Kell hadn't full expected that to be her answer. Neria had always been the best of them, the first to sacrifice, even if it meant her own happiness.

But so much had been taken from her, stripped away, that Kell instinctively understood. They could not afford to lose anyone or anything else.

It brought them to a moral quandary, but it made Kell wonder. Was it possible? Could they manage to secure the barriers, but leave enough of a gap for her to pass through?

We did it with Black London, a part of him whispered. It could be done here.

It could.

Kell's fingers slid into Neria's hair, and he held her to him without a word to the contrary, tipped his face forward to press into her hair, mouth brushing against her temple.

"Not without a fight," he agreed.