It was devastating to say aloud, and I felt as though I was choosing between my brother and life itself. But it wasn’t really a choice at all. The decision was inside of me, already made. And I could tell by the resigned look in Reg’s eyes that he knew. It was the real reason he’d been so moody and distant lately. He knew what I would choose before I did.

“Sal, Dex, Poe, the twins . . . I can’t lose them. Not even the memory of them.” Tears slid down my cheeks. “But I can’t lose you either. You’re my partner in crime.”

“Oh, please, no more crimes,” Adante complained from a distance, and Reg had to physically hold me back.

“You don’t need a partner anymore. You have a whole team now.” Reg forced a smile. “Though, I’ll have you note that it took half a dozen people to replace me.”

I rested a hand on Reg’s chest, to feel his broken, beating heart.

“No one could ever replace you. It’s not just about them,” I said. “I don’t want to forget . . . me.”

The truth of it hit home even as I said the words. It wasn’t only our mortal crew I was afraid to leave behind; it was who I was when I was with them. They had a way of making me think of others instead of just myself, making me want to have friends, not followers. I liked that version of me, and I wasn’t ready to let her go.

The human I was most afraid of losing was myself.

“I don’t want to forget you either,” Reg said. He spun to Adante, who was off to the side, looking utterly disinterested. “I will remember Charlie, at least, right?”

“You’ll remember the century or so you were immortal together,” Adante confirmed. “The details of this time will be gone, but you will be informed of what happened to her, that she chose to remain human.”

“And we can keep in touch?” Reg asked. “I’ll know where she is?”

“That would be an unprecedented exception—”

“Then make it,” I growled. “I will find him anyway. I will use Lina and Sal and any other favor I can call in to find him and tell him where I am. You can’t keep me from my brother.”

Adante considered my words for a moment and must have seen the truth in them. “We’ll allow it.”

“Thank you,” Reg said.

Adante gestured out at the horizon. “The sun approaches. Are your farewells nearly finished?”

I shot him a disgusted look. “Excuse me, did you just tell us to wrap it up?”

“Charlie,” Reg warned, but I ignored him.

“So sorry if our big goodbye is boring you,” I seethed. “I know a fence you can sit on while you wait!”