Chapter 28

Eryndor didn't answer. He didn't object when Elara reached out, so she carefully grabbed hold of one of the needles piercing his neck before trying to pull it out. He let out a muffled grunt, and his damp lashes fluttered like a butterfly accidentally trapped in a spiderweb. He frowned and leaned against the side of the water tank like he was suffering badly. The needle slid out of his neck with his actions. Reddish-gold blood spurted from the puncture wound. He clamped a hand over it and breathed heavily, his chest heaving from the action. His face became paler still. It turned out the reddish-gold fluid had been his blood. Elara thought she'd hurt him and hurriedly released him, but he stopped her. "Continue," he said weakly. "Help me." Elara understood now. For whatever reason, Eryndor couldn't touch the needles and IV tubes, but she could. That was why he was willing to endure the pain as long as she could free him from them. She said, "You'll have to stick the pain out, then