Kalayna Price

“It said something about my life when a heavily armed official accused me of causing magical havoc and i had to wonder which incident she meant.”

“You can't disbelieve the truth away. You can cover the truth, you can create something new, but either way you have to believe what you are creating.”

“Death watched me, amusement once again lifting to his dark eyes. Unlike me with my bedraggled clothes and knotted hair, he looked good in the morning light streaming into my apartment. Okay, actually, he looked exactly the same as when I’d first seen him when I was five years old, but recently I’d come to appreciate the way his black T-shirt pulled tight over the expanse of his shoulders and his faded jeans hugged his ass. Not that I was looking, of course. I mean, he was Death.”

“I own a bed.” “We’ll use the bed next time.”

“Alexis, I love you.”

“Hello to you too,” he said, amusement lacing his voice.”

“The single page of text was signed by the Winter Queen's official seal. I reread it three times."You can't be serious. She's making you move in with me?”

“This is so sweet I’m going to end up diabetic.”

“After the waitress left, I rounded on him. “what, can’t I eat food?”“you could. Probably five or six whole bites before you had to purge it. your digestive track has been altered. Pretend to drink your hot chocolate.”I slouched lower in the booth, my arms over my chest. “but I really like food. It’s the best part about being here in this world.”

“Are you here to kill me?" The question startled her, but with the day I was having, I thought it was justified.”

“I blinked at the haul. "Are you planning to go to war? Sure you don't want to pack an assault riffle as well?"He looked up from the bag. "You have met yourself, right?""So should I get a gun too?""I'd fear the day.”

“There was something about succeeding at what you tried, especially when people needed your talent. Okay, so that talent happened to be illegal breaking and entering, but hey, there wasn't much I was good at, so success felt good nonetheless.”

“I have seen your disregard for other's hearts. I would not choose to trust you with mine”

“His shoulders sagged as he stepped back. Then a half smile made the edge of his lips crook. " You're mad at me.""And that's amusing because?"The half smile spread into a lopsideed grin, and he stood up straighter. "You wouldn't be mad if you didn't care. I'm onto you, Alexis."Oh, that insufferable, arrogant--”

“He was secretive, bossy, and regularly insufferable. He had also saved my life a couple of times. And he looked really good in my kitchen.”

“Well,” he said, “I’m glad to see you’re finally taking some precautions, but you weren’t this tense when I dropped you off last night.” “But you were this annoying. At least one of us is consistent.”

“Andrews threw the convertible in gear, and I trailed a hand over the bright red finish. Probably fresh off the lot—unlike my little hatchback, which had been factory assembled in the same decade witches came out of the broom closet.”

“Ms. Craft, while I’m sure your charming personality endears you to many people, is there anyone you know who would want to kill you?”

“If you're going to carry a dagger, you need to learn to use it."I frowned at him. "I know how to use it. I stick the pointy end in things I don't like.”

“No bit of tail ever comes between you and Prince Charming. He must have entranced you.""Prince Charming?" Falin asked, the question barely a whisper. "What did you think PC stood for? Politically Correct?”

“Watch the dog!” His hands actually hesitated, and I think he realized for the first time that PC was there. The dog’s presence seemed to stump him. What, he’s never seen a dog in a purse before? That or he thought PC was some sort of hairless rat—that happened.”

“Don't you dare throw out my toothbrush.”

“I barely noticed. I was still reeling from the sight of Falin. Of him standing beside her. Of him touching her. My mouth went dry, and even Malik's soulful voice faded to a buzz in my ears. Something in my chest had frozen. Maybe it was my lungs, because I couldn't seem to breathe. He's with her. And of course, he was. Look at her.”

“I'm not just a warm body.”

“Once in a lifetime. Even sated in the aftermath of the best orgasm of my life, a twinge of sadness touched me. Don't be stupid, Alex: it's just tonight. We both know it's just tonight.”

“The rest are ruined. No fumbling drunk in my bed would top what I'd just felt.”

“You didn't save my life, you postponed my death. There's a difference.”

“Elizabeth's fingers slipped around my arm. She stepped forward, her fangs flashing. My breath caught, but not in fear.Damn Tiffany and her vampire-bite addiction. I shoved the reaction away just in time for Elizabeth's fangs to break skin.Warmth rushed up my arm, the blaze filling my body, my mind. On my other side, Tatius's hand on my arm was like a cool oasis. I groped for his fingers, locking mine around his, pressing the long side of my body along his, and the fire in my body calmed enough I could still see, still think.Cool.”