"Don't? Don't what, Van?" He pushed at it, the last of the shields emptying away into nothing, quick and messy and leaving his power mostly spent, but he was still aware enough to push at Van. He gripped Vanyel's arms with a terrible force and stared into his eyes.

"You're all I have, Vanyel. You're all I'll ever have again. I've died to come here to you, but you're still alive. You cannot, cannot leave me!"