int flinch. His hands froze in m

econd was all

rriage doorframe. She ignored the blinding pain radiating from her an

ior of the carriage, bringing the smell of str

shut behind her, cutting off the

stunned by the sheer

d reflexes were fa

herself up from the plush vel

ul hand clamped a

ne hit the polished walnut paneling

ttle light coming through the curtains. His grayish-blue eye

y suffocating. Their bodies were forced t

ed to tilt her head back, her mouth open

losed, the pathetic, lovesick

sly wide with fake adoration, narrowed into sharp, icy dag

nor caught Daryl off guard. The fingers tighteni

stead, she reached up and grabbed his thick wrist

d spoke in a breathless

wmen. Hidden in the rafte

er words struck him like a physical blow. The West Corridor was

the high ground and armor-piercing bolts," she hissed, her words rushing out in a desperate, urgent s

ed into tiny, black pinpricks. The

nuckles turning stark white as his combat instincts w

His voice was a low, dangerous r

ressure on her throat. The corners of her m

see a hero die like a sl

ist pounded agains

muffled by the thick wood. "Do yo

ulah flipped

, General! Have mercy on my poor heart!" she wailed, making

m a cold-blooded intelligence operative back into a hysterical fan

s options in

y released

a pristine, white silk handkerchief. He wiped his leather glove wit

ts icy, emotionless baseline. "Escort this 'fright

en from the outside. Bright sun

d her dirty hands over her face, her shoulders s

ms and hauled her up, dragg

peeked through the gaps in her fingers.

't