Together we managed to get one vial full of my blood. I strode over to Sergeant Phelix, my sickest patient. I’d ask him for his permission, but he only had hours to live and was incoherent.

“But what if your blood kills him? Don’t you still have Peace Lily serum in you?” Danny asked.

“As long as we don’t touch him, he won’t become like Yuri.” I pushed Phelix’s sleeve up past his elbow, found the vein and injected my blood into him.

After a few moments, Danny asked, “How long until we know if it worked or not?”

“If he lives until tomorrow, we’ll know it worked.”

“I really hope he lives.”

“Me, too.” I checked on the others. They should last long enough for the results of my experiment. “Go to sleep, Danny, I’ll wake you if anything happens.”

He nodded, washed his hands, and left.

I kept vigil, sitting next to Phelix. My thoughts turned to the Skeleton King. Despite what I’d said earlier, it did matter how he’d gotten the plague. If he teamed up with Cellina, could Ryne’s army stop them? Between the sheer number of enemy attackers and the plague, we didn’t stand a chance.

My dire thoughts caused my temples to pound. I rested my aching head on the edge of Phelix’s cot. My stomach grumbled, complaining that I’d forgotten to eat. I’d been so excited about the possible cure—please work! If I believed in the creator, I’d be praying for success. Instead, I dozed.

“Do you really think this one is going to work?” Tohon asked. “The last experiment you tried didn’t go well for you, did it?”

We sat at the glass table in his forever garden again, drinking tea as if we were old friends.

“We’re more than friends, my dear. Our connection runs deep.” He leered.

Ignoring his comment, I said, “If Phelix dies, I’m not going to touch him and create another dead soldier.”

“Whyever not? He’s more useful that way. He can’t help anyone while rotting in the ground. You’re wasting resources.”

“Practical and horrific. Hard to believe you’re still single.”

“Cute. But I’m sure your Prince Ryne considered the very same thing before his sudden windfall of personnel.”

I’d like to argue with Tohon, but Ryne had brought Yuri to HQ and said Flea’s help was vital. I swirled the tea in my cup. The brown liquid spun, forming a dip in the center.

“What? No snarky reply? My, my, something must be bothering you, my dear. Perhaps I can help.”

I almost laughed. Almost. Many uncomplimentary words described Tohon, but the man was intelligent. “Maybe you can. Would Cellina make an alliance with the Skeleton King?”