Leigh Bardugo

You see, some people are born with a piece of night inside, and that hollow place can never be filled - not with all the good food or sunshine in the world. That emptiness cannot be banished, and so some days we wake with the feeling of the wind blowing through, and we must simply endure it as the boy did.

It’s good to feel foolish sometimes, Fjerdan.”“You only say that because you have no shame.

You're very welcome,' she said, giving my hair a hard tug. 'You should be used to being gawked at by now.'And yet I'm not.'Well, if it gets too bad, give me a signal, and I'll get up on the banquet table, toss my skirt over my head, and do a little dance. That way no one will be looking at you.

She knew she should say something profound, something beautiful in response. Instead, she spoke the truth. 'If we make it out of here alive, I'm going to kiss you unconscious.