“I cannot kill him, she muttered to herself. I cannot kill him. I promised Bianka I'd stop at ten bodies a day, and I've already surpassed my quota for the fifth day in a row. I cannot kill him.”

“Bianka," he said, his patience clearly waning. "This is not a game. Do not make me bind you to my bed.""Ohhh, now that I like. Sounds kinky." She darted around him running her fingertips over his cheek, his neck. "You're as soft as a baby."He sucked in a breath, stiffened. "Bianka.""But better equipped.""Bianka!"She patted his butt. "Yes?”

“I have to know""What? What do you have to know?""What you taste like." Another step.What happens when you know?" she rasped."I stop wondering. Stop dreaming of you every night, thinking of you every minute of every day." Another step closer. "I think you wonder, too. I think you dream of me and wonder. You hate yourself for it. You hate me for it, but you cannot stop.”

“He gulped. "No, we aren't done chatting. Why aren't you afraid of dying?""Everything and everyone has an end," she said. "I mean, you're going to be killed soon and though I loathe the thought, you don't see me crying about that, either. I know what will happen, and I accept what cannot be changed. I'm trying to live while I can. While WE can. Dwelling on the bad is what destroys all hints of joy.”

“I'd stood my ground against him. I wasn't going to jump when he said jump. I was more likely to give him the finger.”

“I would have been here sooner but Lysander held me prisoner in our cloud," Bianka said with a grin. "He wouldn't relent until Sabin gave the ok. Which I still don't understand and will continue to punish him for until he spills. Secrets or guts, I don't care which.”

“Kill me then. A true death. Please. You can't leave me like this.""Like This" had been broken, bloody and violated in unspeakable ways. "Anything but that. You'll recover. One day you will even be happy again.""I don't want to recover. I want to cease to exist, now and forever. That's the only way to end my torment.”