Page 55

Dreven recognized the expression immediately, and something very close to resignation crossed his face.

“You are about to object.”

“Strongly.”

“I have survived worse.”

“So has everyone on these tables. We still treat them.”

Sera became suddenly fascinated by the contents of a medicine tray.

Dreven looked from Kesta to the treatment table and back again. For a moment she thought he might simply walk out. Instead, with a faint tightening of his mouth, he extended his arm.

“Quickly.”

The small victory pleased Kesta far more than it should have.

She wet a cloth with antiseptic and curled her fingers around his wrist to steady the arm. His scales were harder than human skin but surprisingly warm, and the circumference of his wrist made her hand look small. She cleaned the cut carefully, following the shallow line where metal had torn through the edge of two scales.

Dreven watched her face rather than the injury.

“You do this with everyone?” he asked.

Kesta kept her attention on the cut. “Clean wounds?”

“Argue until they surrender.”

She glanced up.

The humor in his silver eyes was unmistakable now.

“You haven’t surrendered.”

His mouth curved slowly. “No.”

Something in the quiet answer shifted the atmosphere between them.

Kesta became abruptly conscious of how close she was standing. One hand remained around his wrist while the other moved over his forearm, her fingertips brushing the dark edges of his scales whenever the cloth passed too near them. His pupils widened within the metallic silver of his eyes, and she felt her own breathing change in answer.

Dreven noticed.

Of course he did.

His expression softened, the teasing edge disappearing as his attention dropped briefly to her mouth.

Kesta’s pulse stumbled.

The band around her wrist grew hot.

She jerked back with a sharp breath.

Dreven reacted immediately. His own arm lowered as his gaze snapped toward the copper markings.

“What happened?”

Kesta flexed her fingers. The heat was already fading, leaving only a prickling sensation beneath the band.

“I don’t know.”