She leaned forward and caught at his hand pressing it between her own. The touch was like white fire through his veins. He could not feel her skin only the cloth of her gloves and yet it did not matter. You kindled me heap of ashes that I am into fire. He had wondered once why love was always phrased in terms of burning. The conflagration in his own veins now gave the answer.

So much of the language of love was like that you devoured someone with your eyes you drank in the sight of him you swallowed him whole. Love was substance broken down and beating through your bloodstream.

Eight full lives I whispered against his jaw my voice breaking. Eight full lives and I never found anyone I would stay on a planet for anyone I would follow when they left. I never found a partner. Why now Why you Youre not of my species. How can you be my partnerIts a strange universe he murmured.Its not fair I complained echoing Sunnys words. It wasnt fair. How could I find this find lovenow in this eleventh hourand have to leave it Was it fair that my soul and body couldnt reconcile Was it fair that I had to love Melanie too Was it fair that Ian would suffer He deserved happiness if anyone did. Itwasnt fair or right or evensane. How could I do this to himI love you I whispered.Dont say that like youre saying goodbye.But I had to. I the soul called Wanderer love you human Ian. And that will never change no matter what I might become. I worded it carefully so that there would be no lie in my voice. If I were a Dolphin or a Bear or a Flower it wouldnt matter. I would always love you always remember you. You will be my only partner.

As lovers the difference between men and women is that women can love all day long but men only at times.

It does good to no woman to be flattered by a man who does not intend to marry her and it is madness in all women to let a secret love kindle within them which if unreturned and unknown must devour the life that feeds it and if discovered and responded to must lead ignis-fatuus-like into miry wilds whence there is no extrication.

Until this moment I had not realized that someone could break your heart twice along the very same fault lines.

Only love of a good woman will make a man question every choice every action. Only love makes a warrior hesitate for fear that his lady will find him cruel. Only love makes a man both the best he will ever be and the weakest. Sometimes all in the same moment. -Wicked

Damn you spoilt creature I shant make you love me any the more by giving myself away like this.

No its not that. Its not what youre thinking. I was serious when I said all of it. I can remember every moment we were together and in eachof them there was something wonderful. I cant really pick any one time that meant more than any other. The entire summer was perfect the kind of summer everyone should have. How could I pick one moment over another Poets often describe love as an emotion that we cant control one that overwhelms logic and common sense. Thats what it was like for me. I didnt plan on falling in love with you and I doubt if you planned on falling in love with me. But once we met it was clear that neither of us could control what was happening to us. We fell in love despite our differences and once we did something rare and beautiful was created. For me love like that has happened only once and thats why every minute we spent together has been seared in my memory. Ill never forget a single moment of it.

But I have to confess Im glad you two had at least a few months of happiness together.Im not glad says Peeta. I wish we had waited until the whole thing was done officially.This takes even Caesar aback. Surely even a brief time is better than no timeMaybe Id think that too Caesar says Peeta bitterly If it werent for the baby.