Eleanor's feet conveyed her to the small room where Eric and Matthew were lying, and she stayed there, in front of the door, her chest heaving. She closed her eyes tight, Conaan flashing before her.

His scent, his touch, and those final moments when he had fought with everything he had. She hated to think of those moments as final. They could not be.

She gave a small sigh, then opened her eyes and slowly let her hand rest on the door knob. Slowly, her hand opened the door, and she walked in, her eyes fixed on nothing at all.

"Your Highness."

She slowly turned to the bed. Eric was...