Because love and hate were supposed to stand cleanly on opposite sides of the spectrum. The division seemed as clear as...well, angels and demons would once have seemed to her. Not anymore.

Love was a dance floor where everyone you loved left a mark behind.

This train of thought was heading straight for Pity City, and she wanted to get off.

I know he would die if you died, Luce

This was weird. The thing that could have driven two friends instantly apart was actually drawing them closer together.

He had the innate sense that something bad was just around the bend, but a hope that something incredible was waiting in the distance. It had to be. His burning love for her cursed through him until he felt so full he didn’t know whether he would fit through the portal.

He dipped her low and kissed her fiercely, as if he were angry, and each time his lips left hers, even just for half a second, the most parching thirst ran through her, making her cry out.