Before he could finish his thought, every muscle in his body seized He bit his teeth together hard, his hand clamping down on hers. The sound he made, a muffled scream behind clenched teeth, was going to stay with her for a lifetime. When he leaned his head back, she saw the artery on his neck pulsate rapidly. During the war, she had seen first-hand what high levels of pain could do to the body. Muscles were able to snap bones. Sometimes the heart would simply give out.