Shadewood there is a bear in the wound

Masque pressed herself to him, albeit nursing the far side of her flank as she did so. Riley could feel the pulse of her heart beat between the two of them, as her head found its familiar crook under his jaw.

He breathed, trying to maintain some semblance of composure despite a thousand questions — and emotions — clamoring to make themselves known.

His gaze followed hers, to the ugly scene on her hip. Several punctures, a stain of deep merlot blooming across her thigh. Riley wordlessly nodded as she asked him to clean her, but then slid down. He helped her best he could, his head pounding as he leaned down next to her and began to clean the blood from her leg and thigh best he could.