The stars will go out before I forget you, Mark Blackthorn.

No matter what happens," Mark said, "I will stay here. I will always, always stay here."
He put his arms around Julian and held him tightly. Julian exhaled, as if he were letting go of something heavy that he had carried for a long time, and leaning on Mark's shoulder, he let his older brother bear just a little of his weight.

There was beauty in the idea of freedom, but it was an illusion. Every human heart was chained by love.

And I love you," Kieran said. "You are all that exists on the earth and under the sky that I do love.

Kieran's hands came up to cup Mark's face. His touch was gentle. "I am not doing it for you," he said. "This will be what I do for Emma and the others. Then that debt will be paid. You and I, our debts are paid already." He leaned forward and brushed his lips against Mark's. Mark wanted to chase the kiss, the warmth of it, the familiarity. He felt Kieran's hand come down to splay itself over his chest-over the elf-bolt that hung there, below his collarbone. "We will be done with each other".

"No," Mark whispered.

Love and hate had their own secret languages, and Mark and Kieran were speaking in them now.