Richelle Mead

“Adrian sighed. "I knew you staying out of trouble was too good to be true.”

“If you don't have anything useful to offer, then get out of here and let us wait until hunger weakens Sonya." And by get out of here, I meant: foolishly think you're going to leave so that I can knock your heads together and drag you back to the guardians.”

“Just before the light completely vanished, I saw Dimitri's face join Lissa's. I wanted to smile. I decided then that if the two people I loved most were safe, I could leave this world. The dead could finally have me. And I'd fulfilled my purpose, right? To protect? I'd done it. I'd saved Lissa, just like I'd sworn I'd always do. I was dying in battle. No appointment books for me. Lissa's face shown with tears, and I hoped that mine could convey how much I loved her. With the last spark of life that I had left, I tried to speak, tried to let Dimitri know I loved him too and that he had to protect her now. I don't think he understood, but the words of the guardian mantra were my last conscious thought.They come first.”

“Victor smiled through the pain and the blood. "Of course you have. I used to think Belikov was the savage one, but it's really you, isn't it? You're the animal with no control, no higher reasoning except to fight and kill.”

“Dmitri was in my arms.”

“But once in a while . . . I don't know. I feel so close, Rose. So close to the edge. Like if I allow myself one small misstep, I'll plunge away and never come back. It's like I'll lose myself.”

“Life and death were so unpredictable. So close to each other. We existed moment to moment, never knowing who would be the next to leave this world.”

“Eh bien, je crois que si certaines personnes écrivent les histoires, d'autres les vivent.”

“C'est trop mignon. Je crois que je sens mes caries qui me travaillent.”

“Ah, well,ʺ said Abe, idly studying his fingertips. ʺI have it on good authority thereʹs going to be a new ‘gateʹ opening up soon over on the south side of the wall."The truth dawned on me. ʺOh lord. Youʹre the one whoʹs been doling out C4.ʺʺYou make it sound so easy,ʺ he said with a frown. ʺThat stuffʹs hard to get a hold of.”

“I had a few other things on my mind. Like if it was going to rain every time I got aroused. That was not cool. I guessed I could handle it so long as it rained other times as well. I didn’t want the connection to be so obvious. Hey, it’s raining! The queen must have gotten laid. Ooh…is that hail? Must have been into some kinky shit today.”

“Ian’s the black sheep.”“I thought I was the black sheep,” said Seth, sounding almost hurt.“No. You’re the unfocused artistic one. I’m the responsible one. Ian’s the wild, hedonistic one.”“What’s hedonistic?” asked Kendall.Her father considered. “It means you run up a lot of credit card bills you can’t pay, change jobs a lot, and have a lot of…lady friends.”

“Seth laughed when he saw me.“Hey,” I said, poking him with my foot, “be nice.”“I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen you look anything less than…” He paused, playing with word choice. “Well-planned.”“Why, you silver-tongued romantic devil. That is the look I usually go for. Other women go for sexy or chic or beautiful. But me? Well-planned all the way.”“You know what I mean. Besides, unplanned isn’t a bad look for you. Not bad at all.”His voice sounded deliciously low and dangerous, and something ignited between us as we held each other’s eyes.”

“Don't touch her.”

“Dimka, not you too.”

“Honestly, half the reason I like you is because you’re so...I don’t know. You like life.” He looked away from my eyes, amused as his thoughts spun, considering. “You’re fearless. Bold. Not afraid to enjoy yourself. You just go out there and do what you want. I like the whirlwind you exist in. I envy it. It’s funny, really.” He smiled. “I used to think I wanted someone exactly like me, but now I think I’d be bored to death with another version of myself. I’m surprised I don’t bore you sometimes.”I gaped. “Are you kidding? You’re the most interesting person I know. Aside from Hugh maybe. But then, he installs breast implants and buys souls. That’s a hard combination to beat. But he’s not nearly as cute.”

“Look who's calling the cauldron black.""Kettle. It’s a kettle. Get your metaphors right.""That wasn’t a metaphor. It was a, you know..." He stared off into space, blinking. "One of those things that’s symbolic of another thing. But isn’t the same thing. Just like it.""You mean a metaphor?""No! It’s like a story...like...a proverb! That’s it.""I’m pretty sure that wasn’t a proverb. Maybe it was an analogy.""I don’t think so.”

“My cigarettes and I are going outside. At least they show me respect.”

“Тhere isnʹt much I wouldnʹt do for you. Тhe stupider, the better.”

“The battle cry sort of gave you away. Try not to yell next time.”

“Sometimes talking to you is like talking to myself: pretty damned annoying.”

“I don't care," said Seth. "I would have done it. I would have sold my soul for you. You and me...I told you. Something's always going to keep us near each other...even if we aren't together.”

“Well...what did you promise exactly? Not to tell anyone that Eric Dragomir had a mistress and baby?"Sonya nodded."And not to tell who they were?"Sonya nodded again.Sydney gave Sonya the warmest, friendliest smile i'd ever seen on the Alchemist. "Did you promise not to tell anyone where they are?" Sonya nodded, and Sydney's smile faltered a little. Then her eyes lit up. "Did you promise not to LEAD anyone to where they are?”

“After almost exactly three hours, we rolled into a small hole of a town that had one traffic light and a resturant simply marked DINER. There hadn't been any traffic on the road for over an hour, though, which was really the most important thing. We hadn't been followed.Sydney drove us to a building with a sign that read MOTEL. Apparently this town liked to stick to the basics when it came to names. I wouldn't be surprised if it was actually just called TOWN.”

“She probably gave up and started playing Minesweeper."[...]We reached the cafe and found Sydney bent over her laptop, with a barely eaten Danish and what was probably her fourth cup of coffee. We slid into seats beside her."How's it—hey! You ARE playing Minesweeper!”

“I can be a good friend, or a bad enemy.”

“Frustration filled his features. "Rose I've done a lot of bad things, most of which I can never fix or find redemption for. My only choice now, if I want to reclaim my life, is to go forward, stopping evil and doing what's right. And what is NOT right is taking a woman from another man, a man I like and respect. I'll steal cars. I'll break into houses. But there are lines I WILL not cross, no matter what I—”

“Knowing I wasn't going anywhere, I frantically searched for some way to help her. A dark figure caught my eye. "Christian!" I yelled. He'd been staring at Lissa's retreating figure but glanced up at the sound of his name.One of my escorts shushed me and took my arm. "Be quiet."I ignored her. "Go after her," I called to Christian. "Hurry."He just sat there, and I suppressed a groan."Go, you idiot!"My guardians snapped at me to be quiet again, but something inside of Christian woke up. Springing up from his lounging position, he tore off in the direction Lissa had traveled.”

“I'd have to kill Dimitri for real this time and lose any chance I might have to bring back my prince. Damn. It's a good thing I work well under pressure.”

“Yeah, that’s exactly what I want. To help my girlfriend get her old boyfriend back.”

“I don't balance you like you need.""What the hell does that mean?" he exclaimed.My heart ached for him, and I was so sorry for what I'd done...but this was the truth of it all. "The fact that you have to ask says it all. When you find that person...you'll know.”

“I think we got in more trouble with Aunt Tasha,ʺ said Christian. ʺShe was kind of pissed off that we didnʹt tell her what was going on. I think she probably wanted to blow up the statues herself.”

“Roza, my self-control is ten times stronger than yours."I opened my eyes, shifting to look into his. I brushed his hair back and smiled, certain my heart would expand and expand until there was nothing left of me. "Oh yeah? That's not the impression I just got.""Wait until next time," he warned. "I'll do things that'll make you lose control within seconds.”

“Life, unfortunately, doesn't seem to care what we want.”

“I should go," I said thickly. "Let me know when you want to start practice again. And thanks for...talking."I started to turn; then I heard him say abruptly, "No."I glanced back. "What?"He held my gaze, and something warm and wonderful and powerful shot between us."No," he repeated. "I told her no.""I..." I shut my mouth before my jaw hit the floor. "But...why? That was a once-in-a-lifetime thing. You could have had a baby. And she...she was, you know, into you..."The ghost of a smile flickered on his face. "Yes, she was. Is. And that's why I had to say no. I couldn't return that...couldn't give her what she wanted. Not when..." He took a few steps toward me. "Not when my heart is somewhere else.”

“Exactly," said Maddie. "What’s your favorite flavor?""I bet I can guess," said Simone. "Chocolate.""Strawberry," said Maddie.Losers. It was vanilla."Vanilla,” said Seth.”

“Okay. Now you have to move your arms and legs.”“I know how to make a snow angel.” “Then do it! Otherwise, you’re more like a chalk outline at a police crime scene.”

“What, are you doing? Aside from getting your sandwich cold.""I’m making a snow angel. Don’t you know what that is?""Yes, I know. But why? You must be freezing.""Not so much, actually. My face is a little, I guess.”

“Dmitri was at a total loss. It was a common reaction for people when I agreed to do something reasonable.”

“It was the most convulted, ridiculous piece of logic I'd heard in awhile... It was something I would have come up with.”

“Find one thing. One thing that's beautiful. Anything. Anything that shows you you're not one of them." His eyes were back on me studying my face silently. Panic raced through me. It wasn't working. I couldn't do this. We were going to have to get out of here, regardless of whatever state he was in. I knew he'd leave, too. If i had learned anything, it was that Dimitri's warrior instincts were still working. If I said danger was coming, he would respond instantly, no matter the self-torment he felt. I didn't want him to leave in despair. I wanted him to leave here one step closer to being the man I knew he could be. I wanted him to have one less nightmare.It was beyond my abilities, though. I was no therapist. I was about to tell him we had to get out of there, about to make his soldier reflexes kick in, when he suddenly spoke. His voice was barley a whisper. "Your hair." "What?" for a second, I wondered if it was on fire or somthing. I touched a stray lock. No, nothing was wrong exept that it was a mess. I'd bound it up for battle to prevent the strgoi from using it as a handhold, like Angeline had. Much of it had come undone in the struggle, though."Your hair," repeated Dimitri. His eyes were wide, almost awestruck. "your hair is beautiful.”

“Was this all part of your plan as my lawyer? I don't recall explosive escapes being part of the legal training.""Well, I'm sure it wasn't part of Damon Taru's legal training.”

“Dad told Uncle Seth not to screw things up,” she informed me as we washed our hands. “He said even if Uncle Seth is famous, him getting a woman like you defies belief.”I laughed and smoothed down the skirt of my dress. “I don’t know about that. I don’t think your dad gives your uncle enough credit."Brandy gave me a sage look, worthy of someone much older. “Uncle Seth spent last Valentine’s Day at a library.”

“His eyes, I’d long since discovered, could be as eloquent and expressive as his pen. The messages they sent me now hardly seemed decent for a public setting.”

“What's with all the running, anyway? I mean, I realize the importance of stamina and all that, but shouldn't I be moving on to something with a little hitting? They're still killing me in group practice.”"Maybe you should hit harder.”

“Do you think that's, like, REAL bacon?" I whispered to Sydney and Dimitri. "And not like squirrel or something?""Looks real to me," said Dimitri."I'd say so too", said Sydney "Though, I guarantee it's from their own pigs and not a grocery store."Dimitri laughed at whatever expression crossed my face. "I always love seeing what worries you. Strigoi? No. Questionable food? Yes.”

“Why not the Bahamas? Or the Corn Palace?”

“Did you hotwire this car?" I then rephrased my question. "Did you STEAL this car?”

“I need you,ʺ said Lissa.ʺI hear that from women a lot,ʺ said Adrian.”

“Don't blame us," said my mother. "We didn't blow up half of Court, steal a dozen cars, call out a murderer in the middle of a crowd, or get our teenage friend crowned queen.""Actually," said Abe, "I did blow up half of Court.”