"Kira—"
"Shut up." She stepped in fully clothed, her hands immediately going to the worst of the wounds on his back. "Just... shut up and let me help you."
Her touch was gentle despite her sharp words, as she carefully cleaned around the claw marks. He felt her through the bond—the fear she'd been holding back, the terror that had gripped her when she thought he was going to die.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly.
"For what? Being a self-sacrificing i***t?"
"For scaring you."
Her hands stilled. For a long moment, the only sound was the water hitting the tile. Then she pressed her forehead against his back, right between his shoulder blades, and he felt her shudder.
"I thought I lost you," she whispered. "When they had you down, when that rogue had your throat, I thought—" Her voice brok
