Chapter 36

• Renz thought his world had ended when he held the wrinkly, bloody bundle of quashed possibility, smaller than the size of his hand. Ilise had inflicted the most perfect punishment.
• But Lena had surprised him with her reaction, and therein was the major paradigm shift in his attraction to her. Lena had reacted with a depth of compassion and sensitivity far beyond her eighteen years, and far beyond what he deserved.
• Renz watched as gentle tears began to travel down Lena's cheeks as she watched the opera, and suddenly, she turned her head away, and locked her eyes on his.