...if the spell was off, Iโd have my heart eaten before I could turn around.โ โDonโt you want your heart eaten?โ asked the fire. [...] โNaturally I donโt,โ Sophie answered.
Diana Wynne JonesI only want to catch you,โ Michael explained. โI wonโt hurt you.โ โNo! No!โ the star crackled desperately. โThatโs wrong! Iโm supposed to die!โ โBut I could save you if youโd let me catch you,โ Michael told it gently. โNo!โ cried the star. โIโd rather die!
Diana Wynne Jones