The head nerd of the Cadets is my partner and when it's over he asks me for my number. I'm very flattered and he looks a bit crestfallen when I say no. "It's because they don't have coverage out here," Griggs tells him. "No," I say, looking up at Griggs. "It's actually because my heart belongs to someone else." And if I could bottle the look on his face, I'd keep it by my bedside for the rest of my life.

You can't think for other people. Nor can you feel for them or be them. They have to do that for themselves.

And we all end up where we started

He just watched the way Finnikin’s hands rested on Evanjalin’s neck and he rubbed his thumb along her jaw and the way his tongue seemed to disappear inside her mouth as if he needed a part of her to breathe himself.

No, no, no, no,no,' he gasped. 'You can't bring up your mum and dad while your hand is down there, Finke

Do you want to know something about tyrants? When faced with death, they weep and they beg just like the rest of us.

We look at each other for a moment and for once I feel awkward. It's not that I'm not into humility; I've just never had to practise it.