“Well, you've done it now," was her sisterlyopening shot.Jaine rubbed between her eyebrows; a definite headache was forming. After the exchange withDavid, she waited to see where this one was going."I won't be able to hold up my head in church.""Really? Oh, Shelley, I'm so sorry," Jaine said sweetly. "I didn't realize you have the dreadedLimp Neck disease. When were you diagnosed?”

“She put her hand to her head and was about to plead a headache when she glanced at Barbra, who gave her a look that said, I wouldn’t if I were you...”

“All the way up the river she's been holding back somehow, waiting. Now you'll both have to wait. I'm not going to disappoint her, Kit. When I take you on board the Witch, it's going to be for keeps.”

“If you would take one step forward, darling, you could cry in my arms. And while you do, I'll tell you how sorry I am for everything I've done -" Unable to wait, Ian caught her, pulling her tightly against him. "And when I'm finished," he whispered hoarsely as she wrapped her arms around him and wept brokenly, "you can help me find a way to forgive myself."Tortured by her tears, he clasped her tighter and rubbed his jaw against her temple, his voice a ravaged whisper: "I'm sorry," he told her. He cupped her face between his palms, tipping it up and gazing into her eyes, his thumbs moving over her wet cheeks. "I'm sorry." Slowly, he bent his head, covering her mouth with his. "I'm so damned sorry.”

“Last night... I'm sorry if I was too forward with you." He paused. "Celaena, you're grimacing."Had she been making a face? "Er- sorry.""It did upset you, then!""What did?""The kiss!"... "Oh, it was nothing," she said, thumping her chest as she cleared her throat. "I didn't mind it. But I didn't hate it, if that's what your thinking!" She immediately regretted saying it."So, you liked it?" He grinned lazily."No! Oh, go away!" She flung herself onto her pillows, pulling the blankets over her head. She was going to die from embarrassment.”

“I love you, O'Reilly. When are you going to get that through your thick Aussie skull?"He laughed softly, and she tilted back her head to look up at him wonderingly, "What's so funny?"He put his hands on her shoulders and rubbed the tight muscles of her neck. "Do you realize you've never used my first name?" he said. "It's Patrick, you know."He watched her lips curl into a smile that made his chest ache. "You've always been O'Reilly to me.""Huh," he grunted. "Except when you're mad. Then I become Mister O'Reilly.”