Kaz and Inej stood shoulder to shoulder, knives drawn as they prepared to fight Pekka Rollins and the Dime Lions.

They launched into an attack, mirroring each other's moves as they fought their way towards the exit of the building.

They were so close when Inej slipped in a puddle of blood and nearly lost her balance.

They were so close to getting out of that building when a Dime Lion threw his blade.

They were so close when Inej fell to the floor, a dagger stabbed right through her stomach.

Pain overwhelmed her as she fell to the ground and didn't move until Kaz was shaking her.

"Inej! Inej, come on, get up. They're all dead, we can leave now!"

His voice reached a peak of desperation and she placed a hand on his cheek. "Go, Kaz."

"No. No, I won't leave you," he whispered, pure agony shining in his amber eyes. "I won't go without you."

"You have to," she rasped, brushing away his tears.

"I'm not going to leave," he cried and Inej let her own tears fall as she remembered his tale of a young boy who lost his father and his brother.

"I love you, Inej," he whispered as if it would bring her back to life. "I love you so, so, so very much."

She could barely see. There was no end to her pain, no easy way to breathe or talk or move without being drowned in that infinite abyss of pain.

"Don't leave me," he begged, his cruel face softening, just for her. She wished that she didn't have to leave him, that she could take back those times she had rejected him.

"I... love you," she whispered, the last thing she could do.

Inej hoped that he would move on. That he would live happily eventually, even if she wouldn't be there with him.

"No," he cried. "No, you can't leave me, Inej. You can't die, not now, you can't. Please, just stay here with me."

His sorrowful wails tore Inej's heart, her soul to pieces as she listened to the boy cry out, but she was so helpless to do anything other than just listen.

She should have known that her time with Kaz would be limited but she ignored that fact. She thought that she could change him, that he could be a better man for her.

It turns out that he had been the better man the whole time. Yes, he had been cruel, but he had done it all for her. And now it was too late.

And when Inej's heart came to a halt, Kaz let out a scream that shattered the hearts of everyone that could hear.

Inej drew her dagger, preparing for the fight. Kaz did the same.

Then, they were swinging at the Dime Lions, creating a path to the door. Kaz was a comforting presence behind her as they fought their way out.

But then his presence was gone.

She ducked an attack to see him holding a wound on his abdomen and cursed under her breath. Hurriedly, she killed the rest of the Dime Lions and dropped down beside him.

His lips were stained with blood and his skin was pale. Way too pale.

She could see it in his eyes. He was going to die and she couldn't save him.

Knowing that it was the truth helped nothing as she remembered each and every time she had turned him down. It felt like a brutal whipping to her heart as she stared down at Kaz, helpless and drained, and wished that he wouldn't die.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "The Suli don't say sorry, but Kaz, I'm so very sorry. I'd take it all back, Kaz. I'd go back and cherish every second of being with you if I knew it would end this way."

He whimpered and the sound alone caused Inej to break into tears.

She reached for the letter she kept with her at all times. The one that read:

Inej,

Come home soon. We miss you. Write back to me as soon as you get this note and let me know that you're doing alright.

Your's truly,

Kaz

"Please, Kaz, don't die on me. We have so much left to do together. Please."

Kaz reached up with a shaking hand and touched her cheek. "I... I love you."

Inej but down on her sob as she leaned down to kiss him. That was all she wanted. To kiss him once.

She sobbed as he went cold beneath her, the light dying from those perfect, amber eyes.

She tore the letter to shreds and threw it aside because she knew that she could write a thousand letters and Kaz Brekker wouldn't answer a single one of them.