Carve the Mark (Carve the Mark, #1)

by Veronica Roth

his serious face scared Akos. Their dad was always smiling, even when the situation didn’t call for it. Their mom called it his very best armor.

“Find another reason to go on,” I said. “It doesn’t have to be a good one, or a noble one. It just has to be a reason.”

“Hard to think of a man like that being afraid.” “Yeah, well, we’re all afraid.” I sighed. “The angry more than most, I think.”

“I know what it is to become something you hate. I know how it hurts. But life is full of hurt.” Shadows pooled in her eye sockets like they were proving her point. “And your capacity for bearing it is much greater than you believe.”

“Need me to carry you again?” he said. “That was humiliating and will never happen again.” “Humiliating? Some people might use another word,” he said. “Like . . . gallant.” “Tell you what,” I said. “Someday I’ll carry you around like a baby in front of people whose respect you’re trying to earn, and you can let me know how much you like it.” He grinned. “Deal.”