“I plan to keep you, from every­one, for as long as I’m alive. That includes Puck, the false king, and any one else who would take you away.” One corner of his mouth quirked, as I struggled to catch my breath under his powerful scrutiny. “I guess I should’ve warned you that I have a slight possessive streak.”

“His forehead bumped softly against mine, his brilliant silver gaze searing into me. “I plan to keep you, from everyone, for as long as I’m alive. That includes Puck, the false king, and anyone else who would take you away.” One corner of his mouth quirked, as I struggled to catch my breath under his powerful scrutiny. “I guess I should’ve warned you that I have a slight possessive streak.”

“I’ve seen thousands of mortal girls,” he said softly, “morethan you could ever count, from all corners of your world. To me, they’re all the same.They see only this outer shell, not who I reallyam, beneath. You have. You’ve seen me without the glamour and the illusions, even the ones Ishow my family, the farce I maintain just to survive. You’ve seen who I really am, and yet,you’re still here. You’re here,and the only dance I want is this one.""For better or worse, I’m afraid you’re stuck with me now.""I plan to keep you, from everyone, for as long asI’m alive. That includes Puck, the false king, and anyone else who would take youaway. I guess I should’ve warned you that I have a slight possessivestreak."“My name is Ashallyn’darkmyr Tallyn, third son of the Unseelie Court. Let it be known—from this day forth, I vow to protect Meghan Chase,daughter of the Summer King, with my sword, my honor, and my life. Her desires aremine. Her wishes are mine. Should even the world stand against her, my blade will be ather side. And should it fail to protect her, let my own existence be forfeit. This I swear,on my honor, my True Name, and my life. From this day on…I am yours.”“My life…everything I am…belongs to you.”“I will always be your knight, Meghan Chase. And I swear, if there is a way for us to be together, I will find it. No matter how long it takes. If I have to chase your soul to the ends of eternity, I won’t stop until I find you, I promise.”

“I love you," she said wretchedly. “And if I were well, no power on earth could keep me away from you. If I were well, I would take you to my bed, and I would show you as much passion as any woman could.”

“If you were mine,” he murmured low under his breath, “I would walk through the fires of hell itself to keep you away from a man like me.”

“You make terrible, terrible plans." "Hey, " I protested. "One of my plans caught you didn't it?" "Yeah, but you meant to catch Sean." He took his hand off my shoulder. I waved his concerns away, along with a cloud of gnats that had found us in the forest. "You're getting lost in the details. Keep the big picture in mind.”