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“I—no.” The pain dug its claws deeper, dragged me closer to that dark place. “It isn’t fair.”

It is always fair. It must balance. Your sister’s life, in exchange for yours. A soul for a soul.

Dread rose within me, for Azar-at was right. There was a malevolent fairness in what the fire demon demanded. Would I give my life for Lusha’s life?

I didn’t even have to think about it. Of course I would.

But just because something was fair didn’t make it right. I had faced death before, and I hadn’t backed down. I wasn’t about to start now.

Remembering the reaction it had drawn from Azar-at, I reached for the star’s power again, using it to push back against the pain. I didn’t know what I was doing, but the star responded readily, and once again, the pain receded.

Azar-at made that eerie sound again. The pain returned, stronger than before.

I do not understand, it said. Its voice in my thoughts was as calm as ever, despite the growls and the brightness in its coal eyes.

Gathering up my strength, I gave another desperate push. Azar-at, to my amazement, stumbled back a step.

What is this? The fire demon’s growls were constant now. You agreed—

“I never agreed to this.” I felt almost light-headed at my success, or perhaps it was from the pain still throbbing through my chest.

You cannot break the contract.

There was another horrible tug. I felt the star recoil in terror, even as I clung to it with a desperate intensity. It was the only thing keeping Azar-at at bay, but it was weakening. It had its own great, terrible power, but it couldn’t overcome Azar-at’s, or the bond between us, harder than iron. The bond that I had agreed to.

Azar-at gave another growl, and I felt something inside me break, as if the rope I had been clinging to had suddenly snapped. I felt a surge of fear that didn’t come from me, but from the star. There was a flare of light, and then the star was outside me, no longer girl-shaped, a glittering specter that hung in the air.

“No, please,” I said, my voice breaking. “Don’t leave. I can’t fight Azar-at on my own.”

The star flickered frantically. Then it was gone, soaring over the palace. I knew it couldn’t escape—it had failed before. But I could no longer reach its power.

So it was going to end like this. The thought hit me dully, as if from a distance. My terror subsided, replaced by an odd sense of disappointment. I had never thought much about my own death, but if I had, it would have involved some feat of bravery, or foolishness, in some distant wilderness or snow-cloaked mountain pass. I would not have imagined it like this, crouched on the stones of a strange city, facing a creature of smoke and fire.

No use in fighting, Kamzin, Azar-at said, its voice as imperturbable as always. Only its eyes, twin fires in the night, gave away its terrible hunger. Fighting will only bring pain. I do not wish friends to feel pain.

Lusha would live, and that was all that mattered. Lusha was clever and brave, and she deserved this more than I. I gazed at her face, because that was what I wanted to see last, not the fire of Azar-at’s eyes. I hoped she wouldn’t be too angry with me when she woke. I swallowed, forcing the tears back.

You care about friends, Azar-at said, its voice almost a croon. You said you would never hurt them. I understand this. I admire it.

I froze. “I said . . .”

You made me promise. Never let you hurt friends. I kept my promise.

“Yes, you have, haven’t you?” It rose in my mind, a dreamlike thing. The memory of our conversation on the summit of Raksha. It felt like an age ago—another life.

You wished to hurt River. I said: No, Kamzin. Not good. I kept my promise.

“What else did you promise me, Azar-at?” I murmured. My heart thrummed like the wings of a caged bird. “I want to be sure you’ve lived up to your half of the contract.”

Always tell the truth, the fire demon replied. I have never lied, Kamzin.

“No,” I agreed. “But there was something else. Wasn’t there?”

Azar-at was silent. Its tail wagged slower now, its wide, flickering eyes fixed on my face.

“I remember now.” I swallowed—I was filled with a desperate hope, so strong it threatened to overwhelm me. “You promised to leave if I asked. To end the contract.”

Yes, Kamzin, Azar-at murmured. Once I have what you owe, I will leave.