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They couldsee.

There was the ocean—a vast expanse of black water stretching all around them, the foamy waves capped with pearly moonlight.

And there was the coast. He spotted the I-5, at the top of that craggy hill, the blue and red lights of cop cars, ambulances, and fire trucks flashing in the gloom.

The others threw their hands up and cheered. Max was too shocked to join in.

Dallas grabbed him by the arm, and she was grinning up at him as she exclaimed, “We did it, Max!” Tears sparkled in her eyes. A little sob came out of her as she said, “We made it!”

He merely gathered her into his arms, kissed the top of her head, and hugged her. Hard.

Travis flicked on his headset. “Darien,” he said, panting. “We made it. We made it, Dare. We’re safe.”

It took Darien a moment to reply. Everyone fell quiet, their short-lived joy fading as they waited. Travis pressed his earpiece in farther, straining to hear over the boat’s engine and the splashing of the waves, the whirring of flying helicopters.

Finally, Darien spoke, his voice small—so small, it almost didn’t sound like him. “Safe,” he repeated, breathless. “You’re sure?”

“Yeah,” Travis said, his brow creasing with worry. “Yeah, we’re safe. Promise.”

“Good.”

Max thought that was the end of it, when suddenly?—

“Max?” Darien’s voice was hoarse and so quiet, Max could hardly hear him.

He pressed his earpiece in further and said, “Yeah, Dare?”

A pause. And then, “I’m sorry.”

Max’s chest tightened. “Me too, Darien,” he said, his throat so thick, he couldn’t swallow. “Me too.”

“I’ll see you at home, okay?”

Home.His eyes welled with tears.

“Yeah,” he said. “I’ll see you at home.”

“I love you,” Darien said. “Both of you.”

Max shared a glance with Travis. Together, they said, “We love you, too, Darien.”

Darien cut the line.

Nobody spoke again as Malakai steered the boat toward the coast.

Toward life.

They foundDarien in Control Room 8B.

The minute Loren caught sight of him, where he had collapsed on the floor in a pool of blood, she almost collapsed, too.

A small, broken sound burst out of her. The others called Darien’s name.

Mortifer was there with him. Standing beside Darien’s head, his tiny hand flattened against the Darkslayer’s cheek. The minute the Hob caught sight of them, he started bleating—calling for help.

Silence—there was only silence in her head as she lurched forward and crashed to her knees beside the man she loved.

“Darien?” She was so far away, so detached from her body, that she did not recognize her own voice or her own hands as she started screaming his name and shaking him. “Darien? Darien! DARIEN!”