Try as he might, Zach found himself involuntarily wincing, but he didn’t look away. He didn’t wish Jo to feel self-conscious around him. It was a gruesome sight. Missing fingers were one thing, but the way her skin was wrinkled and scarred told tales of unimaginable pain. Pain he wished he could take from her. Perhaps, it had been lucky she had been knocked unconscious whilst the healers worked.

"Turn flesh to dust? Why, that’s barbaric," he half whispered. His blue eyes continued to scan Jo’s injury, trying to keep his face blank from any expression, but he was obviously concerned.

"Does it bring you much pain?" Of course, he meant physical pain, for he knew, from the pointed way she mentioned her colleague would be able to return to work, that her heart had been wounded. Being unable to return to her life’s passion was likely to be the true pain. Perhaps, she could work to try and gain use of her dominant hand once more, to at least be able to wield a wand? It was a thought he didn’t wish to burden her with, and it remained unsaid, floating between them.