Shen Yue was already kneeling beside the Warden before Wei Liang finished processing the words, pressing a cloth against the bleeding wound with hands that hesitated only a fraction of a second before working with clinical efficiency regardless of who the patient was.
"Hold still," Shen Yue said, voice tight. "I hate you. That doesn't mean I'll let you bleed out on this beach before we get answers."
The Warden let out a weak, humorless laugh. "Practical. I can respect that, even directed at me."
Garrow stood several paces back, blade still drawn, expression hard. "Why are we helping her at all. She's killed hundreds of people to stay alive this long."
"She's also the only lead we have on whoever's coming next," Liu Che said, though his own voice carried little warmth toward her either.
