As Neria wrapped her arms around him, as she drew him close, Kell lost the breath in his lungs -- and it stayed out. He didn't need to breathe anymore. It wasn't something he did often, but he caught it, in these moments. The small bits of uncertainty.

The moments his body forgot to pretend to be human.

"That sounded very much like a goodbye," he said softly. His voice seemed to come from far away.