Caelum's body crumbled. Disintegrating from the extremities inward. Fingers to ash. Arms following. Chest collapsing.
His eyes went dark. No awareness. No spark.
Dante's hand tightened one final time.
And Caelum ceased.
The ash was scattered. The light faded into darkness so complete it was like it had never existed. Reality sealed over the space where he'd been.
The death realm itself wouldn't remember him.
Dante's hand dropped.
His shadows contracted. Pulled back into him like a tide retreating. His form solidified, became physical again because he needed hands now. Needed to hold her. Needed to be human-shaped for what came next.
The temperature rose. The frost stopped spreading.
Because destroying Caelum meant nothing if she was gone.
He turned toward where she lay.
His legs barely worked. The world tilting. Shadows sluggish from the expenditure.
He dropped to his knees beside her. Hands shaking as he reached for her, afraid to touch her, afraid he'd hurt her more.
Her eyes were closed. Blood running from her nose, her mouth, her ears. The circlet sat dark against her forehead. Her chest barely moving. Each breath shallow and labored.
"Brynn." His voice broke completely. "Please. Please don't leave me."
He reached for their connection through his shadows.
It was there.
But so faint. Fading with every heartbeat.
LXXVIII.
DANTE
The rage drained out of him. Left nothing but emptiness.
His bare hands were already on her face, cupping her cheeks. So cold. Her skin was so cold.
"Stay with me." The words came out broken. "Brynn, stay with me."
Her chest barely moved. Shallow breaths that stuttered and caught. Each one was wet, labored, like something vital had been damaged and was filling with blood.
He could hear her heartbeat with his enhanced hearing. Growing weaker. Skipping beats. Struggling to continue when everything in her body was failing.
Her face was pale, lips going blue. The bandages around her wrists were soaked through. She'd pushed herself too hard maintaining the wards while under attack. The circlet on her forehead had gone dark, ward-symbols that had blazed so brightly now dim as dying embers.
Dying.
She was dying in his arms.
"Don't." His voice cracked. "Not after everything. Not now."
She didn't respond. Didn't open her eyes. Didn't make a sound.
