"You did, and you will do perfectly," the Darkling soothes, keeping his hand in hers for a moment more. Another way to keep her attention on his hands and not his eyes, black and too calculating in the dark. "When they let us outside, I will show you how to fight. How to render their knives useless and their teeth dull. And you will watch, Eponine, watch them and tell me."

If they thought that they could keep him here, keep him from his Shadows and from his destiny, he would show all of them how wrong they were. The flash of anger hits like a drug, and the Darkling takes a slow breath, forcing his eyes to be kind and his hand to be gentle.

"We will do good and great things, Eponine. Stay with me, and-" he guides her back to her own cot, releasing her with a small squeeze. "-and I can help you show them just how clever you really are."