Chapter 30

There were no flowery words or grand promises, just the simplest, most direct confession. Under the starry sky of the Alencan savannah, it felt achingly sincere. Winona listened quietly, taking in the contours of Caleb's face outlined by starlight, the unguarded depth of emotion and vulnerability in his eyes, and the gruesome wounds on his arms left for her sake. The final shard of ice in her heart finally dissolved completely, here on this wild, magnificent land, before a proof purchased at the cost of his very life. Beneath the starry sky, the long-held coldness and distance in her eyes, no longer frozen, melted away like spring snow, leaving a gentle, luminous shimmer. She said nothing. Slowly and deliberately, she reached out and gently took Caleb's uninjured hand. Her fingertips were cold, yet they carried a quiet, unwavering strength. Caleb's body trembled violently as he stared at her in disbelief. Then, an overwhelming surge of joy exploded within him like a volcano erupt