Tohon shouted, “I know you can survive the Death Lilys, Avry. I know what you’re doing. It’s temporary. You know I have my dead soldiers. You’ve signed a contract. You gave me your word. Don’t do anything rash. Come out with your friends and all is forgiven, my dear.”

We kept moving, but Kerrick’s grip on my hand tightened. Cold fear knotted in my throat and clutched my heart in its icy grip. I knew what I had to do. When we reached the corner, Kerrick ordered Loren over the wall first so he could help Ryne.

When Kerrick’s attention was focused on Loren, I touched Ryne’s hand. My magic exploded from my chest and he rocked back in surprise. Then I collected the oily blackness that sickened him and transferred it into me.

Ryne squeezed my hand. “Thank you,” he whispered.

“Stop Tohon and take care of my boys,” I said in his ear.

“I promise.”

Kerrick peered at us in suspicion.

“Ryne’s turn,” I said.

With Kerrick’s help, Ryne climbed the Lilys to the top of the wall. When he was out of sight, Kerrick said, “Your turn.”

“I can’t. I gave my word. Don’t worry, I’ve healed Ryne. Go and make sure he stops Tohon.”

“You gave your word to a madman under duress. You don’t have to honor it.” He pulled me close. “Come with me. Please.”

This was harder than deciding to heal Ryne. After all our bickering, he still wished to spend my last days with me. Leaning on him, I closed my eyes and breathed in his scent. Living green and spring sunshine. I opened my eyes. Tipping my head back, I met his gaze. Raw emotion shone on his face. He held nothing back.

Kerrick dipped his head. His lips met mine. A wonderful explosion of sensations started in the pit of my stomach and radiated out. His kiss was nothing like Tohon’s. It wasn’t manipulative or a show of dominance. It was his heart and soul. A gift.

And I wasn’t about to let him watch me die a slow and painful death. I pulled back. “I’ve a bit of…unfinished business with Tohon.” I couldn’t leave without making sure Danny was taken care of.

Kerrick stared at me with a confused pain. “But he’ll kill you.”

Now it was my turn to be confused. “I’m going to die, anyway. You know that.”

Kerrick shook his head, scowling.

Damn. A few little clues clicked into place. No wonder he didn’t seem that upset when I’d agreed to save Ryne. “Go. Get Ryne far away from here. He’ll explain it.”

“Avry, if this is because I’ve hurt—”

I covered his mouth with my own, kissing him one last time. “This isn’t because of anything you did. If the circumstances were different, I would go with you in a heartbeat. Talk to Ryne.”

Tohon’s voice grew louder as he shouted for me to surrender.

He dropped his arms. “Why can’t you tell me?”

“Go. Or all this is for nothing.” I pushed him.

He wouldn’t budge and his jaw settled into that stubborn line. Time for drastic action. Before he could grab me, I dashed between the Lilys and out to where Tohon could see me.

Kerrick’s hoarse cry would haunt me for the rest of my days.

“Where are your friends?” Tohon asked with a deadly tone.

“Gone.”

“Kerrick, too?”

“Yes.”

“Come here.” He held out a hand.

Bracing for the worst, I strode to him, but I balked at touching him. He snatched my hand, holding it with both of his. His magic vibrated through my bones.

He closed his eyes for a moment before meeting my gaze. “You’re a fool.” Dropping my hand, he shook his head in disgust. “You’re not worth my time.” Tohon pulled his sword. He pressed the tip to my chest.

Pain burned, but I stood my ground as I waited for the cold steel to plunge into my equally cold heart.

Tohon sheathed his weapon. “Killing you would be a kindness. And I’m not inclined to show you any. But what to do with you?” He tapped a finger on his lips. “How long do you have?”

“Ten to fifteen days. Twenty at most.”

“Will you be able to function?”

Function? What an odd word. “After the initial bout of stomach problems, I’ll be lucid and able to work for about ten days.”

“Our contract stands until you’re incapacitated. Make sure you teach your helpers everything they need to know to care for my soldiers before that point.”

Not what I had been expecting. At all.

“Surprised?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Expected me to throw your sick ass in a cell?”

“Yes.”

“It’s tempting, but unnecessary. Nothing I can do will be worse than what you did to yourself. When you’re in your final days, I’ll be close by so you can beg me to kill you.”

Nausea swirled. Plague symptom or fear? Hard to tell. “Will you?”

“No. You’re going to suffer until the very end.”

Except for the bouts of vomiting, diarrhea and nausea, my days resumed the pattern I’d established before Ryne’s rescue. I worked in the infirmary all day and returned to my rooms at night. Other things had changed, though. Winter no longer helped me. Tohon no longer tapped on the secret panel. And he didn’t ask me to help him with his Death Lily experiments. His absence was an unexpected bonus.

It took seven days for the stomach symptoms to cease. Then the bone-deep aches and shooting pains started. Knowing my time was limited, I sorted my meager belongings. I had placed the juggling rocks in my pockets. When a round of sickness overcame me, I clutched them in my hands. It helped.