*Evangeline*
I try not to look, try so hard not to look, but there's so much blood, it's as though each drop is a magnet for my eyes. "It hurts like the very devil."
He chuckles low. "You are such a brave girl."
I don't know why his words warm me, why I care that he has a good opinion of me. "There's so much blood."
"Yes," he says quietly, removing the last of the cloth, revealing the ghastly parted flesh with the river of crimson running through it. I wonder how much worse it might have been if the knife hadn't had to first slice through my glove.
"Oh, dear Goddess." I turn my head away as though closing my eyes isn't enough.
His hold on my hand tightens. "Don't swoon on me."
"I'm not going to swoon." I don't bother to keep the irritation from my voice. "I hate that you think I'm s
