“My cape caught fire. I dived to the sand and rolled on the ground to snuff the flames. So much for my grand entrance.”

“Oh, you made an impression. Like a stone caught in my boot.”

“Is there anything else you haven't told me?"My head spun. So much had happened and we still needed to stop a powerful magician. Death was a real possibility. I needed Valek to know how I felt."I love you"Valek wrapped me in his arms. "My love has been yours since the fire festival. If those goons had killed you, I knew then that I would never be the same. I didn't want or expect this. But I couldn't resist you.”

“My mind’s screaming went unvoiced. Logic grabbed the panic and wrestled it to the ground.”

“When we reached the beach, Leif fell to his knees with a dramatic cry. "Solid ground! I'll never take you for granted again.""Are you going to kiss the sand?" I asked."Don't be ridiculous.""Now I'M the one being silly?""Yes.”

“I found Esau’s field guide at the bottom of my pack. Taking a candle into the bedroom, I read his book until my eyes grew heavy. From his vast notes, it seemed that almost every plant and tree in the jungle had a reason for existing. I caught myself wishing there was a page in his guide that had my picture on it with the reason for my existence written underneath in Esau’s neat hand.”

“I reached out blindly, clasped a warm hand, faded from life and into peace.Well, that was what was supposed to happen.... Except an annoying, distracting tug kept pulling and yanking....When I woke, I thought I had overcome the pull and stayed in the afterlife. Whiteness billowed over me in soft waves. My body was cushioned and cocooned in warmth. I stretched my legs and then tried to raise my arms, but my left arm wouldn't budge. Rolling over, I encountered a number of very unpleasant realities.I was alive. I was in a room. I was naked except for a blood-stained bandage wrapped tight around my stomach. Kerrick lay beside me. And his hand trapped mine.Kill. Me. Now.”