“Unfortunately, diplomacy was a dance I needed to learn.”

“Before he turned away, I asked, 'What do you need?''I need you. I need to give you a proper kiss. I need you to be my mate.”

“Valek's thoughts returned to Yelena. An icy finger of loneliness touched the emptiness inside him. She was in Sitia, where she needed to be to learn about her magical powers, but she had taken his heart with her.”

“I hate a mystery. I would have let the identity of the Commander’s successor remain a secret, as I have for fifteen years, but tonight’s opportunity was too tempting. With eight drunken Generals sleeping it off, I could have danced on their beds without waking them."- Valek”

“He made a weak attempt to look innocent, but I knew better. 'Should I guess how many concealed weapons you have or should I strip search you?''A strip search is the only way to be absolutely certain.' Valek's deep blue eyes danced with delight.”

“I gave him a bored look. I had been threatened many times before and had learned that the men who didn’t make verbal threats were the most dangerous.”

“Your path is clear,” said Moon Man. “You need to find it.”And the best way to find something you had lost was to return to the last place you remembered having it. In my case, I needed to start at the very beginning.”