Kevlin couldn't stop her. His body still trembled with shock and his arm moved far too slowly as the dagger plunged toward his chest. Maybe he should have kissed her? That would've been less lethal.

Too late. She was going to kill him.

The blade flashed as it passed through a ray of light. Then it came to a jarring halt half an inch from his chest.

Ceren stabbed at him again. Again the blade stopped a quivering half inch from him.

"Get away from him you black-hearted liar!"

Indira?

She stood almost halfway up the curving garden stairs, barely visible through the waterfall. Her midnight hair fell about her face in a tangled mess and tears streaked her cheeks, but she glared at Ceren with burning fury.

She'd never looked so good.

Ceren moved toward the base of the stairs, and Indira started down. Kevlin tried to call out to her to beware, but only managed a cough. He tried to stand, to help, but it took all his focus just to roll over. His body hurt so deep he gasped for breath.

Move, soldier! He had to help Indira or Ceren would butcher her. On his second try he managed to stagger to his feet. He stood, feet spread wide, barely keeping his balance.

He was pathetic. The woman he loved was about to be murdered by the psycho mental case he had once though was a good friend.

As Indira neared for the bottom of the stairs she cried, "You lied about everything!"

Ceren said nothing. She held her dagger low and motioned Indira on.

She came. Indira stepped off the stairs and marched toward Ceren. Ceren lunged and drove the dagger at Indira's stomach.

Indira jumped back with a cry of surprise, but Ceren pursued and lunged again.

Indira abruptly reversed direction. Kevlin cried out a warning and staggered toward the women, although he would be far too late to help. Indira twisted at the last second, and the dagger ripped into the folds of her green Healer's dress.

She punched Ceren in the jaw.

Ceren's head whipped back and she stumbled. Indira grabbed the shorter woman and, with a cry of rage, lifted her off the ground and slammed her to the grassy soil. Ceren hit hard and air exploded out of her lungs.

Indira straddled Ceren's arms and slapped her hard across the face, leaving angry welts.

"You betrayed our trust."

"You're all dead!" Ceren shouted.

Indira hit her again, a hard backhand blow.

Ceren shrieked and writhed on the ground, but Indira kept her pinned and slapped her again and again until blood sprayed from Ceren's split lips.

Indira screamed a wordless cry as she struck. It tore at Kevlin's heart. It sounded like her heart was breaking, like she was hurting herself as much as Ceren. She didn't stop. Tears streamed down her face and her hair flew as she rocked back and forth with the effort of beating Ceren.

Kevlin finally reached them. He still walked funny, and it would be a long time before he'd consider himself okay. He grabbed Indira's arms, and shook her. "Stop!"

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Indira brushed hair from her tear-streaked face and looked up at Kevlin. Her eyes looked haunted and her lips quivered. He focused on those full lips. They were so kissable, and he yearned to taste them.

Now probably wasn't a good time.

She rubbed at one cheek with a blood-stained hand, leaving a streak of read across the porcelain skin. She lifted a hand toward Kevlin and he moved to raise her up.

Ceren lunged off the ground as soon as the pressure on her arms relaxed, and tumbled Indira to one side.

Kevlin caught her and twisted the dagger from her hands. She turned on him, but he was ready for her this time and quickly pinned her arms behind her back.

Indira approached, the dagger clenched in one bloody fist. She raised it.

"Don't!" Kevlin cried. "She's not herself."

Indira glanced at the dagger, as if only just realizing she held it in her hand. She tossed it away like it was a venomous snake, and retreated a step.

"What have I done?" she mumbled.

"Help me," Kevlin called as he fought to hold Ceren. "I think she's possessed or something."

Indira half-raised a hand, but then dropped it and shook her head. In a voice barely above a whisper she said, "I can't."

"Of course you can. You can heal anything."

Indira shook her head again, harder. "I can't heal someone I hate."

"Ceren's your friend. She's not herself right now, can't you see that?"

Tears glistened in her eyes, reflecting her deep hurt. He'd give her a hug if crazy Ceren wasn't still struggling like a possessed animal.

"I don't know what's going on here, but I know Ceren is your friend. Please, Indira. Please just try. Let's find out the truth."

Indira turned and walked away. That was a first.

She moved to the fountain, splashed water on her face, and took several deep breaths. Then she returned with a purposeful stride, her expression resolute.

"I'll help until I know the truth," she said. "And if . . ." her voice trailed off, and for a moment a look of pure rage flickered across her face.

She blew out a breath and repeated, "Until I know the truth."

Kevlin reminded himself never to make her really angry. This was a side of Indira that not even those who tried cheating at cards ever say.

She closed her eyes and placed a hand on Ceren's head. Ceren screamed and convulsed in Kevlin's grasp, but he held her fast. Her wrists would be bruised from the pressure she forced him to use, but he had no choice.

Indira leaned closer, and Ceren tried to bite her. Indira grabbed a fistful of Ceren's hair and yanked her head back out of the way. Ceren screamed again, but Indira ignored her.

Several tense seconds passed before Indira's hand began to glow. Very faintly at first, the light grew slowly brighter over half a minute.

Kevlin bit back the urge to tell her to hurry. He still wasn't feeling great, and he'd love to lie down or go fall in the water for a minute or two. His arms burned from holding the still-struggling Ceren, but he gritted his teeth and held on.

Indira's hand burst into brilliant white light. Ceren screamed in agony, then collapsed against Kevlin. He nearly dropped her.

Indira frowned and began chanting. Her clear voice filled the clearing and melded with the constant roar of the waterfall. Kevlin drank in the sound, and the melody held real power. His tension faded, along with some of his pain.

This time the haunting melody carried an undertone of sadness he'd never heard before. That only made it more enchanting.

After several seconds she gasped. "You're right, Kevlin. Someone's tampered with her mind."

"Who? What did they do?"

Indira frowned, brows knit together in concentration. After another moment she said softly, "This is beyond my skill. We need Leander and Harafin."

Kevlin tried to pick up Ceren, but almost fell. Indira’s voice had comforted him, but he was still not well. He decided it really was a good time to sit down.

Indira knelt beside him and he brushed the dried tracks of tears from one cheek. She leaned into his hand and sighed. Their eyes met, and he would have been happy to stay like that for hours.

He suppressed another urge to kiss her. The timing still felt wrong. He pulled the amulet up over his head and dropped it to the grass beside him.

"Got anything left?"

Indira almost smiled as she placed a glowing hand on his shoulder. He closed his eyes to enjoy the feeling of her pure healing magic, but nothing came.

He opened his eyes and found her watching him. She leaned forward, but not to kiss him, and her voice held an edge of steel. "After we see to Ceren, you're going to tell me about that kiss."

Kevlin tried to stammer an explanation, but she placed one finger across his lips. "Later. You'd better have a very good explanation."

"I promise."

He'd never seen Indira like this. He found the spark of anger in her eyes and the steel in her voice powerfully alluring. "Just help me enough so I can get Ceren to Harafin, then I'm yours."

Indira kissed his cheek and whispered into his ear, "If you ever kiss her again, I'll break every bone in your body."