More than honor, more than life, I love thee." What do you say when a man whose entire existence had been his honor offers to give it up for you? You say the only thing you can. More than any crown or throne or title, I love thee," I said. "more than any power in faerie, I love thee.

Never argue when you're winning.

But if anything will turn me off, it's a very practiced approach, as if the man has done it a thousand times before, to a lot of different women. Which always seems to imply that I am no different from all the rest. Not flattering.

I tried to picture a young, insecure Edward and couldn't, but it was nice to know that once he'd been a boy. Sometimes it felt like Edward had sprung full grown from the head of some violent deity,like a vicious version of Athena.

And the moment you care that much, a man has you. He owns a little piece of your soul, and he can beat you to death with it.

Silk didn't care if it slid over scars or smooth, untouched skin. I'd earned my right to be paranoid.

If I wanted death, Edward would give it to me. Because we both understand that it isn't death that we fear. It's living.