Two men talked in low tones. My eyes needed a minute to adjust to the darkness. A weak yellow glow from the infirmary’s windows shone on them and the four dead bodies. The bodies had been covered with linen sheets and laid in the large stone basin, waiting to be prepared for a proper burial. Since I started here, we hadn’t had to use the prep area.

I recognized the one man as the captain of the injured unit. Tohon was the other.

“…sure, Captain?” Tohon asked.

“Yes, sire. No one matching that description was among the attackers. All wore Estrid’s red uniforms except for those three I described.”

I wondered if the three were Belen, Loren and Quain. That would mean Tohon had been asking about Kerrick.

“Explain to me again how their smaller force overwhelmed yours?” Tohon didn’t sound happy.

“We had no warning, sire. It was the middle of the night, in the middle of a town in Vyg that we had secured months ago. It was a small group who attacked. They came in quick, and left just as fast. We gave chase, but lost them in the woods.”

Tohon appeared to consider the information. “Doesn’t your unit have special forces?”

“No, sire. Captain Young’s unit works with them.”

“All right, Captain. Return to your men.” Tohon remained standing next to the dead as the captain walked away.

He waited until the captain rounded the corner before lifting the sheet on the nearest body. Tohon pulled a syringe from his pocket. Shoving the needle into the dead man’s arm, he pushed the plunger. Then he rested his hand on the dead man’s forehead before letting the sheet fall. He did the same thing for the other three, injecting, then touching them. Odd. Was he doing an experiment?

I pressed both my hands to my mouth, muffling a very girlie scream when the first body moved. Tohon yanked the sheet off and helped the formerly dead and naked man stand. Soon the three others joined their comrade. Tohon pushed them and they walked in a line, heading toward the other side of the compound. A tiny macabre parade. He guided the dead men by touch. I watched until the darkness swallowed them.

Sinking down to my desk, I sat there in shock. Tohon had just reanimated the dead. What was in the syringes? Did he use magic? Probably when he touched their foreheads. I had known his special soldiers were dead—without souls—but their bodies hadn’t decayed so I hadn’t been entirely convinced the bodies had ceased to function.

Those four had been dead. No doubt about that. I mulled over the horror, but I couldn’t think of an explanation for what had transpired outside.

“Miss Avry?” The captain stood in the doorway of my office. “My sergeant doesn’t look good. He’s coughing up blood.”

Spurred into action, I slid off the desk. “Sorry, I needed a glass of water.” I followed him back to the sergeant.

The man’s body convulsed as he sputtered. His ribs had been broken as well, but his spleen had also been damaged.

“How did they get hurt?” I asked.

“A man the size of a bear came up from behind, picked him up and squeezed. He did it to both of them.” The captain shook his head. “I’d take a sword to the gut rather than be hugged to death.”

Only Belen had the strength. “Neither of these men will die from their injuries.”

“They might die of embarrassment.”

I laughed. “I won’t tell if you don’t.”

“Deal.” The captain shook my hand, but then he sobered. “Thanks for saving them.”

“I wish I could have saved them all.”

“It took us too long to bring them here. You should be in the field with us.”

“I should. Talk to Tohon.”

“My superior officer has already tried. His request was denied.”

“Perhaps next time you could send a runner and I could meet you halfway.”

“I’d like to be optimistic and say there won’t be a next time, but Estrid has gone on the offensive and I think it’ll just be a matter of time.” He sighed. “In case we need you again, I’ll remember to send word.”

“Then I hope I don’t hear from you.” I meant what I said. If Ryne stopped Tohon, then the war would be over. Until Estrid decided she didn’t like sharing power with Ryne.

The captain nodded. I assumed the sergeant’s injuries and returned to my bed. For now, one problem at a time was all I could handle.

More midnight attacks harried Tohon’s troops, which meant more soldiers for me to heal. On the fourth evening since I’d seen Kerrick in the garden, Tohon visited the infirmary. He walked around the main room, talking with the patients. When he finished, he gestured for me to follow him into my office.

He closed the door, then sat on the edge of my desk. “I’m leaving tomorrow morning for a few days. Estrid’s holy army is getting feisty and needs to be taught a lesson.”

Not sure why he confided in me, I asked, “Should I prep for more wounded?”

“Not too many more. I’m taking my special soldiers. They should upset Estrid’s sensibilities.”

I waited for him to get to the point.

He slid off the desk and stood close to me. “I debated taking you with me.”

Not good. I kept my expression neutral. “And?”

“You’re more useful to me here.” He reached to touch my face.

I stepped back. “Do you know when you’ll return?”

“Why? Are you going to miss me?”

“I’m assuming when you return, there will be fewer wounded. I just wanted to gauge how much longer to expect casualties.”

“I should be back within the week.” He moved toward me again.

Retreating, I bumped into the wall.

Tohon pressed his hands on the wall on either side of me. He leaned in. “We’ve been so busy. I’ve missed you.”

His lips brushed mine and a spark of heat shot through me.

“You’re exhausted, my dear. Please don’t overexert yourself for my men. You’re more valuable than they are. Even if they’re dead, they continue to serve me.”

I opened my mouth to ask a question, but he cut me off with a deeper kiss. This time Tohon’s magic buzzed through my body, turning my willpower into goo. Without thought or any control on my part, my arms wrapped around his torso as I pressed against him. Still locked in a kiss, the room spun…or was that me? The next thing I knew, I lay on top of the desk completely at his mercy.

The logical part of me had retreated to a small corner of my mind. It commented on the direness of the situation out of habit. Unfortunately, nothing could be done at this point. His life magic had overloaded my senses.

Tohon broke off the kiss. And I think I whimpered in protest.

“I’m getting tired of chasing you, my dear. Perhaps this little reminder of what I’m capable of will make you more willing to meet me halfway.”

My senses returned. I clutched his arms before he could pull back. “Is this what you really want, Tohon? A lover forced by magic to be with you? Why not find someone who loves you without using your magic?”

A dangerous glint shone in his eyes. “Where’s the challenge in that?” He pulled away.

“How is using your magic a challenge? I’d call that cheating. The true challenge would be to not use your magic at all.”

“What are you suggesting?”

He used the same phrase as Kerrick had. I wondered if they had learned that technique in school. “I’m suggesting you find a woman who will love you. A lady who hasn’t been influenced by your magic.”

“And that’s not you?” His voice stayed flat.

I stood on very thin ground. “You just used your magic on me.”

“What if I hadn’t?”

The ground crumbled beneath my feet. “There are…things about you I can’t accept.”

“Kerrick has killed people, as well.”

“I know, but he doesn’t turn them into dead soldiers.”

“Anything else?”

“The Death Lilys. I can guess the next logical step in your experiments with the toxin.” No sense letting him know I found the children.