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Taste Of Darkness
Maria V. Snyder
‘A compelling new fantasy series.’- SFX on Sea Glass‘Snyder delivers another excellent adventure.’ - Publishers Weekly'Spellbinding romantic adventure that will leave readers salivating for the next book in the series.’-USA Today on Touch of Power-USA TODAYTHE FINAL BATTLE BEGINS…Powerful healer Avry knows hardship and trouble. She fought a plague and survived. She took on corrupt King Tohon and defeated him. But now her true love, Kerrick, is missing and Avry fears he’s gone forever.Yet she faces a more immediate – and deadly – threat. The Skeleton King plots to claim the Fifteen Realms for his own.With the territories’ armies in disarray and the dead not staying dead, Avry’s powers are needed now more than ever.Torn between love and loyalty, she must choose her path carefully. For the future of Avry’s world depends on her decision…
She’s fought death and won. But how can she fight her fears?
Avry knows hardship and trouble. She fought the plague and survived. She took on King Tohon and defeated him. But now her heart-mate, Kerrick, is missing, and Avry fears he’s gone forever.
But there’s a more immediate threat. The Skeleton King plots to claim the Fifteen Realms for his own. With armies in disarray and the dead not staying down, Avry’s healing powers are needed now more than ever.
Torn between love and loyalty, Avry must choose her path carefully. For the future of her world depends on her decision….
Praise for New York Times bestselling author
“The action in this book is non-stop, with many twists and turns to keep the reader guessing about what’s in store on the next page.”
—Examiner.com on Scent of Magic
“Filled with Snyder’s trademark sarcastic humor, fast-paced action and creepy villainy, Touch of Power is a spellbinding romantic adventure that will leave readers salivating for the next book in the series.”
—USA TODAY
“The descriptions are vivid and draw you
into the rugged journey across the mountains.
You’ll want to follow their voyage into the next book.”
—RT Book Reviews on Touch of Power
“This is one of those rare books
that will keep readers dreaming long after they’ve read it.”
—Publishers Weekly on Poison Study, starred review
“Snyder delivers another excellent adventure.”
—Publishers Weekly on Fire Study
“A compelling new fantasy series.”
—SFX magazine on Sea Glass
Also by New York Times bestselling author Maria V. Snyder
from MIRA BOOKS
Avry of Kazan series
TOUCH OF POWER
SCENT OF MAGIC
TASTE OF DARKNESS
from MIRA INK
The Chronicles of IXIA
POISON STUDY
MAGIC STUDY
FIRE STUDY
STORM GLASS
SEA GLASS
SPY GLASS
Inside Series
INSIDE OUT
OUTSIDE IN
www.mirabooks.co.uk/mariavsnyder
Taste of
Darkness
Maria V. Snyder
www.mirabooks.co.uk (http://www.mirabooks.co.uk)
For my father—a perpetual tinkerer, who showed me the benefits
of hard work and persistence. It took me a while to catch on,
but I eventually “got” it. Thanks, Pop!
Contents
Chapter 1 (#u3d08f9db-1bed-52d8-9dd1-e3f210caacd2)
Chapter 2 (#u0736bbf4-8594-5f07-9b1f-4e03e9fac8be)
Chapter 3 (#ue964428c-9f63-59c2-a469-19a5183bd4c7)
Chapter 4 (#u055edfed-c15b-5551-868b-ecf4b685f0b2)
Kerrick (#u94815132-0b58-5d50-81d1-41e335c8ecdc)
Chapter 5 (#u5e33a783-5c0b-515f-9ff6-04b0676efbac)
Kerrick (#u46f9f7fe-1402-50f9-a02f-412ca16ef82f)
Chapter 6 (#u91c06331-cdcc-55a8-b588-dc5fbbc7a52e)
Kerrick (#u311b75d2-7d7e-5b53-8844-766987096d06)
Chapter 7 (#ucdb5418e-00c0-510a-9f54-2066f5a63517)
Kerrick (#u3d628941-7c4e-5221-a910-5d271050fc88)
Chapter 8 (#uf5de1092-f9c3-5efa-a4c9-9b07a3594cb1)
Kerrick (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 9 (#litres_trial_promo)
Kerrick (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 10 (#litres_trial_promo)
Kerrick (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 11 (#litres_trial_promo)
Kerrick (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 12 (#litres_trial_promo)
Kerrick (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 13 (#litres_trial_promo)
Kerrick (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 14 (#litres_trial_promo)
Kerrick (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 15 (#litres_trial_promo)
Kerrick (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 16 (#litres_trial_promo)
Kerrick (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 17 (#litres_trial_promo)
Kerrick (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 18 (#litres_trial_promo)
Kerrick (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 19 (#litres_trial_promo)
Kerrick (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 20 (#litres_trial_promo)
Kerrick (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 21 (#litres_trial_promo)
Kerrick (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 22 (#litres_trial_promo)
Kerrick (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 23 (#litres_trial_promo)
Kerrick (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 24 (#litres_trial_promo)
Acknowledgments (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 1
Cold air caressed my back. I rolled over, muttering at Kerrick for hogging the blanket, but stopped. Something felt...odd, wrong, missing. Opening my eyes, I confirmed the emptiness next to me. Kerrick was gone.
For a moment, I stared at the dent in the pillow. Had yesterday been a dream? Had I imagined Wynn’s betrayal, Tohon trapped in a magical stasis, Kerrick’s miraculous arrival, and the rest of the insanity?
No. The events replayed in my head with vivid details. The blood, the overpowering reek of dead ufas, and Wynn’s poisoned knife striking Kerrick’s arm. Poisoned with Death Lily toxin. I’d thought I’d sucked all the deadly poison from Kerrick’s wound...but what if I hadn’t?
Icy fingers of fear wrapped around my heart. I shot to my feet and dressed in record time. Kerrick’s shirt, boots, and sword lay in a heap by the dying fire. Not good.
Out in the large main cavern, the rest of the infirmary staff stirred. I scanned the patients’ cots on the off chance Kerrick had collapsed into one. He hadn’t.
Loren added wood to the cooking hearth, poking it into a bright blaze.
