Chapter 41 · Kael's Last Heartbeat

"Kael, don't you fucking dare." My hands hit his chest and there's nothing. No rise. No warmth. Just cold armor and the kind of stillness that means gone.

Mira's voice cuts through from somewhere behind me. "Nora, the door's open. Thirty seconds."

"Shut up."

"Twenty-eight."

I rip his chestplate off. The buckles fight me and I don't care. Metal scrapes stone. His shirt's soaked through, blood or sweat or both, and I get my palms flat over his heart and push.

"Come on." Push. "Come on." Push. "You don't get to die on me now."

Nothing.

"Nora." Mira's closer now. Her hand touches my shoulder. "You have to choose."

"I'm not leaving him."

"Then you're not going home."

I look up. The portal's a ragged tear in the air ten feet away, shimmering white and blue, and I can see through it. I can see the med tent. The cots. Someone's walking past in desert camo and I know that hall. I know that base.

Earth.

I look down. Kael's face is slack. His lips are gray.

"Nora, fifteen seconds."

"I need more time."

"You don't have it."

I press down again. Chest compressions. Thirty per minute.