I shook my, smiling. A few last faeries were going through when I realized that Reth was still standing nearby, his frame visibly shaking.
I gestured to the gate, but he stood there, frowning at me, then motioned me to him. Disentangling myself from Lend, I walked over, having to pull my hair out of my mouth three times.
“You should go!” I shouted. “You’re the only one left and you look terrible and it’s almost dawn!”
“I want to go through with you. I want to be there when you become what you should be.”
“Reth.” I shook my head. “I’m not going through!”
His eyebrows rose in confusion. “You’re not going through.”
“No! I’m not going through!”
“Of course you are going through. This is what everything has been about, escaping this wretched planet. Together.”
“You can go!”
He reached out and cupped the side of my face with his palm that, once again, felt warm to my now extra-soul-free body. Feverish, actually, and I could feel his pulse racing through it. “You are the only thing I have ever cared for besides myself. I cannot leave you here.

Auteur: Kiersten White