For a moment something odd twisted and bubbled inside Duck's heart. She wasn't used to seeing Rue like this: warm and gentle, her love free of possessiveness and despair. It was as if she were seeing something about her friend--and about love itself--that she hadn't really imagined before. It made her feel happy and lonely all at once.

Then she remembered that there had been no heartbeat in Mytho's chest.

Unsure of what to say or do, she glanced at Fakir, her face full of naked emotion.