Kresley Cole

“Please put your penises away, gentlemen. Dinner is procured. By a woman.”

“And speaking of females, if I call you by one's name while my fangs are plunged deep in your neck, just run with it.”

“Torture?” she asked with a laugh. “My first piece of information I’ll divulge to you? I wouldn’t recommend trying to torture me. I dislike it and grow sulky under pincers. It’s a fault.”

“Hate Scars. I'm physically flawless-why can't everyone be? Everywhere Lothaire went, people stopped and stared. Of course, then they usually ran. Lothair Enemy of Old”

“She scrambled to her feet. She knew her sisters were eyeing her strangely, knew that what she was feeling was undisguised. Right then, she didn't care. She turned and ran for him. Bastian! Standing at the door, so tall and proud.When he saw her, his lips parted, then he absently palmed the center of his chest.As she hadn't slowed, he opened his arms - she knew what this meant - but she didn't hesitate to run into them, leaping up and latching onto him. They would have gone reeling if he weren't so strong. The Valkyrie who'd flown down the stairs at the marked lightning saw her. All around them, she heard gasps. One muttered, "She ran to his arms. I saw it.""Bastian, I missed you!" Kaderin whispered."God, I missed you, too," he murmured, clutching her.”

“Chase, I've tussled with vibrators stronger than your charge throwers.”

“Lemme guess," Regin said. "You had your introductory spiel all planned, but rational thought deserted you when you saw me stroll in braless.”

“Yeah, weirdly, our cell doesn't have laundry facilities. So I figured I'll wash undies at one time and outerwear at another, anyways keeping some cover for the cameras. I'm not shy, but frankly, I've had my limit of men chubbing themselves to videos of me. It's moved from simple idolatry to something more sinister." She sauntered over to his desk, hopping atop it, sitting on his papers. "A little to Caged Heat, you know?”

“For the record," she continued, "it's not my fault I came in here looking like Chesty LaRue. You caught me on laundry day, so I have no undergarments on. Though I will cop to a little extra spring in my step for your benefit.”

“First Emma. Now Thad. Regin was sick and tired of non-evil vampiric creatures messing with her millennium's worth of scathing animosity for their species...”

“Wow, look at this setup. NASA called. They want Houston back.”

“Natalya asked, "How'd you escape all the vampires out for your head?"In a monotone voice, Lothaire stated, "I'm that good.”

“Natalya's lips quirked. "You're glowing like a Lite-Brite.""Shut it, fairy.”

“When I get free, I believe I'll show you your spine. I'll hand it to you so casually, politely even, as if expecting you to remark upon it.”

“Oh my gods, when do you not sport wood? There are bathrooms in the back, so go burp the worm or whatever.--Regin”

“Look it Gollum, if you spring me, I’ll help you find your Precious.--Regin”

“Those swords are mine! Touch them and I’ll use ‘em to slice off your nut sack! For a coin purse!”

“I finally understand what a dickie-do is. Your gut does stick out more than your dickie do.--Regin”

“Regin to Fegley: "I finally understand what a dickie-do is. Your gut does stick out more than your dickie do.”

“Lothaire said, “I have a much better plan.”“Why help him?” Thad asked pointedly. “When you don’t help anybody else?”Lothaire exhaled ruefully. “Incurable romantic.”

“Nix and Lothaire:When the collar dropped to the ground, Lothaire rolled his head on his neck. But instead of disappearing immediately, he traced to stand mere feet from Nïx.A towering vampire with skin like marble and chillingly flawless features was staring down a petite Valkyrie with crazed eyes and a cryptic smile.The tension between the two was palpable. Even on the verge of flipping the fuck out, Regin couldn’t look away.“The Accession grinds on, does it not?” Lothaire said.“Just like old times.” Nïx winked. “Alas, Dorada will come for you once she rises again.”“I’ll be ready.” He narrowed his red eyes. “You’ve likely foreseen this moment. Tell me, are we to fight now? As in the past?”“You defy foresight, Lothaire.”“That’s only fair, Phenïx, since you’ve long defied insight.” Phenïx?Nïx canted her head. “What does your Endgame tell you?”“That white queen will never take black king.” He gave her a formal bow. “Until our next match.”“There won’t be a next match, vampire.”His brow creased into a frown, the Enemy of Old disappeared.”

“Nix to Declan:Begin transcript—Testing. Hello, hellooo, anybody out there? Check, check, one, two. Soft pee. Puh, puh. Resonance! Sooooooft pee. Alpha bravo disco tango duck.This is Nïx! I’m the Ever-Knowing One, a goddess incandescent, incomparable, and irresistible. But enough about what you think of me. It’s a beautiful day in New Orleans. The wind is out of the east at a steady five knots and clouds look like rabbits … But enough about what you think of me!Now, down to business—Squirrel!Where was I? [Long pause] Why am I in Regin’s car? Bertil, you crawl right back out of that bong this minute!Oh, I remember! I am hereby laying down this track for Magister Declan Chase. If you are a mortal of the recorder peon class, know that Dekko and I go waaaaay back, and he’ll go berserk (snicker snicker) if he doesn’t receive this transmittal. …Chase, riddle me this: what’s beautiful but monstrous, long of tooth but sharp of tooth and soft of mind, and can never ever tell a lie?That’s right. The Enemy of Old can be very useful to you. So use him already.P.S. Your middle name’s about to be spelled r-e-g-r-e-t.And with that, I must bid you adieu. Don’t worry, we’ll catch up very soon. …[Muffled] Who’s mummy’s wittle echolocator? That’s right—you are!—End transcript”

“When they passed the centaur king’s cell, Volós pointed at Regin and slid his forefinger across his throat.She replied, “Hey, didn’t I see you in a donkey show down in Tijuana? No? You’ve got a twin then—”

“When his thumb hovered over the red button, she stared at him aghast. “You’re truly going to … torture me?”He cast her a puzzled look. “Why wouldn’t I torture you?”Because you used to love me, used to cherish me. “I thought we had a moment yesterday? Didn’t you like seeing me in lingerie?”In a monotone voice, he said, “Why did the charge throwers have no ill effect on you?”He’s truly going to do it? Then fuck him. DEFCON. “Chase, I’ve tussled with vibrators stronger than your charge throwers.”No reaction. “You consumed energy. And channeled it at will. How?”All Valkyrie consumed it—they were each connected through a grid of mystical energy—but Regin was the only one she knew of who could radiate it through her body. She’d inherited the talent from her birth mother. “So how does one get started as a magister? College or trade school?”“I don’t have the time or patience for games. Now, tell me, why do you … glow?”“I touched a radioactive alien cock once.”He pressed the button.”

“Yo, beautiful. Come pop this collar off me.”Natalya hissed, “Are you mad?”“What’s she gonna do? Vivisect me? Imprison me? We’ve got a pact to fulfill,remember?” To Dorada, she cried, “Seriously, sweetheart, shake that mummified ass over here.”Regin kicked the glass. “Lemme the fuck out—”La Dorada swung her head around,peering at Regin with her one eye.“Okay. That’s freaky. Lookit, Gollum, if you spring me, I’ll help you find your Precious.”

“Your time's running out, Valkyrie." Fegley gave another wallop before he squeaked off. Regin narrowed her eyes, watching him till he was out of sight. "One day I'm going to make that little piggy cry all the way home.”

“When the warden appeared outside their cell, he ogled Regin's bared midriff. Gross. Whenever men leered at her, Regin tended to leer back. She canted her head on the floor, turning it one way, then the other. "I finally understand what a dickie-do is. Your gut does stick out more than your dickie do.”

“Can’t hear… call back… good luck…”“Nïx, I know you’re faking the static.” She could picture her sister blowing into her fist directly at the receiver. The static abruptly stopped. “Why?”“It seemed less rude than the alternative.”“What’s that?”Click.”

“I'd wear his corsage to an orgy, any day!”

“She'd never seen a monster like that before, had never heard of one in all the Lore. When she grappled with the question of what it was, her sharply honed scientifical mind deduced one answer: manbearpig.”

“He'd swiftly collected those monsters' heads, tying them together with a piece of the rope she'd hoped never to see again, then strung them over his shoulder. Periodically, he offered his catch to her."No, no, I have a pair just like them at home," she'd said. "I would just regift them.”

“Ah, but she was a pastel wearer. She was forever dead to Sabine.”

“Wroth! Don’t do this!”“Five years of hell,” he sneered, palming her ass roughly. “You deserve to be fucked till you can’t walk.”

“I’ll begin with the most basic. What are you?”“Pussy Cat Doll?” she asked, immediately doing a slow headshake at his look. “Judge, jury and executioner.” He scowled. Her eyes lit up. “Transient! What? Really. No? Babe in Toyland?”

“How old are you?”“Physiologically, I’m twenty-five. Chronologically, I’m…not.”

“What’s your name?”“What do you want it to be?”“Are you a vampire?”“Not the last time I checked.”

“You’ll strip in front of a vampire when you don’t even know his name?”“You’re right! So what’s your name?”“My answer will be as forthcoming as yours. What do you want it to be?”“Some kind of name that fits a battle-scarred, overgrown vampire warlord.”

“Wolfy, is it? And what do you know about my turning?" "I asked around when I figured out I was your... mate." He stood, crossing to her. "Well, let's hear it." "Basically, you'll lose your mind, turning animalistic, hunting me down until you claim me repeatedly, biting my neck and marking me as your possession. Nothing will stop you- no cage can hold you. Did I miss anything? "Aye, Lousha." His gaze raked over her and his voice deepened. "The fact that you're going to like it.”

“Wroth, darling,” she purred, smiling so sweetly. “I can’t wait for the next time I get to put my mouth on you.” In an instant the smile faded and she snapped her teeth and yanked her head back as if she was chewing something free.”

“He swallowed. “Have you no modesty?” Never in his life had he encountered a female so quick to be naked. Of course, he’d never in his life encountered a female who should so utterly be naked at any chance.”

“This is what it's all been about with you," he said in an even tone. "All the fear, all the running. The nightmares." When she nodded, he said, "You called him the devil.""He is." What are you thinking, Scot?"But you... married him?"MacRieve's disgusted with me. "Basically? Yes.""Ceremony and everything?"She swallowed. "He tricked me into it. I-I was only sixteen."A muscle ticked in his cheek and his irises grew pale. "Then know this..."She stopped breathing."Lass, I'm about to make you a widow--”

“...when a man like Ethan finally learns to love, it's forever.~ Fiona MacCarrick ~”

“Aingeal, there is only one thing on my body that's ten inches long, and if you'll recall, the scar is no' it.”

“God give me anything but a good man's pity.”

“I had just heard tales that the Valkyrie were large warriors, akin to Amazons.”“If you’re the sole survivor of an army attacked by us, are you going to say we had our asses handed to us by petite, nubile females, or by she-monsters who can bench Buicks?”

“Hey Lucia, Pay up, suckah, Emma got dental with some dude.”

“Never run from one such as me, female. You will no’ get away - and we like it.”

“When he watched her sleeping, he often thought, My heart lies vulnerable outside my chest.”

“Now, undress for me and let me see what’s mine.”

“Go tae your hands again…let me give it tae you. Lachlain MacRieve”