Celaena did not have a soulmark.

This wasn't unusual; many lived without one, and found a partner through other means. Some even argued against the soulmarks- after all, wasn't finding love for yourself more romantic than merely obeying the gods' orders? Star-crossed lovers and all that?

But Celaena had hoped for one. It would have been nice to have a friend to fight for, to have someone she knew would love her despite . . . everything. On the eve of her thirteenth birthday, when the mark, if you had one, appeared, she'd needed tea from the kitchens to sleep, her heart was pounding so badly.

But it didn't come.

Arobynn said it was for the best. No soulmate meant no weaknesses. Sam, in a rare moment of compassion, had told her he didn't have one either.

Ben hadn't said anything, just patted her shoulder and smiled in sympathy.

And Celaena Sardothien's body remained blank of words or symbols; scars took up the empty space.

.

Dorian Havilliard's soulmark had not been a surprise, with the Your Highness? twirling along the smooth, unblemished skin of his left palm. With words so mundane, it would be hard to find his soulmate, but his mother, Queen Georgina, had been pleased.

Later, Dorian would realize his mother was so happy because his words were so easily manipulated; it would be easy for her to arrange to have a suitable bride say his words in court.

But these words were said to him so often, he stopped noticing. After the first few months of his thirteenth year spent anxiously staring after every other servant or noble who came upon him, he took a deep breath, and put it out of mind.

When his soulmate appeared, Dorian would know. He had to. And his mate, whoever they were, would recognize his words, and surely tell him.

Surely.

.

His best friend, Chaol Westfall, did not have a soulmark at all.

But he made do. His duty was to Dorian, to his king. He told himself that did not need a soulmate to distract him.

A few years after his soulmark did not appear, Chaol's body strong and hands calloused, he met Lithaen, and let himself fall in love with her.

It had been wonderful, being in love. Chaol had never realized how . . . powerful of an emotion it was. It could create beautiful things, keep him practically singing for days.

Until Lithaen left him, sleeping with Roland on the way, and he never realized how love could destroy as well.