“It was nice to see him angry with someone other than me.”

“I was beginning to see serious drawbacks to this loyalty thing.”

“I wished for my fairy godmother, the good witch of the north, or some other bitch with a wand.”

“Anything else?” “Yes, a shower.” “I beg your pardon?” Pushing him back out the door, I rolled my eyes toward the ceiling. “I’m a vampire, James, not a self-cleaning oven,”

“You cannot leave me. The world would never survive my wrath.”

“We’ll find a way,” I whispered. “I always do.”Danaus leaned forward and brushed a kiss against my temple, sending a wave of peace deepinto the marrow of my bones, helping to ease some of the pain. “And then we’ll kill each other asGod intended.”

“I have doubts, but I'm willing to try. It's the best I can offer. Will you try? I need you, Mira. Try for me.”