Richelle Mead

“Feminist,” he said, clearly amused. “Next you’ll be telling us you hate men.”She gave him a blank look. “I only hate stupid men who don’t actually understand what ‘feminist’ means.”He laughed. “You run into a lot of men like that?”“All the time.”“Really?”“Even as we speak, Nick.”“Oh no she didn’t,” said Peter. I groaned.”

“And you work for that demon, right? The one who looks like Matthew Broderick?”“John Cusack,” I corrected. “He looks like John Cusack.”“Whatever.”

“This is a, uh, friendship ring right?”“Yeah, don’t worry. If I propose, you’ll know it. For one thing, I’ll be hyperventilating.” A sly smile—surprisingly sexy—turned up his lips. “And it’ll be a ruby.”“Rubies? No diamonds? Too expensive for the old writer’s salary, huh?”He made a disparaging grunt at that. “No, I just think diamonds are common, that’s all. If I get married, it’ll be because something uncommon is occurring. Besides, you wear a lot of red, right? I know how important it is for your accessories to match.”

“I’m a succubus.”He shook his head. “No, you aren’t.”“Yes, I am.”“You aren’t.”I was a bit surprised to be having this conversation. “I am too.”“No. Succubi are flame-eyed and bat-winged. Everyone knows that. They don’t wear jeans and sweaters.”

“You should know better.ʺʺIʹve never known better,ʺ he countered. ʺYou should know that.”

“Ooh. Top secret angel business, huh? What’re you going to do? Dance on a pinhead? Lobby for National Cute Puppy Day?”

“What kind of sick bastard burns down a Christmas tree?”Hugh and I exchanged glances. “That’s an excellent question,” I said dryly.Peter looked startled. “Was it you?” he asked Hugh.“No,” said the imp. “It was Carter.”“Your Christmas tree was burned down by an angel?” asked Cody.“Yup. The irony isn’t lost on me”

“Seth was a wonderful kisser. He gave the kind of kisses that melted into your mouth and filled you with sweetness. They were like cotton candy.”

“John Cusack is standing over there.”I followed his incredulous gaze to where a man very like Mr. Cusack did indeed stand, smoking a cigarette as he leaned against a building. I sighed.“That’s not John Cusack. That’s Jerome.”“Seriously?”“Yup. I told you he looked like John Cusack.”“Keyword: looked. That guy doesn’t look like him. That guy is him.”

“We try to do what's right, or rather what other say is right. But sometimes, when that goes against who we are...you have to choose.”

“Kill me, Doug. Just kill me now. Put me out of my misery.”“Christ, Kincaid, what did you say to him?” murmured Doug.“Well,” I told Doug, “I ripped on his fans and on how long it takes for his books to come out.”Doug stared at me, his expectations exceeded.“Then I said—not knowing who he was—that I’d be Seth Mortensen’s love slave in exchange for advanced copies of his books.”

“It’s important to keep up appearances with books,” I explained. “Image goes a long way in this business.”He dared a look over at me, still nervous but steadily recovering his composure. “I go more for content.”"Really?” I repositioned slightly so that we were touching again, the soft flannel of his shirt brushing my bare skin. “Because I could have sworn a moment ago you were pretty caught up in outside appearance.”His eyes shifted down again, but I could see a smile curving his lips. “Well. Some things are so striking, they can’t help but draw attention to themselves.”"And doesn’t that make you curious about what’s inside?”"Mostly it makes me want to get you some advanced copies.”Advanced copies? What did he—?"Seth? Seth, where—ah, there you are.” Paige turned down our aisle, Doug following behind. She brightened when she saw me, and I felt my stomach sink out of me and hit the floor with a thud as I put two and two together. No. No. It couldn’t be—"Ah, Georgina. I see you’ve already met Seth Mortensen.”

“Look, don’t get me wrong. I worship the ground this guy walks on. I’m excited to meet him tonight. I’m dying to meet him tonight. If he wanted to carry me off and make me his love slave, I’d do it, so long as I got advance copies of his books.”

“That's a dangerous look," said Dimitri, giving me a brief glance before returning his eyes to the road."What look?" I asked innocently."The one that says you just got some idea.""I didn't just get an idea. I got a great idea.”

“What have I done?" I whispered.Jill put her arm around me, but it was Dimitri who spoke."What you had to.”

“Boy is he pissed," said Adrian."Do you blame him?" asked Christian. "He just lost memerbship in the evil mastermind club. His brilliant plan fell apart, and now his daughter's missing when he thought she was somewhere safe."Adrian stayed pointedly silent.”

“This," Adrian said grandly, "is Blake Lazar.""It's nice to meet you," she said.Blake smile radiantly. "May I call you Vasilisa?""You can call me Lissa.""You can also," added Christian, "let go of her hand now.”

“Great," I said. "Another conference call. I have really got to start blocking your number.”

“I have it on good authority there's going to be a new 'gate' opening up soon over on the south side of the wall."The truth dawned on me. "Oh lord. You're the one who's been doling out C4.""You make it sound easy," he said with a frown. "That stuff's hard to get a hold of.”

“Cheaters, I thought.”

“You managed to get him a duster, but you couldn't find me a pair of jeans?”

“I opened my eyes and met his dark, earnest gaze. "It's okay," I said. "It's okay now. I'm here I'll always be here for you.”

“I don't believe in soul mates, not exactly. I think it's ridiculous to think there's only one person out there for us. What if your 'soul mate' lives in Zimbabwe? What if he dies young? I also think 'two souls becoming one' is ridiculous. You need to hold on to yourself. But I do believe in souls being in sync, souls that mirror each other.”

“There's a guy chasing me!" I called as I headed out the door.”

“Which is weird. But not the craziest thing I can think of Rose doing.ʺ I appreciated the support.”

“Theyʹre shooting at us,ʺ I said incredulously. ʺTheyʹre actually shooting at us!”

“Do you love him?”

“I want your opinion.ʺʺThat,ʺ Adrian said, ʺis not something I hear a lot.ʺ”

“I bet you never thought the hardest part of finding your ‘saviorʹ would be getting her mom to let her stay out past curfew.”

“I reached into my pocket and triumphantly flashed the CR-V keys Iʹd swiped when weʹd come back inside. ʺThe driver,ʺ I said.I DIDNʹT GET TO DRIVE.”

“Is it possible to specialize in more than one element?" She laughed and shook her head. "No. Too much power. No one could handle all that magic, not without losing her mind."Oh. Great.”

“Impossible situations are our specialty.”

“Get up guys. We’ve got a visit to pay.”“What are you talking about?”“I am not hanging out with Blake Lazar again.”

“Cool,” I said. “You can IM with the Council from campus. Maybe you can command people to do your homework.”

“What’s going on?” he demanded.“The usual, old man,” I replied cheerily. “Danger, insane plans... you know, the stuff that runs in our family.”

“Okay, so. You, Belikov, the Alchemist, Sonya Karp, Victor Dashkov, and Robert Doru are all hanging out in West Virginia together.”“No,” I said.“No?”“We’re, uh, not in West Virginia.”

“We cannot road trip to Paris.”

“What was love, really? Flowers, chocolate, and poetry? Or was it something else? Was it being able to finish someone's jokes? Was it having absolute faith that someone was there at your back? Was it knowing someone so well that they instantly understood why you did the things you did—and shared those same beliefs?”

“Adrian opened his mouth, undoubtedly ready with some inappropriate and mocking comment. Lissa gave him a sharp headshake that kept him quiet. "Aren't there any, I don't know, sleeveless options?"The saleswoman's eyes widened. "No one has ever worn straps to a funeral. It wouldn't be right.""What about shorts?" asked Adrian. "Are they okay if they're with a tie? Because that's what I was gonna go with."The woman looked horrified.”

“You've always been my equal, Roza.”

“Sorry,ʺ she said, her face shining with joy when she saw me. ʺShould have put a sock on the door. Didnʹt realize things were getting hot and heavy.ʺʺNo avoiding it,ʺ I said lightly, clasping Dimitriʹs hand. ʺThings are always hot with him around.ʺDimitri looked scandalized. Heʹd never held back when we were in bed together, but his private nature wouldnʹt let him even hint about such matters to others. It was mean, but I laughed and kissed his cheek.ʺOh, this is going to be fun,ʺ I said. ʺNow that everythingʹs out in the open.ʺʺYeah,ʺ he said. ʺI got a pretty ‘funʹ look from your father the other day.”

“Abe held my gaze a bit longer and then broke into an easy smile. ʺOf course, of course. This is a family gathering. A celebration. And look: hereʹs our newest member.ʺ Dimitri had joined us and wore black and white like my mother and me. He stood beside me, conspicuously not touching. ʺMr. Mazur,ʺ he said formally, nodding a greeting to both of them. ʺGuardian Hathaway.ʺ Dimitri was seven years older than me, but right then, facing my parents, he looked like he was sixteen and about to pick me up for a date. ʺAh, Belikov,ʺ said Abe, shaking Dimitriʹs hand. ʺIʹd been hoping weʹd run into each other. Iʹd really like to get to know you better. Maybe we can set aside some time to talk, learn more about life, love, et cetera. Do you like to hunt? You seem like a hunting man. Thatʹs what we should do sometime. I know a great spot in the woods. Far, far away. We could make a day of it. Iʹve certainly got a lot of questions Iʹd like to ask you. A lot of things Iʹd like to tell you too.ʺ I shot a panicked look at my mother, silently begging her to stop this. Abe had spent a good deal of time talking to Adrian when we dated, explaining in vivid and gruesome detail exactly how Abe expected his daughter to be treated. I did not want Abe taking Dimitri off alone into the wilderness, especially if firearms were involved. ʺActually,ʺ said my mom casually. ʺIʹd like to come along. I also have a number of questions—especially about when you two were back at St. Vladimirʹs.ʺ ʺDonʹt you guys have somewhere to be?ʺ I asked hastily. ʺWeʹre about to start.ʺ That, at least, was true. Nearly everyone was in formation, and the crowd was quieting. ʺOf course,ʺ said Abe. To my astonishment, he brushed a kiss over my forehead before stepping away. ʺIʹm glad youʹre back.ʺ Then, with a wink, he said to Dimitri: ʺLooking forward to our chat.ʺ ʺRun,ʺ I said when they were gone. ʺIf you slip out now, maybe they wonʹt notice. Go back to Siberia.""Actually," said Dimitri, "I'm pretty sure Abe would notice. Don't worry, Roza. I'm not afraid. I'll take whatever heat they give me over being with you. It's worth it.”

“I don’t belong to anyone. I make my own choices." "And you’re with Adrian," said Dimitri."But I was meant for you.”

“If you touch me," I said pleasantly, "I'll provide you with the ability to see if you can heal yourself. Then we'd see how bad ass you really are.”

“Fortunately for Dimitri, I had his back.”

“Everything Iʹd been taught about eluding someone came rushing back to my head. What I wanted to do more than anything was look around and see if I had a follower, but that would have definitely attracted attention.”

“They come first.”

“My life didnʹt need to be on the line for me to enjoy dessert.”

“How do you prove we exist? Maybe we don't.”

“I supposed if you were going to make a career of breaking laws, you might as well know them.”