“Is she going to survive?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “That needs to be a yes! Cervis is going to have all our hides if she dies! You have no idea- make sure she lives!”

  “I am doing everything I can, Nyx, but my powers are, in fact, limited by mortality. I’ll spare no effort in trying to save her, but I can’t guarantee I can.”

  A scream ripped through the conversation.

  I lost consciousness again around the same time I discovered the scream came from me.

  Aster… Why can’t I reach you? I’m trying to find your dreams- where are you?

  Cervis…

  Are you okay? What’s happened?

  Cervis- I love you.

  Aster?

  The quiet, distant sound of nails tapping a surface impatiently.

  The scuff of feet pacing the floor.

  The weary, hollow sigh of someone who had done everything in the power and hadn’t done enough.

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  Another agonized scream.

  “She’s fading. She’s not getting better.”

  “There must be more we can do-”

  “She’s not going to make it.”

  “Mere humans have survived worse. She’s half-faye, for shadows’ sake! Surely- surely!- there is something more we can do to ascertain her survival!”

  “She lost a lot of blood. She won’t wake up and eat. She’s going to die, Nyx, and you need to accept that.”

  “No. No! Aster, listen- if you are in there anywhere- Cervis needs you. You’re the only one who can save him. You can’t die before your destiny. Revive that old spark, that endless spirit, and live, damn you! Don’t you dare give up! Don’t you dare!”

  “Nyx… Give up. Her breathing’s slowed just since we started talking. Say your farewells.”

  “No! I won’t!”

  “You must.”

  Aster?

  Cervis… Everything hurts, so much. Someone keeps saying I’m not going to pull through.

  Aster! No! No, you- you must live! What happened?

  The dragon… The dragon didn’t go according to plan.

  How bad off are you?

  I don’t know. There was… So much blood. My head is my head is so foggy. Foggy. Why is it so dark?

  Aster- please-

  It’s so dark, Cervis. I know I’ve opened my eyes at some point but I couldn’t see. What does that mean?

  Aster… No, no, you’ll live. You’ll pull through. You’ll be okay. Try to open your eyes- try to see-

  I’m so tired, Cervis. It would be so much easier just to… Just to rest. I’m so tired, Cervis. So tired.

  Aster… Please. You don’t have to be the one to save me. Just live. I’ll come back to you if you can just live. I’ll do anything. I love you, Aster. I can’t- I can’t lose you. I’ll come back. Don’t give up. Please- please don’t give up.

  I love you, too, Cervis. I’m so tired.

  Aster- please…