Lauren and Aspen exchanged tense glances—both silently terrified that their conditions might cost Andrew the competition.

Andrew said, "Lauren, your pulse is strong and deep, with elevated metabolic rate—it could be adrenal overload or autoimmune flare-up."

"As for my little servant," he continued, "her pulse is weak, her blood flow is thin. She has probably lost a considerable amount of blood."

Without pausing, Andrew released the threads from his hands, letting them slip. The audience co