““Archer was wild. “Will she be all right?” “Most certainly,” the healer said curtly, “if you will get out of my way and let me stop the flow of blood. My lord.” Archer let out a ragged breath and kissed Fire’s forehead. He untangled himself from her body and crouched on his heels, clenching and unclenching his fists. Then he turned to peer at the poacher held by his guards, and Fire thought warningly, Archer, for she knew that with his anxieties unsoothed, Archer was transitioning now to fury. “A nice man who must nonetheless be seized,” he hissed at the poacher, standing. “I can see that the arrow in her arm came from your quiver. Who are you and who sent you?” The poacher barely noticed Archer. He stared down at Fire, boggle-eyed. “She’s beautiful again,” he said. “I’m a dead man.” “He won’t kill you,” Fire told him soothingly. “He doesn’t kill poachers, and anyway, you saved me.” “If you shot her I’ll kill you with pleasure,” Archer said.””
