Chapter 14 · Then the patient’s ribs expanded. “Now,” Silas said

Then the patient’s ribs expanded.

“Now,” Silas said.

Mira cut.

The blade slipped into the dark line running along the patient’s forearm. She made the opening shallow, quick, and clean. No wasted motion. No room for panic.

The patient convulsed.

Nora shoved the blue vial into Mira’s hand. “What now?”

“Two drops.”

“That’s all?”

“Do you want him breathing or sleeping?”

“Breathing.”

“Then stop asking questions.”

Nora uncorked the vial with her teeth. Mira took it and tipped two drops into the small cut.

The black lines beneath the patient’s skin writhed.

Not pulsed.

Writhed.

Mira’s throat tightened.

“Silas,” she said.

“I see it.”

“No, you don’t. You see the symptoms. I see a pattern.”

The patient’s arm jerked. The incision pulled closed around the medicine.

Mira grabbed a metal probe. “Hold him still.”

Silas’s hand slid from the patient’s shoulder to his wrist. His knuckles brushed Mira’s as they reached for the same point.

The touch lasted less than a second.

It still sent heat up her arm.

Silas looked down at their hands.

Mira snatched hers away. “Don’t.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You were about to.”

“You’re very confident for someone holding a blade backward.”

She looked down.