The semi-wrecked duty room was cramped and uncomfortable with all the tension. Chenel and Baran had followed them back, and no one had the heart to tell them to leave. Sean saw the realization dawn on both their faces of what he was going to try. They made no attempt to disguise their horror. But at least they did not object.
Nor, astonishingly, did Elenya. She gripped his face with hands so tight she dug into the flesh of his neck and temples. But Sean did not mind. Nor did he mind the tears. Nor the fierceness of her voice, nor the fear in her words. “You will come back to me. Do you understand?”
“I do.”
“You will not make me live alone.” She shook his head, hard enough to hurt, and yet he felt nothing but comfort. “Tell me!”
“I love you, Elenya.”
She kissed him, fierce as her grip. Then she released his head and fashioned his invisible belt. She took hold of his arm, folding down over him. So close her tears fell on his hand. But she did not speak. She did not protest. Nor did she make a sound as she wept.
Sean looked over to where Dillon was stretched out on the opposite couch. “Ready?”
“For hours,” he replied, reaching for Carey’s hand.
Carey gripped him tightly. “Don’t you need Carver?”
“Just hold my hand,” Dillon told Carey. “Everything’s good.”
Chenel declared, “I must come.”
Sean did not object. He did not point out that she actually didn’t know for certain what he intended. Instead he merely asked, “Are you sure?”
She swallowed hard. “I am.”
“You will serve as Dillon’s wingman. You stay one fraction behind him. Linked to him like he is to me. Ready to make the move back. Drawing us with you.”
She swallowed again. “Understood.”
Sean turned back to his brother. “Dillon.”
“Oh man, don’t get all gushy on me, okay?”
“Thanks.”
“You can thank me when this is over.” Dillon shut his eyes. “I am three seconds from out of here.”
Elenya released Sean long enough to fashion a second belt around Dillon. She gripped both one-handed and retook her fierce hold on Sean.
Sean asked, “Baran?”
“Chenel is belted.”
Elenya kissed him again, tenderly this time. “Tell me what you are going to do.”
“Make this happen. Come home. To you.”
“I’m waiting here,” Dillon said.
Sean shut his eyes. “Let’s go.”