One hundred and seventy-three years across both incarnate and discarnate planes of existence, and this was only the second time he’d felt this much sorrow. He couldn’t bear to think of the first time. That would most definitely render him useless. So, he decided just to watch Alyssalee breathe. Was his decision to pull the plug a rash one? Could she have fought them? Or had Alyssalee already lost the fight for her soul? He regained his balance and turned away, not wanting to meet the eyes of Sophie or Bits—or anyone. Projecting his embodiment over the decades had given him expertise unmatched by anyone he’d known, but soul-felt pain wasn’t something he could just turn off.
He sensed the slight charge of a head leaning against his shoulder and an arm wrapping around his waist. He missed to
