“Whether you like it or not, we are your blood.""Half my blood.""Aye," agreed the marquess, sober. "Although 'twould seem you've gotten the better half by far. All beauty, none of the beast."She blinked at that, crossed her arms. "How charming! Had you planned that for long?""Only since this morning." He shrugged, unabashed. "I'll do better in London.""Please, don't bother.""I'm afraid I cant help myself. I'm charming by nature.”

“Lia: "You've changed your mind about wanting to marry me. You're afraid I'll burn down your home. Embarrass you in front of all the other city brutes."Zane: "I'm afraid," he said gently, "that you will burn down my heart.”

“But this man...this powerful, lovely man was not afraid of her. He was also a beast, and an earl, which seemed to be something like a prince in this country, and he was not afraid. And he was tender, and he was strong, and he was drakon.”

“You snore.” “I don’t!”“Only a little. Very ladylike snores. I found them charming.”

“Trust you? Rue--trust you? You counterfeited your own death rather than wed me. You told me you'd rather die than stay in Darkfrith. I can't--I don't know how to fix that. I don't know how to mend it. Tell me." He took a step toward her. "Tell me, and I'll do it.”

“Lia, all that I am is what I do. I'm not meant for a tame sort of life, to dwell in bucolic splendor. I'm a city rat. I ache for it. I was made for it. And I wouldn't expect you to live as I do. I wouldn't want that for you. But its all I have to offer.""Then--I accept."He brought a hand to his forehead and began to laugh. "Its like being snared in a sugartrap. You wont listen.”

“I didn't ask you to catch me!""You're so delightful when you're irrational. Of course I'm going to catch you." He slid a hand behind her nape and kissed her again. "It's what I do.”