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strong. She’d spent the last five years of her life in and out of hospitals. Going through endless exams. Endless treatments. Nothing had helped her. Nothing could help her.
    “I have a brain tumor.” Her voice was perfectly calm. She’d gotten used to telling people. Her stomach didn’t clench anymore. Her hands didn’t shake.
    “Surely the doctors can—”
    She shook her head. “There’s nothing they can do. They tried. Believe me, they tried, but . . .” She shrugged.
    His eyes seemed to burn down at her. His face was like carved stone. Had her words affected him? Would he help her now?
    “You understand, don’t you? You understand why I must have the kiss?” She waited, hope flickering through her heart.
    He turned from her and stared into the night. “No, I don’t understand.” He paused, seemingly lost in thought.”You said you didn’t have anything else to lose. You’re wrong. You still have your soul.”
    Unlike Savannah, William had lost his soul long ago. The moment Henry had taken his last, shuddering breath. The moment the blood had stopped flowing from the gaping hole in his chest, William’s soul had died.
    And he just couldn’t bring himself to destroy Savannah’s soul.
    “So you’re going to let me die?” Her voice was sharp, angry.
    William felt his throat tighten at her words. Let her die? He shuddered at the thought. She had such strength, such passion within her.
    He moved quickly, turning to capture her against his chest. “I’ll help you. I’m rich. I can send you to the best doctor in the country—”
    Her eyes flashed. “Didn’t you hear me? The doctors can’t help me! I’m dying, William. I will be dead before the year is out.”
    William knew that doctors could perform miracles these days. It wasn’t like it had been in his time. Sickness could be cured. “With the right care—”
    She laughed savagely. “The right care? They cut into my brain. They shaved my head, and they cut into my brain. Then they told me I was saved. That the cancer was gone.” She took a deep breath. “Within two years, the tumor was back. And it was bigger than before. They made me endure their tests again. The therapy. The shots. Nothing worked. Nothing .” She looked deeply into his eyes. “The doctors can’t help me. Only you can.”
    His jaw clenched against the pain he heard in her voice. Against the images her words aroused in his mind.
    “Please.” A whisper of sound. “Help me.”
    The moonlight caressed her skin, illuminating the two tears that trickled gently down her cheeks. He caught the tears on his fingers, stared wonderingly at them.
    Savannah grabbed his hand. “William— please .”
    She looked so beautiful in the moonlight. So pure. So alive.
    Could he really just stand back and watch death take her?
    Her gaze beseeched him, a silent echo to her plea. Her firm breasts pressed against his chest. The warmth from her body reached out to him, wrapped around him. The delicate scent of lavender rose once more to tease his nostrils.
    “Please. I will do anything you want . . .”
    His body stiffened as lust tore through him. “Be careful what you offer, sweet Savannah.”
    She shook her head and pressed ever closer to him. “No, name your price. If I have it, I’ll give it to you, I swear!”
    Need and hunger battled against his judgment.
    “Anything,” she whispered, her voice desperate.
    “Why? Why, Savannah?”
    She bit her lip and her lashes fell, cloaking her gaze from him. “Because of Mark.”
    “Who is Mark?” William asked softly, as an unfamiliar rage swept through him. “Your lover?” The words were a growl, and he knew his gaze pierced her.
    “A dead man.”
    William frowned.
    Savannah pulled away from William and rubbed her arms, telling herself that the chill she felt was caused by the night air and not the memory of her brother. “He’s been gone almost a year now.”
    “I’m sorry.” William’s voice was solemn. “Death is