“If questioning would make us wise no eyes would ever gaze in eyes; if allof our tale were told in speech, no mouth would wonder each to each.Were spirits free from mortal mesh and love not bound to hearts of flesh noaching breast would earn to meet and find their ecstasy complete.For who is there that lives and knows the secret powers by which he grows?Were knowledge all, what were our need to thrill and faint and sweetlybleed?Then not seek, sweet, the “If” and “Why” I love you until I die. For I mustlove because I live And life in me is what you give.”

“Our hearts, they need a mirror, Tessa. We see our better selves in the eyes of those who love us. And there is a beauty that brevity alone provides.” He dropped his gaze, then raised it to hers. “I would give you everything of myself,” he said. “I would give you more in two weeks than most men would give you in a lifetime.”

“Were knowledge all, what were our needTo thrill and faint and sweetly bleed?”

“If love were what the rose is, And I were like the leaf, Our lives would grow together, In sad or singing weather, Blown fields or flowerful closes, Green pleasure or grey grief; If love were what the rose is, And I were like the leaf.”

“If I were to live a thousand years, I would belong to you for all of them. If we were to live a thousand lives, I would want to make you mine in each one.”

“I can teach you how to defend yourself some. Not" - he held her gaze - "that it will always keep you safe. There are times when no amount of training will stop what others would do.""So why..." She let the question drift away."Because it helps me sleep at night, because it helps me focus, because sometimes I like knowing that maybe if I were in danger again it would help."He kissed her forehead."And sometimes because it gives me hope that it'll make me strong enough to be loved and protect the one I would try to love.”