He grips Zerxus's shoulder as tight as he can with the hand that's still under his control, the other locked into its fist as that splintering feeling rolls through him again.

"No, listen to me, it doesn't matter right now. It can't, there isn't time. There can be time, but--nngk."

He sucks in a breath he doesn't technically need to take. "Not right now. Listen. He needs his memories back. You have to find out if there's a way. The wizards wouldn't just destroy his mind if they weren't fini--"

This time the pain makes him hiss as his vision goes hazy. The haze doesn't clear. "Listen to me. I love you. I love you, so much, but there are things more important than us. Don't know if I'll be able to speak so... directly again..."

He gasps, squinting, trying desperately to get one more glimpse of his husband's face.

His last act before he slips away is selfish. It's so selfish, so cruel, but he can't stop himself. He needs it so fucking badly.

Evandrin kisses Zerxus with all the desperation of years apart, all the familiarity of a man who's found his lover's every button and delights in pushing them. He kisses Zerxus until this borrowed body has to pause and pant for air.

"It's not her fault," Evandrin whispers. Then he kisses Zerxus one more time as he fades from the material plane entirely.