“Ara?"She jerked her face up. "Huh? Where were we?"But his expression had grown serious, the lesson forgotten. He interlaced his fingers and said, "We are bound.""Bound?"He collected a piece of rope, knotting it."Oh, you mean bound?"He gave a nod, then drew in the sand.An infinity symbol? "Clever demon, how did you know that...?"He was gazing at her with a question in his eyes."Bound forever?" And somehow she met his gaze and lied, "Yes, demon. Bound forever."As if to make her feel guiltier, he gathered her into his arms, cupping her face against his broad chest. His voice a deep rumble, he said, "Carrow is Malkom's."She wanted to sob."Yes?""Yes," she answered, wishing that it could be so simple between them. Demon meets girl. Girl might be falling for demon.”

“Everything between us is sick... twisted. And it doesn’t have to be.”“Shh, shh.” He rocked her in his arms. Never had he comforted another in such a manner. He was awkward with this as well.“I h-hate you s-so much.” She sobbed so hard her body quaked against him, her tears wetting his chest.“I know.”

“She scrambled to her feet. She knew her sisters were eyeing her strangely, knew that what she was feeling was undisguised. Right then, she didn't care. She turned and ran for him. Bastian! Standing at the door, so tall and proud.When he saw her, his lips parted, then he absently palmed the center of his chest.As she hadn't slowed, he opened his arms - she knew what this meant - but she didn't hesitate to run into them, leaping up and latching onto him. They would have gone reeling if he weren't so strong. The Valkyrie who'd flown down the stairs at the marked lightning saw her. All around them, she heard gasps. One muttered, "She ran to his arms. I saw it.""Bastian, I missed you!" Kaderin whispered."God, I missed you, too," he murmured, clutching her.”

“He stole credit for my research. And he was after the code I’m working on now."Cade went still, fury spiking through him. "Holly, I’m going to give you his throat for this.""Aw, you say the sweetest things, demon." She stood on tiptoe and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips.Deciding he’d kill Tim for her anyway, he relaxed and said, "I know how to play those heartstrings, yeah?"She unbuckled Cade’s belt. "I called him a fuckwit tosser.""That’s my girl." He stripped off her top, then his shirt. "Are you coming on to me to get back at him?""Probably." Down went his zipper."I’m okay with that.”

“She murmured, "You're unfinished.""Aye, precisely.""I need to go."When she moved to get up, he shoved her against his side and slapped her arse to keep her there. "You stay with me."She snapped, "What do you want from me, Chase?"He drew his head back in confusion. "I want everything. You're mine, Regin.”

“And he'd railed at her, his voice booming so loud the bed had seem to shake. "You canna do this - take my goddamned heart and then leave me! You think I will no' follow?" She knew he was constantly there, was aware of his movement and comprehended his words, but she couldn't seem to open her heavy eyelids or speak.At night, he would wrap his body around hers, keeping her warm, whispering against her hair, "You enjoy being contrary. Then prove them all wrong and get better." He'd clutched her hip, then balled his fist there.”

“Witch, he's not coming back," the demon Rydstrom told Mari. "Don't waste your time waiting for him."Cade asked Mari, "What did you do to the Lykae anyway?"She absently murmured, "I've killed him."Mari glanced away from the entrance when met with silence. "He won't regenerate from injuries," she explained. "Unless he returns to me to have it reversed, the hex will eventually destroy him."Tierney, who looked to be Tera's younger brother, said, "You made him mortal?"They all seemed shocked at her viciousness, except for Cade, who as far as she could tell from his demonic countenance, appeared admiring. "Remind me not to piss you off, witch," he said.”