“I never had trouble eating or sleeping when I thought of her in danger. I didn't want to tear my heart out when she looked sad. I'm tainted, I know as much. Just let me stay near you, Dru. Please." - Christophe”

“Anything for you, Dru. And I mean it. Now, be quiet and let me concentrate.”

“Graves leaned forward, eyeing me. "Hey, Dru. You were french-kissing a winged snake. creeptastic.""I was stealing her breath, imbecile. go get a towel." christophe shoved him, and graves shoved back.”

“No,” he agreed. “You’re not. She never caused me this agony.”What could I say to that? The way he was looking at me was making my head feel funny. Was making me feel funny and not just in that oh God I just almost died way.Christophe leaned in. His mouth was a mere centimetres from me. “She never made me think I would die of heart failure. She never, never made me fear for her this way.”

“My voice wouldn't work right. I made a tiny nod instead, because - how's this for weird? - I didn't want him to let go of me. He'd pulled back a little, with just his lower half, and I was afraid the scorch in my cheeks would set fire to the rest of me, because I had an idea why. Wow. Oh, wow.”

“If I need a reason now, Dru, it will have to be you.”

“Dru? Don't leave wihtout me."What could I say to that? I said the only thing I could. "I promise.”