“Lucas should've run out of there that instant. Instead he stared at me through the glass and slowly unfolded his hand opposite mine so that our hands were pressed againts the pane of glass, fingers to fingers, palm to palm. We each move closer, so that our faces were only inches apart. Even with the stained glass, window between us, it felt as intimate as any kiss we'd shared.”

“He frames my face with his hands as he says, "Tess. Only you could be brave enough to die with me. But I want you to live for me."We kiss, as desperate as though we were drowning. When our lips part, Alec says, "Forgive me.”

“Even if that were true, it wouldn't be irony," Lucas pointed out. "Irony is the contrast between what's said and what happens.”

“I didn’t tell him. He found out. Basically, he caught me coming inafter the last time you and I saw each other. But he won’t give us away,Lucas. He’s even willing to help us see each other, as long as we helphim with Charity.”“What, like, a fund-raiser or something?”I’d forgotten he didn’t know her name. “The vampire girl in Amherst.”“Wait—Charity? That’s her name? You were able to figure out whoshe is.” He smiled so proudly that all the tension of the moment instantlymelted. “I fell in love with a genius.”

“Every single day was just a box on the calendar that I could put a red X through; each one brought me closer to Lucas and to liberty.”

“There's one way. Only one. Mine." Balthazar stepped closer, using every inch he had on Lucas, who was tall but not that tall. "Charity is a person. The same as you, the same as me.""You and me aren't the same."Balthazar cocked his head. "Then let's say the same as Bianca. Will that make you listen?""Bianca's no killer! She didn't have a choice about what she is.""Guys, don't do this," I pleaded, but they paid no attention."A choice? You think we all get a choice?" Although Balthazar spoke softly, there was a roughness to his voice I'd never heard before. It sent chills down my spine. "Try being hunted down in the night. Try running as far and as fast as you can and finding out their faster. Try coming to in a stable, with your parents' dead bodies on the ground in front of you, your hands roped above your head and a dozen hungry vampires arguing with each other about who gets you next. See how much choice you have then."Lucas just stared at him. Obviously he'd never imagined anything like that; neither had I.Even more quietly, Balthazar continued, "Try watching your baby sister die, and then tell me that you wouldn't spend the rest of eternity trying to make up for it. When you've done all that, Lucas, then you can talk to me about choices. Until that time, tell me what I need to know and then shut your mouth.”

“Bianca Olivier- Hear me out. Would you eat a hamburger if there was any chance it could punch you in the face? Lucas Ross- How is a hamburger supposed to punch me in the face?”