“Queen Cellina?” Kerrick mocked from his position on the ground. Sitting cross-legged, he held his left arm close as a bloodstain spread on his shoulder. He gripped Wynn’s knife in his right hand.
“That does have a nice ring to it,” she mused. Then her demeanor changed. “Get up,” Cellina ordered Sepp. “Grab Tohon, we’re leaving,” she said to the soldiers. Cellina gestured toward me with her sword. “Next time, healer.”
Sepp dusted himself off and stormed off.
As they retreated, Wynn saluted me with another knife—where did she stash them all? And without warning, she turned and threw it at Kerrick. He twisted so the blade just sliced his upper right arm.
She grinned. “That was a fresh knife, Baby Face.”
Which meant the blade had been treated with Death Lily toxin. I cried out and rushed to Kerrick, ripping off his right sleeve.
“It’s not deep,” he protested. “The left one is worse.”
Ignoring him, I sealed my lips around the wound. I sucked the blood and spat it on the ground. Then repeated. He stilled, finally understanding, as I worked to pull as much of the poison from his body. Because the blade had been treated, I tasted anise along with the coppery bite of blood. I kept doing it until I no longer detected the anise.
“Here.” He handed me his flask of water.
I rinsed my mouth. “How do you feel?”
“Much better now.” Kerrick pulled me in close, wrapping his arms around me. “I’ve been wanting to do this since the moment we parted.” He squeezed tighter.
“Easy,” I said. And as much as I wished to scream with joy and lose myself in this moment in Kerrick’s arms, I couldn’t.
“We’ll figure out how to wake Quain,” he said.
I glanced over. Loren knelt next to Quain, and Flea stood nearby. He gripped his stomach and twisted his lips as if he was about to vomit.
“That’s not the only problem,” I said.
“We’ll find Belen.”
Poppa Bear. A shudder ripped through me. Taking in a deep breath, I controlled the emotions that threatened to send me into hysterics.
Kerrick leaned back to search my expression. “What’s wrong?”
“The blade had Death Lily toxin on it.”
“I figured it had been poisoned, but it couldn’t have been very much.”
I jerked away from his grasp. “It’s very powerful. A few drops killed my sister.”
He pulled me closer. “I’m sorry about Noelle.”
“The point is, you might die, and...if you do...I can’t...can’t...do it again.” Uncontrolled sobs racked my body. I clung to Kerrick and didn’t try to stop them. The tears gushed, then slowed to sniffles as Kerrick murmured soothing words.
“What’s Avry bawling about?” Quain asked.
I opened my eyes and gaped. Quain stood between a grinning Loren and a happy but still queasy-looking Flea.
“What...?” My throat burned.
“I did it,” Flea blurted. “I... There was this...weird feeling in my guts, and I just had to touch Quain, and...well, he woke up.”
“Flea, that skill’s going to come in handy,” Loren said, slapping him on the back.
Flea’s face turned green, and he dashed away to vomit in the weeds.
Kerrick and I exchanged a concerned glance. Flea’s magic was a wonderful discovery—the only thing to go right all day—but if anyone found out, he’d be a target.
Before we could question him further, Odd and his squad arrived.
“What an incredible stench,” Odd said, covering his nose with his sleeve. He scanned the piles of dead ufas and unconscious soldiers. “Where’s Wynn?” he asked in alarm. “Did she...”
“She’s alive and well.” I disentangled from Kerrick and stood. Time to break Odd’s heart, but I hesitated.
“We should head back before Cellina returns with more soldiers,” Kerrick said. He winced slightly when he lumbered to his feet. “We’ll exchange information as we go.”
I took Kerrick’s hand, then released my magic. He smiled until he felt my power surge through his body.
“Avry, don’t,” he said, trying to shake me off.
“Too late.” Pain stabbed into my shoulder as blood soaked my shirt.
“You shouldn’t have.”
I gave him a flat look.
He sighed but kept my hand. We trudged to the infirmary, taking turns explaining what happened in the clearing with Tohon, Cellina, Sepp and Wynn. After hearing the news about Wynn, Odd clammed up and listened in stony silence. One of his men told us that after the monkeys and Flea had left the cave, Sergeant Odd decided to follow just in case.
“And why did you follow me?” Kerrick asked Loren.
“Flea had one of his bad feelings.” He glanced at Flea. “We’ve learned to trust them.”
Looking better, but still uncharacteristically subdued, Flea shrugged.
After we ran out of explanations, I noticed that instead of tiring, I had more energy with each step. The pain in my shoulder settled into a dull throb. It took me a moment to detect the subtle flow of magic from Kerrick.
I yanked my hand from his. “Save your strength. If even a drop of toxin is in you—” I swallowed “—you’ll need it.”
He recaptured my hand, lacing his warm fingers through mine. “I’ll be good, I promise.”
“Will you promise not to die from the toxin?” I half joked.
“If it will make you smile, then I will solemnly swear not to die from Death Lily toxin.” He made an X across his chest with his finger.
I couldn’t suppress a grin.
Kerrick squeezed my hand and smiled back.
When we reached the cave, we endured another round of questions before we could collapse by the fire and inhale supper.
The monkeys discussed Tohon’s semideath and Cellina’s possible courses of action.
“Will she wait to make a healer or try to capture Avry?” Loren asked.
“Cellina knows I won’t cooperate, and there may be children who have survived the toxin at Tohon’s castle,” I said.
“Plus, she really liked the sound of Queen Cellina,” Kerrick added. “She might be content to let him stay in that state.”
“Well, she’ll have all those troops to command, but only a limited number of dead. And once we hit them with the toxin, she won’t have them anymore. So she’ll need Tohon,” Quain said.
“But we’re still outnumbered,” Loren said. “Even with Prince Ryne’s tactics, we’re in for a long haul unless we get more soldiers.”
“I might be able to find a few,” Kerrick said. He told us about making a truce with the tribes. “They know how to fight. One of them is worth three of us.”
The monkeys teased Kerrick about going tribal until Flea interrupted them with, “First we need to rescue Belen so I can...wake him, then get more troops and restore the Fifteen Realms.”
All humor fled. When listed like that, it was daunting. And I didn’t add freeing Melina or dealing with Jael or deciding what to do with Estrid and her staff who might still be frozen in Sepp’s stasis.
Poor Odd didn’t eat a bite, and he looked devastated. After he mumbled about getting some sleep and left, I followed him. Well acquainted with loss, I pulled him aside to talk to him in private.
“I just feel so...stupid for not figuring it out. Now that I think about it, there were plenty of clues,” Odd said.
“Don’t beat yourself up. We all missed it,” I said.
“Yeah, but you didn’t fall in love with her.”
He tried to brush past. I grabbed his arm. “Yes, I did. She was like a sister to me. An older, grumpier sister, but I loved her, too.”
A quick smile flashed before the haunted expression returned.
“And I know she cared for you. That wasn’t an act.”
He conceded the possibility. Catching movement to the left, I spotted Kerrick hovering nearby. He’d been keeping an eye on me the entire night. And I’d been seek
ing signs of the toxin, holding my emotions in so tight my muscles ached. He appeared healthy, but I wasn’t going to be caught off guard again. I didn’t want to hope. I wanted to know without a doubt that he would live before I let myself relax. Before I let myself have that happy reunion.
Kerrick kept his distance from us, but his body language said it all. Odd eyed him for a long moment. “So we guessed you were in love with the wrong prince?”
“Yes,” I said.
“At least we got the prince part right. Although I think I prefer Prince Ryne. This one is too overprotective. Doesn’t he know you can handle yourself?”
I laughed. “Oh, he’s well aware of my abilities. We just haven’t seen each other in months.”
“Then what are you waiting for, Avry? Everyone expected you two to disappear as soon as we returned.” Odd headed to his bedroll.
“What was that about?” Kerrick asked as soon as Odd left.
“Sergeant Wynn. She and Odd were...close.”
He took my hand. Warmth spread up my arm. I realized how ridiculous I was being with Kerrick. Every moment counted. Every breath precious.
I led him to the sleeping cavern, thinking to gather my bedroll to take to a private spot. I stopped at the entrance. Only my things remained by the small fire pit.
“Looks like everyone cleared out for tonight,” Kerrick said. “But I’m not letting you out of my sight even if that means I have to sleep on the cold, hard ground.”
I turned and kissed him. His surprise didn’t last. Wrapping his arms around me, he pulled me against him as he deepened the kiss.
Fire raced through me, igniting all my senses.
He broke off the kiss and smiled. “Feeling better?”
“Oh, yes.” I pushed him toward my bedroll. “You’re not sleeping tonight.”
KERRICK
Avry snuggled closer as she slept. Lying on his side, Kerrick propped his head up on his hand so he could see her better, still amazed that they had both lived through the day. When he had seen her trapped in Tohon’s arms... No, he wouldn’t dwell on that moment of pure agony. Unlike any other in his lifetime.
They had so much to catch up on, but he savored the feel of her body pressed against his. He studied every inch of her face. Her hair had grown, and her skin appeared lighter than before. Kerrick resisted the urge to wake her for another round of getting reacquainted. She needed her sleep. And from the new collection of scars on her body, he knew she’d been devoting all her energy to healing others.
He settled his head back onto the pillow. Kerrick never wanted to leave her side. Even if Ryne ordered him to lead a squad and fight, he would stay with Avry. Being apart just hurt too damn much.
Of course, he realized just how selfish that would be. Belen had to be found. And he needed to fetch Danny and find out if Noak’s warriors would join them. It was doubtful Avry would agree to accompany him. She was needed here.
One day they’d be like a normal couple, living together with Danny and Zila. Perhaps married with children of their own. Belen, Loren, Quain and Flea acting like uncles and living close by. The war would be a faint memory and recited to the kids as exaggerated tales of epic battles and impossible heroics.
He smiled at his silly thoughts. Although they weren’t that silly. That future image gave him more motivation to stop the nonsense. Just thinking about Cellina and Jael turned his stomach.
Another wave of nausea swelled. Perhaps he should have eaten more tonight. So worried about Avry’s reaction to his arrival, he’d hardly eaten.
Yes, that was the reason for his sour stomach.
It had to be.
As the night wore on, he grew sicker. Sweat poured off his skin, but he wouldn’t wake Avry. It was a little stomach bug and not the Death Lily toxin. Bile pushed up his throat. Clamping down on the need to vomit, Kerrick slipped from the covers, yanked on his pants and bolted outside.
He connected to the living green and felt a bit better. The night breeze cooled him, sending a shiver along his skin. Kerrick leaned against a tree. His respite didn’t last long. The forest soon spun around him. Nausea swelled, and he bent over to expel his meager supper onto the ground.
The sickness battered his body. Weak-kneed, he sprawled on the ground as he fought the urge to pass out, concentrating on the tree canopy above him. He had promised Avry not to die.
In his delirium, he must have pulled power. Vines crept over his legs and chest. They twined around his arms. He struggled to free himself. Kerrick had to return to the cave. To Avry.
The living green spoke to him for the first time in his life.
Relax, it said in his mind. Be at peace.
Avry, I’m sorry.
The sickness claimed him.
And he was lost to fever dreams.
* * * * *
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
For my last book, my acknowledgements spanned two pages. I never want to take my support network for granted because without them, these books would not get written. But this time, I’m going to make it short and sweet. Well, I’m going to try.
As always, I need to thank my editor, Mary-Theresa Hussey, agent, Robert Mecoy, my husband, my daughter and son for their feedback and comments on this book. They spot the holes in logic, the dumb mistakes and, in the case of my daughter and son, yell at me when I kill off favorite characters.
The legions of people at Harlequin who are involved in my books are too many to list individually. They are from every department, from sales to digital to art, and are all over the world. I appreciate all their efforts on the behalf of me and my books. It is always a great pleasure and honor to work with all of you. Thank you so much!
A special thank you to Gabra Zackman, the phenomenally talented actress who reads my audiobooks. You rock! May you never get a sore throat... Ever!
Thanks to Becky Greenly and Amy Snyder for the technical support, and my daughter and son for the inspiration, laughs and support.
My husband, Rodney, gets his own paragraph or else he’ll pout. Just kidding. Without him, I wouldn’t be a writer. I’d still be a miserable environmental meteorologist, working in a cubicle. Now I work in a beautiful office that he built just for me. Thanks, dear!
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ISBN: 9781460300312
Copyright © 2013 by Maria V. Snyder
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Kerrick
Chapter 2
Kerrick
Kerrick
Chapter 4
Kerrick
Chapter 5
Kerrick
Chapter 6
Kerrick
Chapter 7
Kerrick
Chapter 8
Kerrick
Chapter 9
Kerrick
Chapter 10
Kerrick
Chapter 11
Kerrick
Chapter 12
Kerrick
Chapter 13
Kerrick
Chapter 14
Kerrick
Chapter 15
Kerrick
Chapter 16
Kerrick
Chapter 17
Kerrick
Chapter 18
Kerrick
Chapter 19
Kerrick
Chapter 20
Kerrick
Chapter 21
Kerrick
Chapter 22
Kerrick
Acknowledgments
Scent of Magic Page 35
