Carve the Mark (Carve the Mark, #1)

by Veronica Roth

Then Akos couldn’t see much anymore, because his eyes were full of tears. That was Ori, who had a space at his family table, who had known him before he became . . . this. This armored, vengeful, life-taking thing. “My country has a chancellor,” he said. “Congratulations,” Cyra said. Hesitantly, she asked, “Why did you tell me all that? It’s probably not something you should broadcast here. Her alias, how you know her, all that.” Akos blinked his eyes clear. “I don’t know. Maybe I trust you.” She lifted her hand, and hesitated with it over his shoulder. Then she lowered it, touching him lightly. They watched the screen side by side. “I would never keep you here. You know that, right?” She was so quiet. He’d never heard her that quiet. “Not anymore. If you wanted to go, I would help you go.” Akos covered her hand with his own. Just a light touch, but it was charged with new energy. Like an ache he didn’t quite mind. “If—when, when I get Eijeh out,” he said, “would you ever go with me?” “You know, I think I would.” She sighed. “But only if Ryzek was dead.”