R'cas was shocked - she'd kissed him!  Rue'na had kissed him!  All the turbulent emotions he was feeling now threatened to spill out.<br/><br/><em>I will not cry...I will not cry...dragon riders don't cry.</em><br/><br/>"Rue'na..."<br/><br/>He continued, his voice now threatening to devolve from speech into sobs.<br/><br/>"Tell me you like me.  Tell me you want me.  Tell me you love me..."<br/><br/>"...but don't tell me if it's a lie."