Irina kept her hands close to Liam's side, the faint white-blue glow of her ice magic still surrounding her fingers. The wound had been frozen for the moment, the edges sealed beneath a thin layer of ice that prevented any more blood from escaping. It was not healing the injury, but at least it had stopped the bleeding, and judging from the way Liam was standing there without collapsing, it was enough to keep him moving for now.
"How is it?" Irina asked, her eyes fixed on the frozen wound. "Is it better?"
Liam glanced down at his side. The ice had covered the terrible claw mark that stretched across his ribs, turning the blood around the wound into a dark red stain beneath the translucent layer. He carefully touched the area with two fingers and immediately pulled them away.
"It hurts like hell," he admitted. "But I'll manage."
Irina sighed.
"That is not exactly reassuring."
Liam gave her a small smile.
"You asked."
