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were possible.
    The young girl shuddered, and a single teardrop spotted the front of her tunic. The translucent stain brought a sheen to Jamin’s own eyes. He surprised himself when he moved to the bed mat and eased himself down. She stiffened and lifted her head but didn’t look at him. Jamin raised the corner of his cloak and dabbed at another tear as it traced a path down her cheek. She flinched.
    When he could finally muster his voice, it came in a hoarse whisper. “Yes, I am the man who goes to market and lingers in the shadows across the street. But no, I am not here to humiliate you or to make you the fool.” He sighed. “If anyone is the fool, it is I.”
    She shifted but said nothing.
    Jamin set his face. He had nothing to lose. “I don’t even know you, so I don’t know how this can be, but . . .” His voice fell to a murmur. “I’ve fallen in love with you. Yes, from the shadows across the street.”
    The girl turned toward him with a frown of disbelief. “How can you even—”
    “I know! It’s beyond reason.” He settled more comfortably on the mat. “I’m not an idiot, regardless of what you may think, nor am I naïve.” He looked into her eyes. “I’m not shallow about love. This doesn’t happen to me. This has never happened to me.”
    She dropped her gaze.
    Awkwardness pushed Jamin to his feet. He stepped to the wall and leaned his forearm against it as he searched for the right words. He turned his back to the wall and slid to the floor.
    “You’re also right that I didn’t come here to consummate you.”
    The girl huffed and flipped her hair from her shoulder with a toss of her head.
    “I came here to learn of you. Your name. Where you’re from. What you like. What you don’t like.”
    She glared at him. “I don’t like being toyed with.”
    “Nor should you. Neither do I. I came at great risk tonight. If my family finds out where I am, I’ll probably be disowned. I’m still not sure whether they know I’m gone, or what I’ll tell them if they find out.” Jamin rested his chin on his knees. “I didn’t risk all that to toy with you.”
    Her intense eyes flashed to his and robbed him of his composure. The knot squeezed his stomach, and he swallowed in a vain effort to dislodge his heart.
    Her gaze faltered; then she shook her head. “This is impossible. What were you thinking?”
    Jamin chanced his first smile. “I was thinking that you’re the most glorious creature I’ve ever laid eyes on. I was thinking that behind those piercing eyes there’s something special, something different.” He paused. “I was also thinking how sad you seem, sitting apart day after day from the other girls.”
    She looked away.
    He continued, “I was thinking that, if I could somehow talk to you, it would settle my mind even if we never met again.” Jamin measured his next words carefully. “Lastly, I was thinking how grateful I was you were still here, because that would mean you are yet untouched.”
    Her head jerked back, and the fire rekindled in her eyes.
    Jamin cocked his head. “That’s it, isn’t it? That’s why you’re sad, why you stand aloof from the others.”
    “That is not your concern.”
    “You’re right.” The smile didn’t leave Jamin’s face. His eyes softened, and he held her look. “But what harm can it do to tell me? We’ll probably never see each other again after tonight. To talk might help. If it doesn’t, you’ve lost nothing by telling me.”
    She sniffed. “And what could you possibly gain from knowing?”
    “My heart’s desire.”
    She dropped her gaze back to the floor.
    Jamin waited.
    After several moments, she looked up and shook her hair back from her face. “All right. You want to know? I’ll tell you.” She set her jaw. “I’m cursed.”
    Jamin raised an eyebrow. “Cursed?”
    “Yes, cursed. And it’s not funny!”
    “Of course it’s not funny—if it’s true. Why do you think you’re cursed?”
    “I’ve been here for