I am a handmaiden of Death. I walk in His dark shadow and do His bidding. Serving Him is my only purpose in this life.

Surely He does not give us hearts so we may spend our lives ignoring them.

There is no shame in scars, Ismae.

It takes a surprising amount of courage to place one's hand into an unseen area when your mind is thinking about vermin.

He barks out a laugh. "My little rebel.

When he laces his fingers through mine, my heart does its now familiar panicked flight, bumping painfully against my ribs. My shoulder twitches as if to pull my hand back, but my heart overrules it.

I am sorry,' he whispers. 'I am sorry I treated you so ill. I thought only to protect Duval.' 'It was not I who was poisoning him,' I say. 'No, but you had stolen his heart and I was afraid you would rip it from his chest when you left.