(Present day)

The first few days had been rough. Thorne had acted like a fawning child the entire time and she practically have to haul him behind her as she walked down the sandy waves in the desert the first two days. It had been absolutely miserable.

At certain points in their trip, Thorne would try ti wrap his arms around her to peck her cheek. She would promptly push him away, claiming that it was far too hot and that he needed to focus. But every time he tried to do either of these things, he would get closer to her. Not to mention the relentless blush that climbed her throat and cheeks, making her feel even hotter than the sun made her.

She had little to no clue as to why her body was reacting this way towards Thorne. But if she could make it stop, she would without a second thought.

"Creeeeeessssss," he groaned. His hands lightly covered her shoulders and a jolt ran up her spine. Stars, she wished he would stop doing that.

"Wh-what do you want, Thorne?" she asked for the hundredth time.

"When can we sit?" He slid his arms around her neck from behind her and placed his chin on the top of her head. He was acting like a tired little puppy and she was his owner. It was gnawing at her how annoying he was at the moment.

Still, it was better than crashing to Earth all on her own. She probably would have panicked and start hyperventilating. It was nice to have someone with her.

She just wished he could see how ridiculous he was being or think about what to do next and not leave everything for her.

Feeling sweat accumulating on her shoulders, she shrugged Thorne off of her and took his hand again. Which received a disappointed whine from her blind friend. "We can sit after we get to the next ridge," she answered. With every word she spoke, the words became more dry and tired. She had no idea how Thorne had barely drank anything since they left the satellite. He constantly said that he didn't need it, and that she should drink what they had. She'd have to beg him to drink every few hours when he was drooping like a wilting plant.

They trudged up the sandy hill and the dust poured into their lungs. Thorne squeezed her hand several times to reassure her that he was behind her. But in the back of her head, she thought she heard the sounds of chatter and movement. And as darkness began to cloak the sky while the sun set, She thought she say some light over the hill.

As they grew closer to the top, the light brightened. With every step, their faces became more illuminated by the glow.

"Thorne," she sighed in ecstasy, "There's light over the hill. What do you think that means?"

He shrugged and added, "Maybe there's people."

Her heart leaped out of her throat. "People!" she squealed in delight. Quickly, she jerked on Thorne's hand and raced up the side of the sandy hill. Her feet would sink an inch or two or she would trip over her own feet. Still, she ran for her life with a smile on her face with Thorne in tow. It felt like forever, but she made it to the top of the hill with Thorne just steps behind her.

And all she could see were beautiful lights that cascaded across the sand. With buildings around and people walking in the streets. Cress nearly fainted from the excitement. All of her resentment for Thorne before they met had dissipated in that moment. He led her hear to this glorious place. Without him, she never would have come to Earth, or even had the chance.

"Thank you," she blushed. She looked at Thorne, who was holding her hand and gazing at nothing. "You brought me here. I never would have do it without you."

He smiled and replied, "I make woman do crazy things."

And that's the exact second that Thorne ruined the moment, and Cress dragged him behind her as she sprinted to the center of the town.

......................

Kai sat upright in his bed, his night cloths on and a blank expression on his face. Today was August 27th. The day the Annual ball that took place in the E.C. And just a few days from his coronation – three days to be exact. To think that a few weeks ago he'd been thinking about asking Cinder to be his date to the ball.

He didn't notice that he fell back into his bed. Or even that he fell asleep. In his head, he'd been dreaming for a while now. A week and a day to be exact. He'd counted every hour, every minute, every second. But he couldn't understand how any of this was real.

The ghost of Cinder's warmth was still on his skin. Her words echoed in his head as he drifted off to sleep – or whatever his mind was trying to do at the moment.

Three days ago he learned that Cinder could be dead, and that it was highly likely even. He hadn't slept since then. But his resolve was finally caving in. He would have to marry Levana. He would have to become King of Luna, and allow that witch to become Empress. The position that only two people he knew deserved. His mother, and Cinder.

Some people believed in a God, or gods, that resided in the heavens to manipulate the courses of the lives on Earth. If there were such things ...

Kai wanted to torment them in ways they couldn't even imagine.

If they controlled fate, why would they allow him to suffer this much? He'd never asked for anything. He'd never harmed another person, or even been mean really. And Cinder was as kind and caring as they come. She always put the needs of other first. So why did the universe hate them so much?

Kai felt sick every time he was in the same room as Levana. He knew she wanted to be Empress. That she wanted a stake of power on Earth. But ... he had a sinking feeling, that she was somehow related to why Cinder was gone.

He knew he couldn't possibly blame her for the kidnapping. She'd been far too busy with wedding planning to orchestrate the kidnapping of Selene. And Levana hadn't even known that Cinder would go with him to the marketplace that day. Still, he felt that she knew something he didn't. The satellite that had been orbiting Earth could have easily detected the Rampion had it sent out any signals. And it hadn't crashed until about four days after Cinder was kidnapped.

So why hadn't Levana tried?

"Kai?" a sweet voice hummed. He sat up in his bed with a start and nearly screamed. Lying next to him was no other than the woman he'd been hung over since she disappeared.

Cinder rested her head on the pillow of the other side of his bed. Her eyes drooping and hair ever so messy. She seemed so real, which frightened Kai even more.

"What's wrong?" she asked, sitting up. Kai struggled through his sheets to the edge of the bed. His panting was piercing the tissue if his lungs and heart. "Kai, are you okay?" He felt a familiar hand cap over his shoulder. Making him cry out and push it away.

"Kai?" Cinder questioned. Her eyes wide with concern.

"Get away from me," he ordered. After falling for Levana's last trick, he wasn't so keen on doing the same thing again. He was quaking on the edge of the bed, trying to get away from the girl that looked like Cinder while fighting off the urge to throw himself into her arms.

She seemed hurt for a moment, until realization washed over her features. "You had the nightmare again ... didn't you?"

"What?" Confusion weaved into his thoughts.

"Kai," she cooed. Placing her hand inches from his. "I'm back now. It's okay. Carswell Thorne is in jail. He can't do anything to me or you anymore."

He couldn't even speak. Levana was being even more sick than usual with this. "Levana, cut it out."

She shook her head and her eyebrows knitted. "Why do you think I'm-" She broke her sentence off.

Oddly enough, Kai felt the need to answer her incomplete question. "Levana .. Levana pretended to be you, and she kissed me."

Horror, disgust, and pure rage flared in a flame behind Cinder's eyes. "Well now I'm even more glad that she's dead now."

"Levana's dead?!" he exclaimed.

She was a little surprised by the volume of his voice, but more so by what he said. "Kai ..." she cooed. Soon, she was scooting closer to him on the bed. Her hands took his head and rested it on her shoulder. He heard her heart beat. The warmth was the same as the one he remembered. Nothing like the one Levana radiated when she mascaraed-ed as her. This was really Cinder. And this was a reality, not a lie.

"It's okay," she assured him. "We're together again. And Levana can't hurt you anymore."

If Kaito had any tears left to cry, he would have. Instead, he fell back into the mattress and Cinder lied down at his side. He held her into his chest and dared not let go for fear of her leaving again.

"I'm not going anywhere," she promised. He clutched her side closer. It wasn't that he didn't trust her. He didn't trust others around them that could separate them again. He never wanted to let her go again. He wanted to be at her side for the rest of his life. HE would give up his title, his life, his freedom, anything, just to be with her as long as they lived.

For the first time in days, he fell asleep without nightmares rampaging through his mind.

But little did he know, all of these thoughts and images inside of him were of his own creation. And the warmth he was feeling was from Cinder's cloak – that he now used as a security blanket to hold onto the memory of her.

AN: Hi people who read this!!! I know this is a day late, but better late than never, right? Other than that, I have stuff to say and repeat. Happy birthday again to the people I mentioned in my post yesterday. You're older ... and stuff. But guys, if you want to, tell me your birthdays a month or so in advance and we can sing Happy Birthday to you in the comments! Anyway, have a good day guys! Or night, whatever time zone you're in.