h surprise, but it was quic

he rasped, his chin lifted in defiance

nds raised, her pulse

she said firmly. "It

tand. She couldn't fight h

y expedition to Patagonia three years ago-a course that had covered wound cleaning, basic suturing, and emergency antibiotic use in backcou

chin toward the met

peated the word l

lightly, a groan escaping his clenched teeth. T

e saw he

. "You can either trust me, or you can bleed to dea

r, weighing his options. She met his gaze head-on, refus

e gave a s

, the command still pre

ed again. "I need to wa

, permitting her to move,

d feel his gaze boring into her back like a laser. She r

rofen, and an emergency blister pack of broad-spectrum antibiotics-leftovers from the dental surgery she'd

"I need to clean the wou

nto a cough. "This pain is nothing comp

e bizarre statement. She didn't ha

helming the antiseptic scent of the alcohol. Her

t to unbutton

. The sword snapped back up, p

e!" he snarled,

again. "I have to see the wound to fix it

wisted mind, she was probably viol

a garment of obvious quality, now reduced to rags. A flash of

ers fumbled with the buttons, shaking from the effort, bef

edges ragged and inflamed. It look

breath. She soaked a

ng to burn."

d the pad

of air escaped his teeth, but he didn't scream. He didn't even groan. He just

the blood and dirt. She was amazed b

knuckles brushed against his skin. It was b

ng it tightly. The bleeding slowed, but the infect

ing. The sword slipped from his fingers, clattering

at he