The Pirate's Wish

For the first time, I understood the difference between leaving and not staying. It was the difference between a snarl and a smile.

You might as well get used to it." "What, fish? Trust me, I'm plenty used to fish." "No," he said. "Letting me protect you.

That don't make sense." "Of course not," he said. "It's magic.

Love is a wound," the assassin said. " Neither life nor death.

I loved him more fiercely than I'd love anyone. But he didn't love me back.

Manticores with love spells," Marjani said. "Well, that's awfully terrifying.

Of course," I said, voice hardly a whisper again. I swalloed. "I think... I think you're beautiful." His face didn't move. "I thought you don't trust beautiful people." "Not beautiful like that. I mean... I don't ever want to stop looking at you.

sure, It's a good thing, though." She leaned against the ship's wheel, squinted into the sun. "Because you're a women. If they're scared of you, they'll listen to you." "That's how it works with men too." Marjani shook her head and laughed. "Not always. Men have the option of earning respects.

Of course," I said, voice barely a whisper. I swallowed. "I think... I think you're beautiful." His face didn't move. "I thought you didn't trust beautiful people." "Not beautiful like that. I mean... I don't ever want to stop looking at you.