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“She’s still alive,” a voice said.

Terran swiveled his gaze to see the farmer sitting in a chair not far from the bed.

Relief coursed through Terran. There was still time. The farmer had faithfully stayed to watch over Bria. He protected her when I could not.

“Where have you been?” Kenric asked.

The herbalist impatiently pushed past Terran and then Kenric to get to Bria. He quickly knelt at her side, checking her lips, her skin.

“Who’s that?” Kenric wondered, following the man’s movements with his dark, suspicious eyes.

“The herbalist from Castle Delaney.”

Kenric looked up and Terran could see the shock in his cousin’s dark eyes. “I didn’t know.” But there was no remorse in his voice.

Terran’s back stiffened. “You should have,” he snapped. “Perhaps it would have saved Odella’s life.”

Kenric’s jaw clenched, but he said nothing.

Terran stepped over to the bed, away from his cousin, and watched the herbalist administer to Bria. He felt useless standing there, but he couldn’t leave her, as if his presence alone would give her the strength to live. Terran stared at her face, wondering if he’d ever see her smile again, wondering if he would hear her laughter. Her skin was so pale, her lips so red against the ghostly white of her complexion. He wanted to turn away. He wanted to kill Randolph Kenric.

In that moment, Terran knew the truth, as if it had always been there and he’d known it deep down inside. He believed her. He believed everything she’d told him. With that revelation came an overwhelming sadness. What if he lost her?

“Will she be all right?” he found himself asking.

The herbalist straightened and a sigh escaped his lips. “I don’t know. It appears to be some mandrake she took, or something similar, but I can’t be sure. I can’t tell if she swallowed enough of the antidote, or if I’ve even given her the right one.”

“When will we know?” Terran asked.

“If she lives through the day, she’ll be all right.”

Terran heard the door close softly behind them. Kenric. His jaw clenched tight.

Chapter thirty-three

Terran rubbed his tired eyes, reaching for the ale a servant had brought for him earlier. His meal of mutton and bread sat untouched on the table near the mug. The room was dark, the shutters closed over the window. He had thought to keep the bright sunshine from disturbing Bria. Perhaps that was wrong. Should he open them? Maybe then she’d open her eyes.

Unable to decide, he returned the mug to the table, keeping his eyes to the floor. Every time he looked at Bria, his vision blurred and he had to look away. Somehow she’d worked her way through the wall he’d built around his heart, through it and over it like a vine of roses wrapping itself around a trellis.

If she lives through the day, she'll be all right. His hands trembled with fear as he gazed at them.

Terran shot out of his chair and paced the floor. If only he could do something to help her. But neither his sword nor his coin nor his power could help her. Bria had to fight this battle herself.

Terran raked a hand through his hair. I can’t lose her. Not now. His heart ached, and he closed his eyes against the utter agony consuming him.

Terran dropped into the chair again. I’m going to lose Bria. The thought came unbidden, his fears finally taking shape in his mind. His throat squeezed tight, and his chest constricted painfully. He fell to his knees at her side, grasping her limp hand in his own. “Please, Bria,” he whispered. “Don’t leave me.” He pressed his forehead to her knuckles. “Please.”

Hours passed and night slunk over the land. Terran never left Bria’s side, but his mind was reeling. It wasn’t just coincidence that Odella and Bria had identical symptoms. Even if both had poisoned themselves, how likely was it they would have used the same poison? There was a traitor living in his midst.

Terran clenched his teeth, forcing his thoughts to the cause of her situation. And what of Kenric? he asked himself. He should be thrown in the dungeon or burned at the stake.

But it didn’t make sense. Why in heaven’s name would Randolph hurt Bria? It had been his idea for Terran to marry her. Why poison her? What would it gain him? No, he couldn’t lock his cousin away -- not until he found out why.

A groan.

Terran froze. Was he imagining it?

Her fingers in his hand jerked and moved slightly.