“You're beautiful in battle," said Dimitri. His cold voice carried to me clearly, even above the roar of combat. "Like an avenging angel come to deliver the justice of heaven.""Funny," I said, shifting my hold on the stake. "That is kind of why I'm here.""Angels fall, Rose.”

“You're beautiful in battle. ... Like an avenging angel come to deliver the justice of heaven.""Funny. That is kind of why I'm here.""Angels fall, Rose.”

“Dimitri: "You're beautiful in battle. Like an avenging angel come to deliver the justice of heaven."Rose: "Funny. That is kind of why I'm here."Dimitri: "Angels fall, Rose.”

“Dimitri: "Why did you come here?"Rose: "Because you hit me on the head and dragged me here.”

“I'm glad you're better," he said. His mouth sounded like it was almost in my hair, just above my my ear. "When I saw you fall...""You thought, 'Wow, she's a loser.”

“So I suggested to Dimitri that maybe he should let me off this time. He laughed, and I was pretty sure it was at me and not with me.Rose Hathaway: "Why is that funny?”Dimitri Belikov: "Oh, You were serious.”Rose Hathaway: "Of course I was! Look, I've technically been awake for two days. Why do we have to start this training now? Let me go to bed, It's just one hour.”Dimitri Belikov: "How do you feel right now? After the training you've done so far?”Rose Hathaway: "I hurt like hell.”Dimitri Belikov: "You'll feel worse tomorrow.”Rose Hathaway: "So?”Dimitri Belikov: "So, better to jump in now while you still feel…not as bad.”Rose Hathaway: "What kind of logic is that?”

“No," Dimitri interrupted gently. He moved his face toward mine, our foreheads nearly touching. "It won't happen to you. You're too strong. You'll fight it, just like you did thistime.""I only did because you were here." He wrapped his arms around me, and I buried my face in his chest. "I can't do it by myself," I whispered."You can," he said. There was a tremulous note in his voice. "You're strong—you're so, so strong. It's why I love you.”