Gwen curls up against me, her warmth like fire against my cold skin. I hear her breathe slowly as her body rises and falls with each breath. My hand gently rubs her back through her clothing. I’m still trying to convince myself that I didn’t die during the battle and somehow make it to heaven.

“Eli.” She whispers in the coming dawn.

“Yes?” I inquire, my eyes watching the brightening sky.

Gwen looks up at the sky as well before looking down at me. Every time I look at her I’m as enthralled by her beauty as I was the first time I met her. I still can’t believe she loves me, after everything I’ve put her through. I can never give her the life she deserves.

“There might be some sun screen in with all my left over potions. Put it on before it gets too light.” She sits up on the slab and I smile, getting off it to look for some. “What are we going to do now? Should we go back to the castle and see what’s happened?”

“No.” I break the bottle of sun screen at my feet. “No, we’re not going back there. I’ve made arrangements for us to go somewhere else, outside of this accursed town. If you’re willing, we can start a new life away from all of this.”

I watch her smile and I have to remind myself that I’m not dead, that this is real. It’s finally real. I walk over to her and pull her into a kiss. I hear her heart rate pick up as she kisses me back. A smile plays on her lips as I pull away.

“What was that for?” She asks.

“Can I not just kiss my soul mate because I want to?” I tease, giving her another quick kiss.

She issues a soft laugh as I twine her hair around my finger. My phone buzzes in my pocket and I step back a little, pulling it out.

“What is that?” She asks, looking at it.

“Hmmmm, oh it’s a cell phone.” Confusion clouds her eyes. “It’s a device that lets you communicate with people even if you’re not with them.”

“Oh, who’s trying to communicate with you?” She asks.

“My contact that’s going to get us out of here. She’s about to be here.” I tell her.

I wrap my arm around her shoulder and pull her close to me as we begin to walk out of the ruins.

I hear it before I see it but the vehicle quickly follows it’s growl. The sleek black car rounds the corner and pulls to a stop. After a moment, the door opens and an older woman steps out of the car. She stares at Gwen, almost looking like she’s seen a ghost, before she smiles at us.

“Hello, you must be Guinevere. My name is Eileen Sidwell.” She hands out her hand.

Gwen takes her hand, quietly forming her words. “Yes…How do you know who I am?” She asks.

Eileen nods towards me. “Elijah here told me about you, but I’ve been friends of your family, your biological family, since before you were born.” She explains.

Gwen grabs my hand tightly, “I don’t want to see them.” She says to me.

“It’s okay. She’s not taking us to them. We’ll be in the same town, but the other side of it. You don’t have to see them unless you want to.” I reassure her.

Eileen smiles sadly. “It’s okay. They’ll know you’ll be in Hidden Springs before too long, but I’ll let them know not to contact you until you’re ready.”

“It’ll be okay Gwen, let’s get out of here. You can sleep on the drive to Hidden Springs.” I kiss her cheek.

Gwen still seems worried to be that close to her family. I smile at her and pull her gently into the car’s back seat. Eileen gets back into the front seat and begins to drive away from the ruins. In a few hours we would be safe and sound in Hidden Springs.