Kram

scurried away without a word. Fear of me ha

ide and began my examination. I placed my han

g. It spoke of a system shutting down-the body's microcirculation was failin

tid artery, counting the sluggish, thr

ats per minut

irregular, his lips bearing the tel

been lying.

ream, acting as a heavy metal neurotoxin that was systemati

se than I ha

came a familiar surge of adrenaline, the exact same sensation I used to

feat. I was a surgeon. I didn't

f systemic failure, I estimated he had less than thirty days l

ng water, a stack of what looked like torn-up li

y eyes never leaving Demet

e flushing. "Miss, that's

ght now, I am what's proper," I said, my voice low and inte

stled with the filthy, sweat-stiffened nightshirt,

d gasp. His body was a testament to a brutal fight. A t

there. Broad shoulders, a lean waist, th

inical, mapping out the su

began to clean his skin. My movements were efficient

ace was heavily wrapped in linen bandage

scuring nearly everything except the outline of his jaw an

along his hairline-pale, almost translucent, with th

I could see suggested a strong bone structure bene

ome flutter as my fingers brushed the edge

t. He was a too

ime from his body. Now for the cri

quor-it looked like a harsh, unrefin

lew to her mouth. "Miss, what are you d

state of his central nervous system. "But if I don't disinf

amber, acrid liquid splashed directly onto th