“You don’t always have to take it all on, either, you know. The weight of the world. The responsibility for everyone else’s problems. Sometimes it’s okay to let somebody else worry about you.”

“Always you, since the moment I first lay my hands on you to heal that bullet wound. SinceI fell inside your soul. Don’t you know that by now, Quinn?”

“So he was frustrated with her. Most people rolled their eyes when they got frustrated. Alaric made dolphins do ballet.”

“The rebel leader and the priest.”

“Except for Quinn, a dark voice whispered in his mind. A smile from her would be a gift beyond price.”

“Finally, she looked up at him and met his gaze, and she gasped. He knew what must be visible on his face and therefore did not try to deny it. “You know,” he rasped out. “You have always known, and you will always know that I am yours, and yet never can be. I am the most powerful high priest Poseidon has ever appointed, and yet I am too weak to hide the depths of my feelings for you.”

“He shot across the dark and dank room and gently lowered her slight body, which seemed to weigh almost nothing, until she stood with her back to the wall, as he called a shield of water to block her from any danger.”

“Translation: I’m an idiot.”

“I would give a century of my life for a single taste of your lips”

“That seems to be another habit of yours. I get broken, and you fix it.”

“I don’t care about his quest for redemption. I don’t want him anywhere near Quinn,” Alaric snarled. “I will leave for St. Louis as soon as we adjourn this meeting.” ”