“My legs were on fire. All of me was burning and my back was a solid bar of pain. But it didn't matter.What mattered was Graved next to me, also rubbing my back and laughing like he'd just found Christmas in his pants.”

“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.”

“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.”

“Sonofabitch answer me!" My voice bounced off the walls, made the whole room whirls around me. My blood pounded in my ears. Adreline poured through my blood, copper winding me tighter and tighter."YES!" he screamed back "yes. i am a fucking virgin, don't shoot me goddammit fucking please!”

“Amazingly, he smiled at me. "You're bossy." His pupils were still huge, but a little color had begun to come back into his face, especially along his cheekbones. "I like bossy chicks.”

“I rubbed at my temple, where the zit was gone. It still hurt a little , though, deep under the skin. I hate those zits that burrow underground. You think they've vanished, but no, they just barricade themselves right next to the bone and hurt.”

“Okay," I began. "You’re too old for me. You’re scary. It’s creepy that you were so all over my mom and now you’re all over me.”