“Red-hot anger takes away a lot of the heartache.”

“The great thing about real life is that it belongs to you. You can make it up as you go along!”

“I closed my eyes and let the music take over, and when I opened them, Cole was watching me. As our eyes met, he didn't look away, and he didn't try to hide where his attention was.For some reason I was determined not to look away first, and before I knew it I'd gravitated to the stage. People turned to look at me,as if the momentary bond between us was visible,and I couldn't take the attention.I finally turned away.”

“I’ll tell Sean you said he was hot’…’I said he was a rat bastard with the potential to be hot!”

“That looks cozy," I said in a timid voice.He turned at the sound and-taking in my appearance-immediately spit hot chocolate all over."What?" I demanded.With an obvious effort to compose himself, he forced his lips into a frown and wiped his chin with the back of his hand. "Breathtaking."I raised an eyebrow,and his lips started to quiver, and then there was no stopping him. The laughter came in waves."Well,that's not exactly the reaction I was going for," I said."Isn't it?" he said, gasping for breath.I put my hand on my hip and tapped my foot as he inhaled deeply and rubbed his eyes with the palm of his hand. "Finished?" I asked.He shook his head. "I love you.""I'm sorry?""You heard me." He stood and walked toward me.I glanced down at my sweats,and then back at his face. "Did you not notice my getup?"He halved the distance between us. "Oh yeah. I noticed," he said,like it was the sexiest thing he'd ever seen. His lips curled up into a smile."Okay,so that's not the reaction I was going for either," I said,taking a small step backward as he closed the gap between us.He grabbed my hands in his and his grin disappeared. "Becks.I think I know what you're worried about,but I meant what I said.I love you. And I would never push you."My entire body turned red. "But don't you mythological higher beings-" I tried to remember how Jules had put it-"need...the...um..."Jack looked confused,and then he chuckled. "Please don't even try to finish that sentence.”

“Why are you here?" My voice sounded breathless.As if it should've been obvious, Cole said, "I came here to offer you eternal life.Again."I pushed him away from him. "I already made my choice.""Yes,but it's obviously the wrong choice. Return with me. To the Everneath. And we'll live in the High Court. And you won't be a battery in the Tunnels. You could be a queen.""The Everneath has a High Court?""Of course.It's where Osiris and Isis ruled.Hades and Persephone.Every realm in every dimension has people who give orders and people who take orders. And I'm tired of taking orders,Nick."I grimaced. "That has nothing to do with me."He paused and let out a little sigh. "Then I'm saying it wrong,beause it has everything to do with you. I want what Hades and Persephone had, and I can't do it without you.The only time the queen of the Everneath has been overthrown is when an Everliving has found his perfect match. I've spent my whole life-and it's a long one,trust me-looking for my perfect match,and it's you. I knew you were different from the first moment I met you.The first moment you placed your hands on mine.You remember?"I nodded. It had been the night we first met."Your cheeks turned red,and I was gone for you." He shook his head,and his lips quirked up in a smile. "I know you felt it too.The connection between us. It started even before the Feed."I looked away,because my cheeks were getting warm thinking about it, and I couldn't let him see it.Remembering that night was pointless. I was a different person now. "It doesn't matter what I felt then.I didn't know who you really were."I glanced up.He raised his eyebrows and said, "It wouldn't have made a difference."He held my gaze with eyes so intense I couldn't look away. He was probably right. From the moment we met, I had been drawn to him.At the time, nothing would've changed my decision to go with him.”

“I'm taking the whole. Damn. Thing. Down. Are you with me?”