E MCCA

ehind the disgraced old butl

two trembling young maids, carrying steaming basins of

p over the open flame of the braziers until the moisture dries

but under the heavy, unyielding authority in my eyes, they

a realm lacking complex magical sterilization arrays,

shears from my medical kit. Together, we began the delicate, agonizing pro

ing his completely bare upper body, Phoebe let out a shar

s of silver, faded battle scars-deep slash marks and puncture wounds that could only have been carved by dragon claws and enchanted heavy blade

d to skin and bones, buried under layers

tomach turned, her face paling as

tep outside and guard the door," I said sof

water, I sat on the edge of the mattress a

at, dust, and dried blood were gently lifted,

strong, noble jawline, and thick obsidian brows that remained furrowed even in his deep coma. Even rendere

as not merely a wife's duty, but a grandmaster ph

erficial grime, I turned my attention t

l that burned like liquid fire. Drawing a small, curved silver scalpel from my leather roll

the knife and the liquor?" Phoebe

pel cool for a brief second. "If I do not slice away this dead, nec

on, my hands moved with ter

med borders and began carving away the black, rot

coma, his body reacted violently to the searing pain. His abdominal muscles locked into a rigi

, clutching her chest. "He

hands remaining as steady as marble as I scr

pulse, I felt his flickering life force surge wit

explained, pouring the high-proof spirits directly ov

ness, Holden's body quivered involuntarily under my touch, his knuckles

h she wanted to beg me to stop this "torture." But a single, sharp glance from me silenced her entirely.

om my trunk. Inside was a ground herbal compound-a potent formula from my mother's notes that I had menta

green powder evenly

l neat, sterile linen bandage over his back and wrapped his torso securely, sweat

e chamber was completely gone, replaced by the crisp, sha

n, soft nightshirt and pulled a thick, fresh wool blanket

against the bedpost as I let out

red near his heart, but he no longer looked like an abandoned corpse lef

my fingers lightly ag

under my breath, an ice-cold resolve solidifying in

only salvation. Until the day he opened his eyes, anyone who dared a