A Curse So Dark and Lonely (Cursebreakers, #1)

by Brigid Kemmerer

“My father once said we are all dealt a hand at birth. A good hand can ultimately lose—just as a poor hand can win—but we must all play the cards fate deals. The choices we face may not be the choices we want, but they are choices nonetheless.”

She turns to look at me. “Freya did it?” “She did.” I pause. “She was quite forceful, in fact. Yelled at Commander Grey.” “She yelled at Grey?” Harper’s eyes widen. “Yanked the needle right from his hand.” “What did she say?” I raise my voice into a lilting imitation of Freya’s. “ ‘You will not put field sutures in my lady’s face! She is not a common soldier!’ ” A ghost of a smile finds Harper’s lips. “That’s amazing.” “She is quite protective.” I pause. “I thought she might drag him away by his ear.”

“Yes.” I pause. “You are not angry about what Lilith has done?” “Oh, I’m furious. But not about my face.” “Then what?” Her voice fills with steel. “I’m mad I missed.”

“When my sister died,” Freya says quietly, “it was very sudden. I had no time to say goodbye. But she knew I loved her. I knew she loved me. It is not the moment of passing that is most important. It is all the moments that come before.”