Lost Seraphine (The Seraphine Trilogy #2) by KaSonndra Leigh Page A

places where Raze took me all the time. The lands in-between the worlds. That’s where we found this necklace,” I lower my head and place one hand on the aquamarine stone Raze found for me one day while he was being rebellious, “in a place that’s a lot like this one, only it’s under the sea.”
    Right away, the wind caressing my skin slaps me with a chill that raises goose bumps. It hurts so damn much. Why can’t I get over this ache? This foreign thing called emotion seems to be shredding my mind into scattered little pieces.
    As though he can sense the change in me, Caleb moves close to me and pulls me into his arms, warming my body right away. “Don’t run off this time, all right?”
    I pull back and stare into his eyes. “I’ll never leave you. If I do, then it’ll never be for long. I promise.”
    The wall forming around us tumbles down as he braces the back of my head with both palms, his hands trembling. Lowering his mouth to mine, I lift up and kiss him first, my stomach clenching, my heart pumping.
    The Seraphine’s future queen may be lost, but what I share with Caleb will last forever. Our relationship might be a forbidden one, but the feelings, the emotions, the sparks surging through my body whenever he touches me, all of that rings true to me.
    I move back, steadying the dizziness flowing through me, and place my hands on his shoulders, massaging them. I love him so much it hurts. Damn Cupid and his sneaky little arrows. “Look at me, Caleb.”
    “You gave up your place on the throne for me. I wish…” He lowers his head as his voice catches in the wind. Glancing back up at me with sad, passionate eyes, Caleb says, “I wish you would’ve told me. I would never have let you do all this. Not for me.” His voice cracks and I see the sincerity in his eyes. I want him to understand how I could never rule over a place where he wasn’t welcome.
    “It was my choice, and it’s not like I had a lot of time to decide. Your life means more to me than anything. Father and the Leaders will find a way to stop the prophecy without me.”
    “My life means even more than the future of your people? Come on, Gia. I can’t ask you to abandon your people for me.” He pulls away and turns toward that damn rock again. I’ve never been so jealous of the Mother Ocean.
    I reach up and grasp his face. “I haven’t left anyone behind. I’m working with the Leaders at the safe house. Don’t forget, I’m training others to defend themselves. I’m doing my part.” Still, a tiny something hitches in my chest after I say this.
    Caleb picks up on it right away. I sense the change in his body, the way his whole frame tenses up just before he does the screwy thing with his face.
    “How is it that the daughter of Poseidon isn’t allowed to use a veil created by the gods, but a dark dude can stroll through like it’s a great day to visit his mom? It doesn’t make any sense at all.” He’s right. I don’t understand it.
    Father wouldn’t explain before he sent me away. For some reason, I recall the sound of the bluebird’s squawk in my dream, a combination of high-pitched cries and hisses like a snake. This bothers me. Some kind of message rides in that dream and I can’t figure it out. Cori says the Angel of Chaos wants Caleb. I shudder to think of why. The answer lies with the bluebird. I will find the answer to this riddle... somehow.
    “I’m not sure about Father’s actions, but I do know what matters most. The most important thing for all of us will be to keep you safe. Look at me, Caleb.” And stop staring at that damn rock , I want to say. His worried face turns in my direction. I start massaging his shoulders again, feeling the tension ease out of his muscles as I do so. “Do you even know how much I care for you?”
    “Maybe a little. I tend to be a hands on kinda dude. Showing’s always better than telling,” he answers, beaming his dimpled grin I love so very much. We have come