“When I'm near you, the air around you vibrates with life, Beck Ryker.”

“You were meant for me, Poppy. I can feel it in my fingertips when I touch you.”

“He looked down at my fingers wrapped around his coat then lifted his eyes to mine. 'My tiny huntress, do you know what you've done to me?”

“Thank you," he said in that deep tone that was always laced with sadness."For what?" I asked.This time he reached up and pushed a strand of hair from my face. "For seeing me. Most people I meet look right through me. But when you look at me, I feel real, I feel like flesh, bone and blood.”

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

“Hell won't be so bad, you know. After all, I'll be there to keep you company.”

“Do I still 'ave an eye?" I laughed. "Still there." He straightened with a sigh. "Too bad. I hear girls take a liking to a man with an eye patch." "Yes, when the eye was lost in some wildly romantic fashion like a sword fight or pistol duel. Not from smacking it on the eyepiece of a microscope. And you hardly need any more help with the ladies.”