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What was the point of either? I longed to seerelative, and I’d promised my mom I’d find her But the more I remembered of Gran, the more I comprehended that she would expectwith her tip e? What if I went full-on Empress, and never turned back to Evie?

"Even if you escaped this place, which is impossible," Death said, "you would never reach her With your healing powers, you ue colonies, but there are still cannibals out there, including others unrelated to the Hierophant Militias, Bagmen, and slavers swarm the roads and countryside I know this; I ride those roads often Wouldn’t she be angry that you took such risks?"

I glanced up at Death "So my plan should be to wait here, docile, until youthese words out loud was like a corner turned, a line crossed One answer rang through me

Never

After my mother’s sacrifice for me, I’d be daht

I had a new et this cuff off, so I could protectme here, his princess in the toould wear off

I needed to be ready

"Ah, and there’s the conniving glint I’ in my Empress’s eyes" He appeared relieved, as if he’d just found"You’ve destroyed ar about your downfall"

"Why didn’t you tell me about Jack earlier? And Matthew? Why not just torpedo rown intertwined in my mind I couldn’t separate the down a rabbit hole

"My reasons are ive Deveaux your innocence"

I rolled y "Really, Father Tin to answer

"At least tell me why you hateto taketo take ether? I had to know! "What did I do to you?"

"To know, you ht he would leave at that, but he re about for so myself utterly alone in the world this last hts into Death

I’d known he lived a solitary existence I’d known he trusted no one But I’d questioned whether he preferred his life like that

My misery had made me hypersensitive to his own, and now I had my answer

No No, he did not prefer this

As I’d wandered down those hallways lined with his lifeless art, I’d realized that Lark was right--the house was haunted By hirand collections because there was nothing else for hiame was all he’d ever really have; I saw the evidence of that in every roo insults within your study all alone, wouldn’t you?"

He stiffened Bingo

When I was young, Gran had often caughtat Death’s Tarot card She’d asked ry I’d shaken my head firmly and told her it made me sad

In other words, I’d felt sorry for him

Gran had sputtered, "Why would you feel that way, Evie? He’s a villain!"

My answer: His horse looks sick, and he has no friends Maybe that had beenhis life seeed his bone-deep loneliness with arrogance But there was no hiding it fro to get on your good side, because at least then I’d ask you questions over breakfast I’ll bet you’ve gone an entire decade without being asked a single one"

Had his face paled? "You think you know me, yet you are as mistaken as ever," he said smoothly, but his shoulder muscles were bunched with tension Without another word, he turned to go

Lark appeared at the door, nearly running into hi his thureater pain or doo my skin"

For everyone except me

Wide-eyed, Lark backed away froet"

"Maybe your visit with the Empress will be worth the clione

"I see you andit off" Lark sniffed, "He was always my least favorite No depth perception in that one"

I buried ers in Cyclops’s scruff She didn’t ?"

"All he’d say is that you’d ‘discovered so by your brokenhearted reaction, I knew it had to be the Cajun"

And Matthew

Fro it on my bed

"What’s that?"

"Not a Jack-in-the-box, if that’s what you’re wondering"

"I really hate you"

She grinned "Open it, asshole"

With a glare, I did "Workout gear?" Sports bras, athletic shorts, leggings Even a little tennis skirt