others did, just because she was a princess.
"Tension has been rising on Earth. My father is worried that we may soon have a large-scale conflict on our hands. If anything were to happen to you . . . to us . . . "
He trailed off, his voice silenced by fear. Serenity could see just how much this haunted him.
"It will be okay," she soothed, brushing his hair off his face with her fingertips. She hadn't realized things on Earth had gotten this bad. "I will never leave you, and you shall never leave me."
"Rebirth and all that?" Endymion asked, lips curving softly.
"More than that," she told him. "I believe in our love. Nothing can sever it, not even death. Our love will endure for centuries."
"Yeah?" he asked, relaxing against her, closing his eyes.
"Yeah," she said, looking at the endless blue sky above her, limitless with possibilities. Not even death would stop them from finding their way back to each other. She was sure of it.