1
Fall off your own roof.Veronica Rossi
2
In the afternoon, they stopped to eat on a rocky outcrop. Perry brushed a kiss on her cheek while she was chewing, and she learned that it was the loveliest thing to be kissed for no reason, even while chewing food. It brightened the woods, and the never sky, and everything.Veronica Rossi
3
It's time, Perry". He let her go. She took a step back, taking in his face one last time. His green eyes. The bend in his nose and the scars on his cheek. All the tiny inperfections that made him beautiful. Without a word, she turned and made her way downhill.Veronica Rossi
4
Your voice sounds like a midnight fire. All warm and worn in and golden. I could listen to you talk forever." "I could never do that". She laughed at him. He brought his lips to her ear. "Your scent is like violets early in spring, " he whispered. Then he laughed at himself because though it was true, he sounded like the worst kind of fool.Veronica Rossi
5
She’d fallen into a deep silence once, when the sun appeared, and it was then he’d wondered most what she was thinking.Veronica Rossi
6
His hand snapped shut over the device and then he crossed his arms. Aria stared in horror. Her Smarteye was buried in a Neanderthal’s armpit.Veronica Rossi
7
Her hand holding his for a dozen paces. His, resting on the small of her back for a moment. Touches that had no real purpose but to say I’m here and We are together still.Veronica Rossi
8
She did it, though she hated opera. She hated everything about it. The overblown sense of drama. The violence and lewdness. No one had ever died of heartbreak in Reverie. Betrayal never led to murder. Those things didn’t happen anymore. They had the Realms now. They could experience anything without taking risks. Now, life was Better than Real.Veronica Rossi
9
Without thinking, he reached for her hand. Tucked it against her chest, feeling that was where it should be. Perry's heart slammed against his ribs. She had to feel it.Veronica Rossi
10
If there was no fear, how could there be comfort? Or courage?Veronica Rossi
11
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, tooVeronica Rossi
12
And it's always better, isn't it, when you discover answers on your own?Veronica Rossi
13
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.Veronica Rossi
14
Because people are more than emotions. People have thoughts and reasons for doing things.Veronica Rossi
15
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.Veronica Rossi
16
She absorbed the terror and beauty of him and his world. Of every moment over the past days. All of it, filling her up like the first breath she'd ever taken. And never had she loved life more.Veronica Rossi
17
It was my idea. It's the safest way, but it's strange pretending to be something different. It's like there's a glass wall between us. Like I can't touch him or ... reach him. I don't like the way it feels.Veronica Rossi
18
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.Veronica Rossi
19
She felt as though she’d found a moment of forever. Like this was how they should’ve always beenVeronica Rossi
20
He had a prince's looks but a pirate's eyes.Veronica Rossi