“Well, Gascon, I'm going to miss your long blue hair. How on earth will I find you in a crowd now?”

“Instinctively, and against my better judgement, I pull her closer to me. She rests her head on my shoulder as if it is the most natural thing in all the worlds to do.But it's a mistake. I become aware of her heart beating, her lungs expanding with every breath, her skin beneath my touch.She moves, and her head slides to my chest. Shifting into sleep, she wraps her arm around my waist. Now I'm aware of my heart beating too, slowly, in sync with hers. I know I should push her away. But if my life depended on it, right now, that would be impossible.”

“For a moment Ethan simply stares. Before him is the monster of his nightmares: his sister's murderer, the beast who robbed him of his greatest love. How easy, how fulfilling would it be to take Marduk's life? But the arrow in Ethan's fingers slips to the ground. "No. even revenge is too great an honor for you."As the night falls and brings an end to this long day of darkness, Marduk inhales his last staggered breath and his body turns to stone.”

“Blood trickles from my throat, on to Kate's white nightgown. She screams at the sight. 'Jarrod, you're bleeding!''I'm all right, don't struggle I won't let it get to you.”

“He says, "I have loved you since the first moment I saw you. I wanted you then, and when I thought you didn't want me, I turned my love into hate.""Ethan..." Before I say another word his mouth comes down over mine and he kisses me.”

“Isabel sends her brother a look that could boil him in oil if she had that particular paranormal talent. A thought hits me: maybe she has. It will be fun to find out.”

“I push throughthe wind to the north-facing window and stand before it. 'I will bring her back!' I shout into the darkness.I do this because I know Rhauk will be listening.”