“His smile reappeared. It was not large or extraordinary, but it was one I would not soon forget.”

“He would be gone soon, and with all that had happened in Blackpool Cove, I could not afford to send a piece of my heart with him.”

“His arms held me like a vice, and I wondered if he would crush the life from me, and it occurred to me that I didn’t care as long as I died in his arms...”

“Nathaniel Strider could never love. He's obviously discovered early on that girls' hearts were vulnerable and all a lad needed was a penetrating gaze and a disarming smile and the world was at his feet.”

“His gaze held mine so long it felt as if he would never release it. And something deep inside me did not want him to.”

“Rinkeni, you could be standing on the other side of the earth, and I would hear you if you needed me.”

“I don't know how it happened. Through the din of the crowd, I heard this tiny scream. As small and distant as it was, it was like thunder in my head.' He looked up at me. Some of the blood had drained from his face making the dark circles under his eyes more pronounced. 'I knew it was you. I don't know how or why, but I knew it was you.”