“If there was no fear, how could there be comfort? Or courage?”

“She found it curious and frightening that she could deeply dislike someone she didn’t even know. It wasn’t her. At least, it wasn’t how she used to be.”

“She knew she could answer it. She knew how to put one foot in front of the other even when every step hurt. And she knew there was pain in the journey, but there was also great beauty. She’d seen it standing on rooftops and in green eyes and in the smallest, ugliest rock. She would find the answer.”

“Come on, Paisley. What's the worst that could happen?"Aria meant it as a joke,but her voice sounded too high so she tacked on a laugh. That came out sounding mildly hysterical."What could happen in a damaged dome?"Paisley counted on her slender fingers. "Our skin could rot off. We could get locked out. An Aether storm could turn us into human bacon. Then the cannibals could eat us for breakfast.”

“She could look at him forever. She could spend her life watching him just blink and breathe that near to her.”

“She'd survived the outside. She'd survived the Aether and cannibals and wolves. She knew how to love now, and how to let go. Whatever came next, she would survive it, too”

“Perry could no longer deny that it was common knowledge. Aria was the safest path to him.”