Master of Crows (Master of Crows, #1)

by Grace Draven

She closed her eyes. “I’m scared.” He caressed her cheek. He hated her fear, but it would keep her alive. “You should be. The bide jiana enslaved had their Gifts taken from them by force. Sex, torture, whatever their masters found necessary to make that power manifest and use it to their advantage.” Hollow laughter, edged with hysteria, escaped her. Tears spilled down her cheeks, and she covered her mouth. The laughter turned to agonized groans. Silhara wrapped his arms around her, driven by an unfamiliar urge to hold and comfort. He rubbed her back and let her tears bleed on his chest. She felt good in his arms, even in her grief. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d wept for anything, but he understood her tears. They were made of anger and broken dreams, frustration and powerlessness. He held her in silence until she hiccupped and straightened away from him. She wiped away the remaining tears with shaking hands “Surely, the gods laugh.”