I was sitting cross-legged in bed, trying without success to pretend I'd misunderstood the image I'd glimpsed. Yeah, right. Because Vlad had been between my legs looking for a set of keys he'd lost.

...love him enough to give him this, even if it's at the price of your pride." (Annette to Cat)

Why did he have to be so gorgeous? Why did he have to stand so close, and why did I still love him so much?

Mencheres slid through the water toward her, drawn by the same inexorable compulsion that led moths to dance with flames. He'd had several lifetimes' worth of reason, cold machinations, and, ultimately, emptiness. Perhaps the moths knew what he didn't, that the joy of the flame was worth the price of destruction.

No one believes you’re serious until bodies start to fall. -Vlad

I was going to die, but I didn't have to grovel.

I’ve heard the expression climbing walls, but I never thought I’d experience it, let alone like that,” she murmured, her mouth curling into what was probably a dreamy smile.