So odd a pair, she and he. A duet in code and electron. Age and youth and cynicism and hope. He is quicker than her - more learned by far. But she. She is unafraid. Too young to know failure and the fear it brings. She takes him places he would not have explored by himself.She is catalyst. She is chaos. I can see why he loves her.

It may not be right,” Aalea said. “It may not be just. But this is aworld of senators and consuls and Luminatii—of republics and cults andinstitutions built and maintained almost entirely by men. And in it, loveis a weapon. Sex is a weapon. Your eyes? Your body? Your smile?” Sheshrugged. “Weapons. And they give you more power than a thousandswords. Open more gates than a thousand war walkers. Love has toppledkings, Mia. Ended empires. Even broken our poor, sunsburned sky.

Who am I to deny gravity, Aurora? When you shine brighter than any constellation in the sky?

Then know this. Between and beneath and beyond anything else i may be, i am yours. I will never leave you. never forsake you. You may rely upon sun to rise and moon to fall. For you are the heart of me.