After a hard day's work, Midshipman Deryn Sharp stumbled into her cabin, the thought of sleep filling her tired mind.

Deryn was used to adventures in her everyday life, but today's adventures had been far more, er, adventurous than usual. Lilit had barking kissed her! And what was worse, Deryn had actually enjoyed the kiss. She found herself thinking of Lilit and her sparkling dark eyes constantly.

Deryn changed into her sleepwear, and fell into bed. For the past few weeks, Deryn's dreams had been all about Lilit, which Deryn found unsettling and did her best to ignore, and had actually succeeded somewhat. But tonight it was near impossible to keep Lilit out of her head.

Lilit. What a bloody nice name. What a bloody fine lass.

"Clart!"

Why can't I stop thinking about stupid Lilit and her barking skills-no! There is obviously something wrong with her. Who in their right mind would ever kiss me? Especially since I'm a girl and she's a girl…Got nice lips, she does. All soft and warm and-clart! For the last time, go to sleep, Deryn!

She was just about to fall asleep when someone knocked on her door. Mumbling some rather colorful curses, Deryn got out of bed and opened the door, scowling. She was surprised to see that it was Alek. She was even more surprised to see the state he was in. He looked nervous and couldn't stop fiddling with a piece of paper in his hand. Deryn looked at him for a moment, then stepped aside so he could enter her room. Blisters, he looked nervous.

He sat down on her chair, and opened and closed his mouth a few times, unsure of how to start. Deryn thought he looked like a fish.

Then finally, he took a deep breath and started talking.

"Dylan, you haven't been entirely truthful with me."

Deryn tried to interrupt-how in blazes could he know her secret?

"While I was out in Istanbul, that American gave me these notes, said I should read them. I must say, the information came as quite a shock." Alek didn't look nervous anymore. He looked betrayed and frustrated. He started talking again, but Deryn interrupted.

"Hold on a squick, your princeliness. I tried to tell you, I really did, but you wouldn't barking listen! You just started going off about your problems, and how much you missed yer mum and da, so what could I do except play the part of best friend, and comfort you? Your attic was scrambled enough already, I didn't want to upset you more."

Something in Alek's eyes hardened, and he looked positively angry. "So it was all a game to you, was it? Play the part of best friend. You never were my friend, were you, Dylan? How could I have trusted you?" Now Prince Alek looked like a sad little boy. Deryn sighed.

"It's complicated, Alek. I-I thought I loved you." He looked at her, brows furrowed. "But now, well, now I'm not so sure. And it's dead frightening, Alek, what I think I'm becoming." She looked at him, eyes wide and pleading. "Please forgive me. I hope we can still be friends. I'm still quite the same, you know, but just different in your head."

Alek wasn't very convinced. "I'll have to think about it, Dylan. But I'm glad we finally talked about this." He gave her a curt nod, and was out the door before Deryn could say, "bumrag!"

She sat down on her bed, sighing. Deryn had been so sure that she loved Alek. But now it was Lilit who haunted her dreams, whispered things in her ear that Deryn could never remember when she woke. Everything about that lass was so darn appealing. The way her long braids swung when she walked, that catlike grace in all her movements, that voice that was harsh and soft, the voice of a killer and of a lover.

A lover? What the hell, Deryn? Where did that come from? I need to get a grip, soldier up. Stopping the creepy mooning is what I need to focus on.

Creeeaak!

Lilit hissed softly. "Damn floorboards." She used to walk through the building without a single sound. But now, she was lucky if she took two steps without making a loud noise. Lilit was distracted, that much was clear. She just couldn't get a certain midshipman out of her mind.

Yesterday was totally thrilling, even by Lilit's standards. The only bad part was that her father had died. She felt like she should be sadder, on the floor in a puddle of tears. Instead, she just felt a dull ache. But certainly the death of one's father should illicit tears, should it not? Not for Lilit. She had already lost one parent, this was just the second time around.

And then there was the matter of Dylan, or whatever her name was. Dylan, her smile shining brighter than a Turkish sun. Dylan, with the eyes that fascinated Lilit, drew her in. She couldn't quite tell if Dylan's eyes were purple, blue, or grey… Only one way to find out; get closer, lean in-Lilit shook her head and took deep breaths, trying to empty her mind the way Nene had taught her. Lilit had never felt this awful attraction to anyone before. It used to be that the only thoughts on her mind were of killing, fighting, and being as stealthy as possible. She was so sure of what she wanted in life. But now, well, now she wasn't so sure. And she hated to admit it, but it frightened her, just a little bit.