“What did you drop?""Nothing. Stand aside, Empress.""So you were hiding."He set his jaw, and I noticed his face was freshly shaved. It made his skin look soft."I've places to be," he growled. "So if you don't step outta my way, I will move your imperial figure myself.”

“I don't really know. I've never rescued a girl I love from the Furies before." He looked alarmed as he noticed my eyes were filling with tears. "Don't cry." "How can I not?" I asked him. "You just said you love me.""Why else did you think all of this was happening?" He set the book aside to wrap his arms around me. "The Furies wouldn't be trying to kill you if I didn't love you.”

“Just so you know, I.."He stopped.Her heart began to race at the softness of his expression. True love declaration? That would go so far to easing the pain of his treachery "You what?"He gritted his jaw and shook his head. "Nothing" He stepped away, grabbed her shoes, and handed them to her.Fantastic. She'd wanted an I'll Love You Forever, My Darling moment, and she'd gotten footwear. Sigh.”

“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.”

“You need to shave,” I said to wipe that gooey love struck look off his face. I didn’t need my dad to kill him. Caeden grinned and rubbed his stubbly chin. “But you love my scruff,” he said and rubbed his jaw against my face to drive home the point.”

“How did you sleep?” A wolfish grin spread across his mouth. “I’m not sure I slept. I’m exhausted.” “I figured you would be. You were a nympho last night.” He stood and dropped the towel that was gracefully hiding his…”