“My thoughts are quiet, but not calm. There is a terror on the edge of the silence, a terror fed by my burning flesh and the stench of death.”

“My mind is quiet now. There is no fire or ash, no sulfur or shattering glass. Only silence, empty and cold.”

“She opens her eyes as the fury continues, pinning me with her glare. Her gaze reached into my soul as I spin the music back to the simple melody at its core—our melody. A moment of recognition washes over her, followed by regret, fear, terror. An entire kaleidoscope of emotions exists within a single heartbeat.”

“My thoughts war. Part of me needs to protect her; part of me wants something else. Something vile. Wrong.”

“Cass pulls from my embrace, her mind reaching into my heart. Pain, anger, confusion pass through her eyes. My pain. My anger. My confusion. She swallows hard. “Because?”“Because I traded it all, my heart, my memories, everything. For her.”

“My world slips away and I again taste vengeance on my tongue.”

“A hand in mine.. hot. Breath on my neck... sweet. The feel of lips on my own... forbidden.”