Tohon’s eyes gleamed. “Oh, yes. When Avry and I first met. While you were still being Mr. Stony Silence.” He hefted the dadao and approached Kerrick.

“No,” I shouted and flew between them. “You can’t kill him or we’ll all die.”

“Nonsense,” Tohon said.

“Kerrick and I imprinted before I met you. He saved my life when I healed Belen. Kept me from dying.”

An ufa howled. Then growls and yelps filled the air. Tohon gestured to his men to investigate before shoving me aside. He knelt next to Kerrick and grabbed his throat.

“You lied again, my dear. He’s bonded to the forest and not you. And now I’ll pluck—

I yelled and plowed into Tohon, knocking him over. We rolled, but he ended up on top, pinning me to the ground.

“Sire?” A guard cleared his throat.

Tohon’s anger transferred to the interrupter. But then he smiled. He stood and smoothed his shirt. I glanced up. Noak and Flea stood amid a clump of guards. A pack of dead ufas slinked inside, surrounding them all.

It appeared Noak and Flea had been captured. I doubted they would be prisoners for long. I slid over to Kerrick. He gave me a weak grin and unlocked my bindings. I wiggled free.

“Report,” Tohon said.

“We caught these two trying to sneak in here.”

“I do not sneak,” Noak said, sounding affronted.

The guard blanched even though he held Noak’s huge dadao.

“Ah, the ice giant and a boy,” Tohon said. Then his good humor disappeared. “You’re Flea.”

“Yes. And I’m tired of being called a boy.” Flea touched the guard closest to him and froze him in a magical stasis.

“Trap his hands,” Tohon shouted.

But it was too late. Noak moved, knocking guards flat before they could reach Flea.

“Attack,” Tohon ordered the dead ufas.

They didn’t move.

“Protect,” Flea said, and the pack turned to join the fight.

Way to go, Flea! He must have touched them all and transferred their loyalty to him. Too bad we hadn’t figured that out sooner.

Desperate, Tohon darted in and reached for Noak’s bare arm.

“Noak, watch out,” I yelled, scrambling to my feet. I ran.

Tohon clamped onto Noak’s forearm just as I grabbed Tohon’s wrist. Magic exploded around us. Ice, pain, and fire mixed.

“Back off,” Tohon said. His voice cracked with strain.

“You first,” I said.

“Let go, or I’ll kill him,” Tohon puffed.

“No.”

Tohon tugged at Noak’s life. Not if I could help it! I held his life force in place with all my strength. We struggled without sound.

Kerrick hovered at the edges.

“Do it,” Noak ordered.

“Will it kill her?” Kerrick asked.

I met Noak’s gaze. Pained uncertainty.

But not for me. I knew what needed to be done. “No. Do it now, I’m fading fast.”