Page 58 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

“Huh?”

He nods to the rubbing alcohol.

“Put that on your hands or you might cause me an infection.”

“Oh. Right,” I mumble.

I quickly wash my hands with the rubbing alcohol and return to his wound.

“Take a deep breath,” he murmurs.

Somehow, I do as he says.

“Now thread the needle through the other side.”

His voice is steady, calm. Surprising considering I’m inserting a sharp needle into his skin. Yet his guiding words prove to be very helpful in distracting me from my nerves.

“Good. Now again.”

I do as he says. Every time I need to push the needle through his skin, he quietly encourages me, praising me when I’m doing it right.

My lips pull into a smile.

“Good job!” he says. “Now tie the thread at the end and cut the excess.”

I can’t seem to get the knot right, so he stops me.

“Twist here.” He points to the thread. “And loop it through the other thread.”

After a couple failed attempts, I manage to tie the thread and cut the remaining bit.

“Perfect. You did so good,” he murmurs gently.

I give him a smile. “Thank you.”

“Now the bandage.”

I grab a roll of bandage and wrap it carefully around his arm, securing it with a knot.

The doctor comes to survey my work and he nods in satisfaction.

“Good job, Miss Anyan.”

I preen under the praise, and I’m surprised when Vitry’s hand tightens on top of mine. When did he even grab my hand? Why is he touching it?

I’m about to give him a thorough set down as the doctor leaves, but just as I settle on the perfect words, someone bursts into the infirmary.

“The planes are back! The injured are coming through.”

Vitry shoots out of the bed, rushing to the male who’d just delivered the news.

“How many did we lose?” he asks.

The messenger purses his lips.

“Nine.”

“Fucking hell!” Vitry curses. “What about Abbots? Is he back? Is he all right?”

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