“We need more healers.”

“We do, but your methods are immoral.”

He considered. “Do you realize your honesty could make your situation worse?”

“Yes.”

“Then why are telling me all this?”

Good question. “I don’t know.”

“Perhaps you’re scared.”

“Of course I’m scared. It’s bad enough that my own magic sends my heart reeling when you touch me. But when you use your magic, all my self-control is gone.”

“I was thinking you’re more scared that the things you can’t accept about me won’t matter to you once you get to know me better.”

Wow. This man was seriously deluded. I thought it best to stop with the honesty before I dug myself in deeper.

He took my silence as acceptance. “The heart is a strange beast and not ruled by logic, Avry. I think you’ve already figured that out.”

Tohon left the next morning. I checked my patients and discharged a few. Both Gantin and Fox were strong enough to return to the barracks. Keeping busy all day, I tried not to dwell on what might happen this evening. All the soldiers in the compound were used to seeing me go between the infirmary and castle at all hours of the night. I had swiped and hidden a uniform close to Sepp’s size in my office.

I debated about Danny. The boy shouldn’t remain with Tohon, but after I healed Ryne, I wouldn’t be able to teach him if he developed healing powers. If not, he still shouldn’t be here. If there was time, I decided to send Danny with Ryne and Sepp. Kerrick and Sepp could teach him about magic, and I would give him my journal of notes. If there wasn’t, I would help him escape before the plague symptoms incapacitated me. And if I wasn’t locked in the dungeon.

The day seemed to drag. I practiced with my throwing knives, but it was more to burn off my anxiety. When I healed another person, a connection was forged. An emotional attachment like a sense of ownership that was impossible to ignore. They were my patients. My scars all had names and the thought of injuring a soldier I had healed—even if it was one of Tohon’s—made me queasy.

Finally, the sun set and I tried to sleep for a few hours on an empty bed in the infirmary. My thoughts churned, making it impossible to relax, so I retreated to my office and waited for Sepp.

When he arrived, I almost jumped out of my skin.

“Any trouble?” I asked him.

He looked the same. “No. No one’s insane enough to scale the outer wall. Your note said the Lilys won’t harm Ryne. Are you sure?”

Note? “Didn’t…?” Kerrick’s name hovered on my lips, but I swallowed it back instinctively. “Yes, I’m sure. As long as he’s with you.”

If Sepp noticed my stumble, he didn’t react. I handed him the uniform and turned around. He fussed about changing. I really didn’t miss Sepp these past three weeks. In fact, I’d take Kerrick in a bad mood over Sepp any day.

When he was ready, we crossed to the castle. Only a few soldiers lingered outdoors. We entered without any problems. Lighting a lantern, I led him to the coffin room. Nothing had changed.

Sepp tsked over the display of death. “Typical of Tohon to be so showy.” He tapped on the glass. “What keeps the other two from decaying?”

I glanced at Ryne, then the others. The difference between them and Ryne showed in the pallor of their skin. Sepp had said his powers were the exact opposite of Tohon’s. I considered Sepp’s death magic and how he froze life in a fake death. Perhaps Tohon froze death in a fake life.

“Could their bodies be in a stasis similar to the one you used for Ryne?” I asked. “That would explain why they haven’t decomposed.”

Sepp shot me a surprised look. “That’s possible.” Then he turned to a dark corner of the room. “Did she get it right, Tohon?”

Chapter 25

“She has it half right,” Tohon said. He stepped from the dark corner.

The shock left me breathless and gasping, as if I’d fallen into an icy river.

“Surprised to see me, my dear?” He gestured to Sepp. “Have you ever heard the term opposites attract?”

“When…?”

“We first met at the Healer’s Guild before the plague,” Sepp said. “We got along rather well except we disagreed about helping the Guild.”

Frozen, I chipped at my confusion. “Is that how you found Ryne? Through Sepp?” I asked Tohon.

“No. Kerrick is so predictable with his caves. Eventually, my men discovered the area where Ryne’s guards had been taking their sunlight breaks. Then it was just a matter of time.”

“He ambushed me,” Sepp said. “But he spared my life and convinced me he is right. Tohon’s going to unite all the Realms and bring peace to everyone. Think about it, Avry. It took Kerrick two years to find you. During that time, Estrid has moved west and Tohon built his army. Two years lost. I wasn’t going to waste my gifts for the losing team. Bad enough you didn’t arrive at the cave when you should have. I almost died from the infection.” His tone was peevish.

“I’m regretting that already,” I said. But his words when you should have clanked. Tohon had been the one to delay me. Was that on purpose?

“Oh, you’ll be regretting much more, my dear.”

Just when I thought that wasn’t possible, Sepp asked, “You have an empty coffin. Do you want me to put her into a stasis?”

I clamped down on a cry of dismay.

“What are you thinking, Sepp?” Tohon asked.

“I’ll go to Estrid’s camp, find Kerrick, tell him Avry’s plan failed and that she’s in here. He’ll come rescue her, and we’ll set another trap for him.”

“Rather time-consuming,” Tohon said. Before Sepp could protest, he continued. “Kerrick’s already here.”

Pain crushed my chest.

“Here? In the castle?” Sepp seemed surprised.

“No. But he’s around. Probably sulking in the woods nearby.”

“But—”

“He probably watched you climb the wall. When you don’t return and there’s no sign of Ryne or Avry, he’ll come.”

“How can you be so sure?” Sepp asked.

“My people are loyal. There is no way Avry could have sent you a note. And I know Kerrick. He would never let her out of his sight. He talked to you in the garden the night of the party, didn’t he?”

No sense lying now. “Yes.”

“He’s predictable, Sepp. Don’t worry. We’ll have him by this time tomorrow.” Tohon turned to me. “You’re a smart girl, Avry. How can you believe this one man can make a difference?” He swept a hand toward Ryne. “I’ve won. You would have sacrificed your life for nothing. I can see you still don’t believe me. Kerrick has you brainwashed. Sepp, wake Prince Ryne.”

“What?”

“Wake him so we can all watch him die. Once he’s gone, he can join my special forces and I need not bother with him again. Avry can move past this nonsense and try to win back my favor.”

Sepp stared at Tohon for a full minute. I suspected he wasn’t accustomed to being ordered by Tohon. Then he moved to Ryne’s coffin.

“The top pane slides back,” Tohon said.

The death magician pushed on the sheet of glass, uncovering Ryne.

Tohon grabbed my wrist. “Don’t get any ideas, my dear. If you heal him, I’ll just take his life and then bury you.”

Sepp touched Ryne’s face. In less than a heartbeat, Ryne opened his eyes. He smiled at Sepp, but the mage kept his gaze on Tohon. The prince caught on quick. Sitting up in alarm, he scanned the room.

“Welcome to my castle, Ryne.” Tohon switched his grip to my upper arm, yanking me close. “Kerrick found you a healer. Too bad—like you, she’s mine.”

I tried to jerk away, but he sent a wave of pain that turned my muscles to jelly. I sagged to my knees.

“Where’s Kerrick?” Ryne asked. His voice was rough, but steady.

“He’ll be along shortly. Then we’ll have a nice little reunion before you die.” Tohon called for his guards.

Six soldiers appeared from the dark corner. There must be a hidden passageway like the one that connected my room and Tohon’s.