Wareska laughed sadly. “There is no reason to apologize. I want you as you want me . . . and I think you know that.

He knew in that moment that falling in love with her would destroy him, and so he decided at once that he would do his damnedest to despise her.

:Wait for me here?: :Until the moon crumbles into the sea,: Shadowmane whispered. Wareska laughed again. :Always so eloquently dramatic.:

Right now, all she knew was that she had the potential to love him greatly and fiercely, and she wanted to do so and nothing else very much and for many years.

Zita shrugged. “I wouldn’t hold it against ya, kid. You’re asking if you should choose war or love. Hate is easy, everybody does it. But most people go their entire lives without really loving. Miora’s gonna tell you that you can’t love her because she’s zonbiri, but if it’s really love . . . you won’t be able to help yourself.” Zita smiled and went out.

Spent my whole life,” Morganith went on, staring miserably into her drink, “thinkin’ that out there somewhere was ah woman who would love me incredibly and I would love her incredibly. Like ah fire consumin’ the very air. Then I meet her, and she leaves me.” Morganith snapped her fingers lazily. “Just like that.