Finally, a piece of metal worked its way out of his body; it writhed under his skin, and Rika tried not to flinch away as she pushed it toward the still-open wounds and extracted it.

She lit candles and sat beside his bed. At her side were a ceramic bowl, a tiny carved bone knife, a water-filled basin, and the bloodstained wet cloth. In the bowl was the small misshapen piece of metal. If he didn’t wake by morning, she’d have to try actively locating the rest of the iron in his body or send for a healer.

“I hate this,” she told the unconscious faery.

Still he said nothing.

A second piece of the poisonous metal pressed against his skin as his body tried to expel it. This time, she had to cut into his skin to remove it. He gasped, but he didn’t wake.

She stayed by his side, watching for more of the iron pieces. They were so small that once they were removed they didn’t hurt him or her unless they actually touched them. Unfortunately, most of them were also inside his body.

By the time he finally opened his eyes, it was midday, and the cavern was illuminated by a blazing fire that cast dancing shadows over the stalactites and stalagmites, and the candles were dripping wax on various surfaces of the room.

Sionnach had dark shadows under his eyes and sallow skin. He looked around the cavern, his gaze taking in every detail before looking back at her. “Where’s Jayce?”

Rika knew she shouldn’t be surprised: Sionnach had been supportive of her interest in Jayce. That didn’t change the absurdity of his question. He’d been stabbed, and his first question was about a mortal boy he barely knew. “Jayce is with his friends; I couldn’t bring both of you.”

“I’m here. Go get him.”

Rika shook her head. “I can’t leave you alone and unprotected.”

“Rika—”

“No.” She grabbed the basin and walked away from him, trying to hide her frustration. “You have iron bits in your body. It was rusty and parts shattered inside you.”

“You can’t leave him where Maili can reach him.”

Standing in the middle of the cavern, basin clenched in her hand, she stared at the injured faery. “No. What I can’t do is leave you here with iron in your skin, Shy. The pieces need to come out. I have two of them, but there are more.”

“So?” He shook his head. “Jayce is vulnerable. I need you to be with Jayce.”

“You need—” She cut herself off and walked away. Slowly, she poured out the water and then went to the little stream that ran through the cavern. She knelt and scooped up a basin full of fresh water. Convinced that her temper was back in check, she said, “You need taking care of. He’s staying with friends. Just—”

“He’s a mortal.”