Carve the Mark (Carve the Mark, #1)

by Veronica Roth

throughout the galaxy, since all mouths loved to chatter about the favored lines. They spoke of the agony my hands could bring, of an arm littered with kill marks from wrist to shoulder and back again, and of my mind, addled to the point of insanity. I was feared and loathed at the same time. But this version of me—this collapsing, whimpering girl—was not that person of rumor. My face burned hot, from something other than pain: humiliation. No one was supposed to see me like this. How could Ryzek bring him here when he knew how I always felt, after . . . well, afterward? I tried to choke back my anger so Ryzek wouldn’t hear it in my voice. “Why have you brought him here?” “Let’s not delay this,” Ryzek said, and he beckoned Akos forward. They both drew closer to me, Akos’s right arm pulled close to his body, like he was trying to stay as far away from my brother as possible without disobeying him. “Cyra, this is Akos Kereseth. Third child of the family Kereseth. Our”—Ryzek smirked—“faithful servant.” He was referring, of course, to Akos’s fate, to die for our family. To die in service, as the Assembly feed had proclaimed two seasons ago. Akos’s mouth twisted at the reminder. “Akos has a peculiar currentgift that I think will interest you,” Ryzek said. He nodded to Akos, who crouched beside me, then extended his hand, palm up, for me to take. I stared at it. I almost didn’t know what he meant by it, at first. Did he want me to hurt him? Why? “Trust me,” Ryzek said. “You’ll l...