A tear rolled over his cheek but he did not wipe it away.

“Mama,” Jimmy said softly.

He messed up his son’s hair. “Don’t worry. We’re better off without her.”

Matt started the car and drove away.

KELLY ALSO sat in silence after setting down the phone. The Acid Man gave her a moment. He did not have many left. His breathing was labored and he was having trouble keeping his head up. Shivers shook his torso. Bleeding to death was no fun.

“Thank you,” he said weakly.

She stared at his open veins. How his blood continued to pump from his body.

“I never killed anyone until tonight,” she whispered.

“How does it feel?”

“It was a relief to kill your brother. He was such an asshole. But with you it’s different.”

“How so?”

The truth shocked her. “It hurts.”

“Kelly. It does hurt.”

“What is your third wish?”

He struggled. “May I kiss you?”

“Why?”

“Love knows no reason. Nor does hate. I suppose that is the lesson of my life.”

“What is my lesson?”

“You know. When we first met we spoke of The Lord of the Rings. I told you that you were Eowen—the great female warrior. She was wounded in the final battle but she found love. She was able to go home.”

Kelly was thoughtful. “Frodo was the tale’s real hero. He tried to go home but his wounds were too deep. He could find no peace.”

The Acid Man choked as he swallowed. His voice came out thin as a reed.

“You’ll find peace. The dragon will haunt your dreams no more.”

She came close to his side. “Do you die in peace?”

He looked at her with fading eyes. “No. But maybe I’ll return in another age. The line between the hero and the villain is often slight. Perhaps we’ll meet in that time, and our roles will be reversed.”

Lines from her thesis. Perhaps he had read it.

She leaned over and kissed his forehead. “Perhaps.”

He died minutes later. Her eyes burned, but there were no tears.

Later, she called Tony as she drove back to Julie’s house.

He sounded happy to hear from her.

“How are you?” she asked. “How’s Anna?”

“Fine. We miss you. When are you coming home?”

“I’m on my way right now,” she said.

ALSO BY CHRISTOPHER PIKE

ALSO BY CHRISTOPHER PIKE

PUBLISHED BY TOR BOOKS

The Cold One
Sati
The Season of Passage
The Blind Mirror
The Listeners

BOOKS FOR YOUNG ADULTS

Alosha
The Shaktra
The Yanti

“A fresh and suspenseful exploration of love
and redemption.”

—Booklist

Love hurts.