“Jeff, I have a problem.” “I’m glad you’ve finally realized I’m your answer, Merit.”

“You’re crude.” "I’m crude?”"You just offered to make me your whore.”"To be the Consort of a Master vampire is an honor, Initiate, not an insult.”"It’s an insult to me. I’m not going to be your—anyone’s—sexual outlet. When that . . . happens for me, when I meet him, I want partnership. Love. You don’t trust me enough for the former, and I’m not even sure you’re capable of the latter.”

“Please stop calling me that. You’re still officially the Master.”“Oh, I know,” Malik said. “But much like Merit, I find it amusing to irritate you.”As Malik walked down the hallway and around the corner, Ethan turned his pointed gaze on me.I shrugged innocently. “I can’t help it if I’m a trendsetter.”

“I’m not your father, you know.”It took me a moment to find words. “Excuse me?”“I’m capable of giving you a compliment and being completely sincere about it.”

“Seriously, I’m totally weirded out by the girly nature of this conversation. And yet, it’s kinda like you’re growing up. Do you think Judy Blume made a book about adolescent vampires? Are You There God, It’s Me, Merit?” Mallory snorted, obviously pleased with herself.”

“I wanted what most people wanted—love, companionship.I wanted someone to touch. I wanted someone to touch me back.I wanted someone to laugh with, someone who would laugh with me, laugh at me.I wanted someone who looked and sawme . Not my power, not my position.I wanted someone to say my name. To call out, “Merit,” when it was time to go, or when we arrived.Someone who wanted to say to someone else, with pride, “I’m here with her. With Merit.”I wanted all those things. Indivisibly.But I didn’t want them from Morgan.”

“Merit: “I am yours until you ban bacon, or otherwise as long as I can put up with you.”