Chapter 45

• The shock that rippled through me could only be reflected by the shock on Marek’s face. Except his dropped into worry. He didn’t say anything though as he watched me. I didn’t know what to do. Embarrassment flooded through me and I tried to move out of Marek’s reach. This was not who I was. I did not cry. I went through torture session after torture session without making a sound. I’d taken the abuse at castle thinking I had no other place I could go. I’d clung onto the fact that I could somehow survive in this world despite being told otherwise.
• I was not someone who had a soul or a heart. I couldn’t. Not in this lifetime. Yet here I was, one after the other, falling down my face because someone actually cared for once. Looking up, I wiped my eyes hard with the palm of my hand. The slight pain slowed my heart beat down and helped settle me.
• “Búsinka…it’s okay…” Marek’s voice now sounded like sandpaper to me and I shook my head.