Like a second heartbeat under her own. Like a voice in the back of her skull that she'd never be rid of. His presence taking up space in her consciousness, rearranging things to make room for himself. Settling in like he'd always belonged there.
Their consciousnesses connected. His thoughts brushing against hers. His emotions bleeding into her awareness. The edges of where she ended and he began had blurred.
And through that connection, she felt him clearly now.
Felt how much he'd given. Felt the hollowness where his power had been. Felt his body trembling with exhaustion, his lungs barely working, his heart struggling to beat. He'd poured so much of himself into saving her that there was almost nothing left.
He was a fire burning down to embers. Slipping away while she lay here in the body he'd saved.
She tried to move. To open her eyes. To reach for him.
Her body wouldn't respond.
Too exhausted. Too damaged. Her awareness was back, but her body needed rest.
No. He needs you. He's dying because he saved you and you need to MOVE.
Her fingers twitched. That was all she could manage. Her hand, she could feel his hand in hers, firm but weakening, trembling, his grip loosening as his strength failed.
I'm here, she tried to tell him through the bond.I came back. You saved me. Now stop. Stop giving. Keep something for yourself.
She didn't know if he could hear her.
Through the bond, his presence flickered. The steady flame becoming erratic. Fading.
He'd given too much and was slipping away while she lay here unable to help. Dying because he'd chosen her life over his own.
Dante!
She screamed it through the bond. Tried to push strength to him the way he'd anchored her. Tried to give instead of take. Tried to shove her own life force through the connection, anything to keep him from fading.
But she didn't know how. Didn't understand this new magic or how to save him when he was the one who'd always saved her.
So she gave him the only thing she could.
She squeezed his hand.
One weak squeeze. Everything she had. Her fingers closing around his with all the strength left in her broken body.
I'm here. I'm alive. Don't you dare leave me now. Don't you dare make this a trade.
His presence flickered again.
Weaker.
Darkness pulled at her. Exhaustion dragged her under even as she fought it.
Her last thought before awareness left was fierce and desperate and absolutely certain:
You brought me back. I'm bringing you back too. Whatever it takes. Even if I have to steal your death right out from under you.
Then nothing.
Just darkness.
And his hand still in hers.
LXXX.
