I straightened, fighting back another rush of dizziness. But Marcello reached through the bars and caught my elbow.

“What’s wrong? You’re not well.”

By morning, I would be dead. But I couldn’t think about that now. “I’ll manage.”

“Come on,” Zaira urged. “If they catch us like this, I’ll die of embarrassment before they can shoot me.”

Marcello’s grip on my arm tightened. “You’re going nowhere until you tell me what’s wrong. You’re sick, or hurt. Do you need a physician?”

“I need an alchemist,” I admitted. “But we have to get the children to safety first.”

“An alchemist! Did Ignazio poison you?”

I laughed bitterly. “Yes, as a matter of fact. Long ago. But he also kept me alive, until now.” There was no more point keeping it secret. “Demon’s Tears. He smashed my elixir bottles. My last dose is wearing off.”

Marcello swore. He pulled me close, his arms going around me through the bars. I leaned against the portcullis for a moment, my hands seeking the warmth of his chest through the gaps. The cold iron gate pressed between us, unyielding.

“We have to get you more elixir somehow.” Desperation strained his voice taut. “There’s no alchemist in the garrison, but maybe we can find one in the city.”

“Maybe,” I agreed wearily. I didn’t have the heart to tell him what Ignazio had told me. “We can talk about it after we get the children to safety and save the city from war. I should go.”

His throat jumped. “Promise me you’ll be all right until then.”

The words stuck in my throat. My mother always told me never to give promises I wasn’t sure I could keep.

Instead, I slipped a hand around the back of his neck through the bars and pulled his mouth down to mine. By all the Graces, if I might be dead by morning, I was going to kiss him first.

His lips went taut with shock. But then they melted into mine, warm and tender, between the hard metal pressing into my cheekbones. For a moment, we lingered like that, and the night was safe and beautiful, free of terror. I had to come up for air too soon, my breathing harsh and shallow.

The children laughed, squealed, and poked each other. I couldn’t muster a blush.

“Take care of them,” I said. “I’ll get this gate open.”

He squeezed my hand so tight it hurt. Then he released me, nodding. “I know you will.”

I followed Zaira out into the chill night air. I stumbled twice on the way around the side of the building, my knees weak and trembling. Not now. I slapped my face to keep my mind focused and sharp.