Ryder held Kane’s hand as his breathing became harsher. The doctors said he had less than hour left. The poison had already shut down most of his vital organs, and his lungs were collapsing on themselves.

His parents sat beside him, and his mother was running her fingers through his hair as tears fell down her cheeks in silence. Neither of his parents said anything. He wouldn’t have heard them if they had.

***

He was drifting, unable to feel the pain despite knowing that he was in a lot of it. Draco?

Yes?

We’re going to die, aren’t we… It wasn’t really a question. He knew the answer. He couldn’t pull in a full breath anymore, and everything felt heavy. His thoughts were becoming more and more sluggish as the seconds ticked by.

You scared? He asked Draco.

Nah… You?

Not sure, really… I didn’t think that this day would come so soon, but now that it has, it’s a lot less frightening than I thought it would be. I wonder what’s on the other side. Kane mused.

Draco huffed. Don’t know… But I guess we’ll find out. I’d say we’ve got minutes before your body gives out and we die.

Comforting of you to say that… Kane sighed. I might not be scared, but I don’t want to die. Hey, how come I can’t feel anything?

Because you’re blocking out the pain. It’s quite intense, and your whole body is in shut down mode because of the poison.

You know, you’d think that with all of the technology and magic they have, they’d be able to find an antidote for this.

It’s from another dimension that hasn’t been bridged. They don’t have enough information to analyze the poison, and it’s spread too quickly. Draco hummed. Unfortunately for us. Our parents are quite distraught.

I imagine so. Kane sighed mentally. I’m going to miss them…

It’s time. Draco whispered.

His dragon’s looming form rose before him, and Kane walked forward to climb onto his back. They lifted off the ground of his mind, and were gone.

***

The heart monitor started to emit frantic beeping noises and then fell flat. Kane’s breathing stopped, and his mother clutched his hand in hers as she finally lost it. Ryder turned away and fled, unable to face their grief and her own.

Donnovan followed her out, knowing she needed his support, and Andrew bowed his head, feeling drained.

Even with all of the knowledge they had about poisons combined with healing magic, they were unable to save Kane. He was gone forever, and the grieving family members and friends could hardly believe it.

Ryder ran for Donnovan’s room, knowing that hers wouldn’t be private. Well, that and because she knew Donnovan was following her. She didn’t want to fall apart in front of all the other agents in the dorm that Donnovan had assigned her to here.

Running into the room, she slammed the door and collapsed on his bed, wrapping her arms around herself as she fought back the tears.

The door opened, and as she had expected, Donnovan walked in. His eyes held so much pain that she almost drowned in it when it mingled with hers. Her hold on her tears faltered and crashed. Donnovan went to her and pulled her into his arms. Together, they mourned for their friend. It needed to come out for both of them, Donnovan knew.

They’d been through so much together and now, just when they had finally defeated Alyx, this happened. Ryder could only imagine how much pain Kane’s parents would be going through. It was probably crippling to them.

“Why did we have to lose him?” Ryder whispered through her tears. “He was so special to me… He always looked out for me, even when I didn’t notice or understand that was what he was doing. He never asked me for thanks for it. And because of me, he never got his chance at love.” She buried her face in Donnovan’s shoulder.

He rubbed her back, his eyes finally dry as he’d cried himself out. “I know, Ry. He loved you as so much more than a sister. I think you knew that. But what’s done is done. And I don’t know why we lost him. But there’s always a reason for the things that happen. Always.” He sighed into her hair. “We may not always understand, but there is a reason. You just have to believe that.”

She gave him a watery smile. “Yeah… Well, at least Cass is getting better and regaining her health… No more casualties here, right?”

Donnovan nodded. “No more casualties.”

***

Two Months Later:

She woke with a scream, heart racing. It had been so real. Everything. The fiery symbols around the Gate, the flames eating away at everyone around her, burning and destroying everything she’d ever loved. And in the flames, her loved ones had perished.

Ryder trembled and threw her legs over the side of the bed. She had to know they were safe. Even if all was calm and seemingly right, she needed to be sure. Perhaps everything had truly been a dream, and Alyx had made her hallucinate that she was rescued. Maybe she had destroyed everything, and now she was in his hideaway.

She didn’t recognize any of the sleeping forms around her, but one of them was sitting upright, staring at her. “You okay?” A soft voice whispered.

She jumped and stared at the woman staring back at her. “Yeah, fine. I didn’t mean to wake you.” Ryder let the words tumble out and then fled for the door.

As she walked down the halls, she calmed down. She wasn’t in some foreign base with Alyx. She was home on West Base, and she’d just woken who knows how many people with her nightmares.

But she still needed to know they were safe.

She checked on her sister and parents first. They were sleeping quietly, so she left them alone and headed for Donnovan’s room.

The light was on when Ryder reached the door. He was insomniac, after all. She knocked gently, and Donnovan opened the door, his hair tousled from attempts at sleep. He took one glance at her disheveled appearance and ushered her in. “Can’t sleep?”

She nodded. “Yeah.”

“You want to talk about it?” He asked, pushing her down onto the bed beside Mya.

She shook her head, wordless as the terror the dream had left finally fled, leaving her relieved and drained.

“Need a hug?” He asked, sighing as he sat down beside her and his cat.

“Yeah.” She whispered.

He enveloped her in his strong, warm embrace, and she hugged him back, holding on as if her life depended on it. Her body trembled in his embrace as she finally relaxed, realizing that everyone she loved was safe.

Except Kane. The thought struck her without warning.

It had been two months since his funeral, but she still couldn’t accept that he was gone. They’d commemorated him as a hero, but it didn’t fix the fact that Kane was dead because he had tried to save her. And maybe he had, but she would’ve gladly died to keep him alive.

“Hey… It’s okay, Ry.” Donnovan whispered.

“No, it isn’t. And it won’t ever be again.” She whispered, a tear dripping down her cheek.

“It does get better, Ry. I promise.” Donnovan kissed her.

She kissed him back, wanting to be distracted. “You promise?”

He nodded and kissed her again. “Ryder?” He whispered in between kissing her and stroking her hair.

“Yeah?”

“Marry me.” He murmured.

She sighed. “I’m not ready yet.”

“You’ve said that every time I’ve asked the last month.” He sighed too. “When will you be ready?”

“I need to get over Kane’s death and my involvement in it first, Nova.” She ran her fingers through his messy black hair.

“It’s been two months.” He bit his lip. “I don’t want to push you into something you aren’t ready for, but…”

“Then give me time. I’ll tell you when I’m ready.” Ryder promised. “I love you, Donnovan, and marriage won’t change that. Nothing will. So please, wait for me.” She rested her forehead against his.

He smiled. “Always…”

A/N: Okay... So I don't usually put these on here, but it's getting so close to the end of the story, and I want to hear all of your thoughts on this. For those who have made it this far, thank you so much. I really appreciate that you've born with my sporadic updating schedule and lengthy pauses in the book for school purposes. It means the world to me. 

So now is your chance to pitch in. How do you think it's going to end, and what would you like to see happen before it ends? Anything I've missed, or loose strings you've noticed that need to be tied up before the book is finished? I still have at least two or three chapters and an epilogue to go, maybe more, so let me know what you think. 

Also, some questions for you... 

1. Who's your favorite character so far, and why?

2. What's your favorite part of the book?

3. What could make this book a better experience for you. 

Let me know in the comments section or PM me!