As much as I hated to admit it, I kind of looked forward to seeing him. It made no sense, but something about his infuriating nature made me forget about my other worries. Weirdly, I felt like I could relax around him.

Look at it this way," Ms. Terwilliger said, after several moments of thought. "The callistana thinks of you two as its parents.

It was one thing to accept I couldn't have Dimitri. It was something entirely different to realize someone else could.

You're beautiful, Roza. So beautiful it hurts me.

I had a standing arrangement with God: I'd agree to believe in him—barely—so long as he let me sleep in on Sundays.

A strange, warm feeling swirled in my chest, and for a brief moment, when I looked at him, I saw...safety

Now get some clothes on before the women around here are driven into a frenzy." He gave me a mournful look. "I'm afraid that'll happen with or without clothes, my dear.