Evaline:
I tilted my head just a little.
Not enough to be curious. Not enough to be sympathetic. Just enough to acknowledge that I had heard him.
"What do you want to talk about?" I asked.
My voice was level... almost bored.
Marcus swallowed.
I could see it in the way his throat bobbed, in the way his fingers tightened around the chain binding his wrists. My calm unsettled him more than anger ever could have. He had likely braced himself for rage, threats, perhaps even cruelty just like what he had received since the day he got captured by River.
Instead, he got indifference... and a pinch of kindness.
It took him a painfully long moment to gather his thoughts. His gaze darted briefly to the candle, then back to me, as though drawing courage from its weak flame.
"The… the Soul Death matter," he finally said.
Ah.
Finally.
I waited.
No gasp. No sharp intake of breath. I gave him no visible reaction at all.
