The night blurred in one long test of endurance. Dawn broke, but my captors kept their fast pace. They hadn’t said a word all night. Nor did they stop for food or water or rest. My throat burned with thirst and my head ached from hanging upside down. Eventually, I passed out.

Ice-cold water slapped my face, filled my nose. I woke, choking and disoriented.

A man peered down at me. “Easy there.”

I struggled to sit up. He held out his hand. When I grasped his fingers, I almost sighed in relief at the touch of a living, warm person. He helped me to my feet, but I leaned against him, drinking in his pulse of life. It filled me like a glass of warm wine, dulling my senses.

He raised his eyebrows. Humor sparked in his deep blue eyes. “Are you going to zap me?”

“Should I?” Confused, I glanced behind him. Two men and one woman—all armed—watched me intently. I was in danger. My muddled thoughts cleared a little.

“No, you shouldn’t. My companions wouldn’t like it and would stop you.”

“But I could threaten to harm you if they don’t back off,” I said.

He smiled sadly. I guessed he was around twenty-five years old. A few inches taller than me, he had short black hair, long dark eyelashes and a killer smile. His good looks had a royal quality, while Kerrick’s was more rugged. This man wouldn’t lack for admirers.

Hooking a thumb at the three hovering nearby, he said, “I wasn’t referring to them, but to them.” His gaze slid past my shoulder.

I turned and jerked as if he had thrown more ice water on me. The dead stood in precise rows, staring at nothing. Terror welled, clearing away my confusion in an instant. I counted six of them.

“Creepy, aren’t they?” His tone remained friendly and conversational. “But efficient and obedient. I thought more would return from the mission, but it doesn’t matter—they’re easily replaced. And they were successful. You’re here.”

“What…? Who…?” I couldn’t form a coherent question.

“They’re King Tohon’s special soldiers. Impressed?”

“Horrified.”

He smiled again. “There’s that, too.”

“Are you working for Tohon?”

“You could say that.”

“What does he want? Does he need me to heal someone for him?”

“Your healing power will certainly be an asset, but he has other plans for you. And, of course, keeping you from healing Prince Ryne is another benefit.”

Compared to the six dead standing nearby, the thought of being Tohon’s prisoner failed to produce anything other than mild concern. Or was it because I still held the handsome mercenary’s hand? And why couldn’t I draw away? Obviously, I wouldn’t harm him. Not if it meant being grabbed by those repulsive things again.

Since he seemed content to talk, I asked him, “Were the dead marauders in the foothills a message?”

“No. They’re part of the cleanup. King Tohon will not allow such undesirables to infest his kingdom.”

Movement behind him drew my attention. His three living companions jerked and flailed as if fighting an invisible opponent. One by one they crumpled to the ground.

My captor didn’t draw his sword in response to the noise. Instead, he sighed and turned as Kerrick appeared. Disheveled, bleeding and pissed off, he stood next to the three now-prone forms with his sword in hand. The sword looked as if it was coated with Flea’s dark gray goo.

Belen and Quain broke through the trees and joined Kerrick. They all sported cuts, bruises, stained swords and very determined demeanors. Where was Loren?

“I should have sent twice as many dead,” the merc said.

Kerrick’s gaze dropped to my hand intertwined with the merc’s. This would be a perfect time to zap my captor. Yet, I didn’t. Kerrick’s anger burned on my skin.

My merc glanced between me and Kerrick. He laughed. “Have I stolen another from you, Kerrick?”

“We figured out how to neutralize your abominations, Tohon. As I see it, you only have temporary custody.”

Tohon?

He quirked a smile at me. “I prefer King Tohon. And have you noticed that Kerrick and his goons haven’t come any closer?”

No, but now that he’d mentioned it… “Why not?”

Tohon lifted our linked hands. “He knows if he moves to attack me all I have to do is apply a touch of power and you’re dead. He also knows I don’t wish to kill you, so we’re at a bit of a stalemate.”

I wanted to be afraid, but couldn’t produce the emotions. Instead, a detached curiosity flowed through my veins. “One touch? Death? But you’re a life magician.”

“Which makes me able to take a life at will. But not yours, my dear.” He stroked my cheek with his other hand.

I had to make a conscious effort not to lean into Tohon’s intoxicating touch. Kerrick’s hatred, jealousy and fear zipped through my body. Strange that I should feel it.

Tohon said, “Besides influencing emotions, another facet of my power is sensing emotions. I could share Belen’s and Quain’s emotions with you as well, but I prefer to focus on Kerrick. He can be quite amusing for a stick in the mud.”

I laughed. I couldn’t help it.

“I really wanted to steal you away from him, but I think it will be so much more delightful when you leave Kerrick and come to me.”

“Why would I do that?” I asked.

“He’s grandstanding, Avry,” Kerrick said. “He knows we have the upper hand and it’s his way to soothe his damaged ego.”

Tohon shrugged. “Think what you will.” Then he met my gaze. “My dear Avry, I shall look forward to our next meeting.” Tohon kissed the back of my hand.

A wave of heat slammed into me.

“Kill the men,” he ordered his dead soldiers. They surged forward, aiming at my friends.

I tried to zap Tohon, but another wave hit me. This one burned, turning my muscles into goo. Tohon caught me and laid me on the ground.

“Come to me, Avry. Soon. Or I’ll send a whole company of my special troops to fetch you and to take care of your annoying companions. For good.” He kissed my forehead and a liquid blackness washed away the world.

Sounds and colors returned in little splashes of light.

“…ice-cold,” Kerrick said.

“Locked in a stasis?” Belen asked.

“I don’t think so.”

“Then what’s wrong with her?” Poppa Bear sounded worried.

I wondered who they talked about. Patches of blue pulsed in and out over me. Green bushy blobs flashed in my peripheral vision. Feeling languid, I enjoyed the kaleidoscope of colors.

“I don’t know.” Kerrick’s frustration cut through my fuzziness.

“We need to get back to Loren,” Quain said.

Loren’s name gave me another jolt. The world around me snapped into focus. Kerrick bent over me. He clutched my hand. My skin burned where he touched it, but the rest of me felt like it had been dunked in ice-cold water.

“Are you all right?” Kerrick asked.

His concern pressed on me like a physical thing. I didn’t know how to respond to his question. I didn’t feel any pain. But an oddness tingled through my body as if Tohon’s life magic remained inside me.

“Avry, answer me.”

“I’m…” My voice rasped.

Belen offered me his canteen. Kerrick helped me sit up. I gulped water until my arms shook. Thrusting the canteen into Belen’s hands, I curled into a ball as uncontrollable shivers racked my body. Too much had happened. Memories of being held by the dead coated my skin with ice. For a moment, I craved Tohon’s warm touch, which did more than share Kerrick’s emotions with me. It had dulled my reaction to the horror.

“Don’t just sit there,” Belen chided Kerrick.

With stiff arms, Kerrick gathered me close and held me tight. Even with his body heat, I still shook, convinced I would never be warm again. Or sane. Those…abominations. That they existed… That they obeyed Tohon’s orders… That they attacked us… Loren had been injured. He needed me. I pulled my emotions in, reeling them into one neat little ball and tucked it away. My muscles relaxed, the shakes settled and I drew in a deep breath.