"Aheh -- " Dimitri knows some of those words. The conclusion follows with the rest -- he can hear French now. The catch in his chest is more like a sob.

Removing Darcy isn't a question. Dimitri has no intention of letting go. He hasn't been left to grieve, like Darcy has, but even knowing that he's not the only castaway of the Serena Eterna to wash up here -- missing his closest, he'd begun to think --

He rests his cheek on Darcy's head as the tears start to roll. "I'm here," he repeats, choked. "We're here. We're free. We -- Goddess -- "