Have you not figured it out yet? The curse torments us all.

She was right - I have had over three hundred women to practice on. I should have known better.

Rhen puts his hands on my arms and leans in. When he speaks, his voice is very low, very quiet, just for me. "My father is dead, my lady. My whole family is dead." He pulls back, meeting my gaze, but his voice doesn't change. "That monster killed them all.

There are dead bodies at my feet and children whimpering in the snow. Any minute, my brain is going to catch up and I'm going to collapse into sobs.Instead, I saw the only thing my addled mind can come up with. "Thanks.

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.