“That depends,” she murmured as she positioned a needle over the flickering candle to disinfect it, then inserted the thread through the loop. She leveled him with a stare before pushing him down onto the table with a bit more force than necessary, receiving a groan of annoyance in return. “If you continue to condescend to me, I just might do a poor job with your stitches. Now, hold still and keep quiet. I’m sure that’s a feat in and of itself for you, but do try your best, yes?”
“Cheeky woman. Who knew she had a sense of humor?” His amused grumble was abruptly silenced when she inserted the needle into his skin. Nowthatbrought a smile to her lips.
Anelize had to give him credit for not screaming once. Given how expertly he handled the Moroi, she knew it wasn’t the first nor would it be the last time he’d willingly wander the streets past sundown. It was a probability that it was not the first time he’d been gravely injured either, if those scars were anything to go by. The Watchmen searching for Vedrans tonight had to mean they were stirring trouble once again. The thought that the man before her took any part in the rebellion against the king was not lost on her. Not that it should hold a place for concern in her mind. All she wanted was to finish with him as soon as possible and get him on hisway out the door. She’d sleep at ease knowing that she’d done her part.
Snipping the bloodied thread with a pair of shears when she was done, she quickly stood from the stool. She turned to sort through the jars on the shelves along the counter before reaching for the ones labeledmullein, dandelion,andofficinalis. Pouring the herbs into the mortar, she crushed them until they were fine before reaching for a dark ceramic jar.
Turning around with the finished poultice, she paused when she noticed the man’s eyes were closed. His chest was barely rising and falling. His features no longer tense with pain. As if…
Placing the mortar down, she reached a hand toward his neck to feel for his pulse. Her fingers barely tugged on the collar of his tunic when a large hand captured hers in a firm grip.
She blinked, noticing he was watching her closely. His expression indiscernible, before he said, with a voice of gravel, “You’re quite daring to take advantage of an injured man, healer. If you fancy me, you have an odd way of showing it, all things considered.”
Anelize snatched her hand away from his grasp easily, taking a step back. “I was going to check your pulse to see if you hadn’t turned into a corpse while I was busy saving your life. I should have hardly shown any concern.”
His lips quirked up. “After your genteel care, I can assure you I am in pristine condition, if a little battered and bruised.” The unspokenno thanks to youwas louder than his words, and she couldn’t help glance to his nose, the skin bruising. Against her better judgment, she thought to administer a salve as a form of apology, but then she caught the gleam in his eyes andchanged her mind. He was clearly making a sport out of earning a reaction from her.
“You will be if you don’t exacerbate your stitches,” she said, pushing him down when he tried to sit up. He released a sound that was half chuckle, half groan. Although despite his air of nonchalance, he was clearly tired. Calling upon his power against the Moroi having effectively drained his energy.
“See? Genteel.”
Shaking her head, she reached for the mixture she’d made and carefully slathered it over the wound, red and swollen from the amount of trauma his body had suffered.
“What is that?” he asked, eyeing the dark concoction that closely resembled the color of mud.
“A poultice. It’ll help with the inflammation and keep the infection at bay,” she murmured, diligently covering the wound before reaching for a rolled strip of muslin. When she was done, she wiped her hands on her apron. “Make sure to keep it clean and bandaged for the first few days. If it starts to show the slightest sign of infection…I suppose you can return. Or find someone else to heal you if you object to my methods.”
“Subject myself to your care once more? It doesn’t sound so bad.” Mirth danced in his eyes before he settled into a comfortable position, then they trailed down, catching on her hands. “Does it hurt?” His question made her pause before she could start cleaning the bloodied mess he’d made. Blinking, she followed the line of his vision to her hand holding the remnants of the bandages she’d used on his wounds, the knuckles a bright red from when she’d struck him.
She gave him a flat smile. “No more than your face does. Now, keep still, I need you out before my aunt discovers you.”
“Your name,” he rasped when she moved to cleanse her hands in the basin, keeping her back to him.
“What of it?”
“What is your name?” The question caught her off guard, and she glanced in the mirror to see that his eyes were closed. The silence hung between them, but there was an expectation within it that she couldn’t ignore.
Turning, she crossed her arms over her chest. “Why?”
“Seeing as I was on the brink of death not too long ago, I’d like to formally know the name of my savior if she would be so gracious.”
Anelize stared at him for a long moment, so long that he eventually opened his eyes. He stared back, a curious gaze searching hers as if he’d find the answer to his question that way alone. Even in the dimly lit room, she could not bring herself to look away from those bright irises.
“You saved us from that…thing out there. I’d consider us even now. Unless you wish to tell me why a Vedran, such as you, was lurking about tonight,” she said, taking satisfaction in the way his lips thinned at the challenge. “I would assume it has to do with the Watchmen nearly killing you. Though thewhyof it all should be rather obvious, I find it intriguing that so many were searching for one man alone. What exactly did you do?”
He was silent for a long moment before he granted her a sardonic grin. “Curiosity will be the end of you, healer.”
“Then it appears we’ve reached an impasse.”
“It would appear so.” He closed his eyes once more, and this time he made no attempt to speak again. Satisfied by the outcome of their little game, Anelize turned toward the door and opened it. Only to catch Enid as she stumbled inside.Anelize arched a brow as her sister quickly straightened with a sheepish smile before hurrying away.
“Eavesdropping, are we?” Anelize asked as she closed the door behind her.
A pink blush crept its way onto Enid’s cheeks. Placing her hands behind her back she mused. “I was merely curious to see what was taking so long. How is he?”
“He’ll live,” Anelize murmured, looking toward the stairs. “Magda?”
“I doubt she woke, despite the racket going on outside. She hasn’t stirred.”
