Richelle Mead

"Do you think I'm pretty?I think you're beautiful Beautiful?You are so beautiful, it hurts sometimes."

"Sometimes it's worth lingering on the journey for a while before getting to the destination."

"Because I can't help doing it, he said with a shrug. And hey, if I keep loving you, maybe you'll eventually crack and love me too. Hell, I'm pretty sure you're already half in love with me. I am not! And everything you just said is ridiculous. That's terrible logic. Adrian returned to his crossword puzzle. Well, you can think what you want, so long as you remember-no matter how ordinary things seem between us-I'm still here, still in love with you, and care about you more than any other guy, evil or otherwise, ever will. I don't think you're evil. See? Things are already looking promising."

"What hope is there? I asked. If even angels fall, what hope is there for the rest of us?"

"Things die. But they don't always stay dead. Believe me, I know."

"Stop fighting me! he said, trying to pull on the arm he held. He was in a precarious position himself, straddling the rail as he tried to lean over far enough to get me and actually hold onto me. Let go of me! I yelled back. But he was too strong and managed to haul most of me over the rail, enough so that I wasn’t in total danger of falling again. See, here’s the thing. In that moment before I let go, I really had been contemplating my death. I’d come to terms with it and accepted it. I also, however, had known Dimitri might do something exactly like this. He was just that fast and that good. That was why I was holding my stake in the hand that was dangling free. I looked him in the eye. I will always love you. Then I plunged the stake into his chest. It wasn’t as precise a blow as I would have liked, not with the skilled way he was dodging. I struggled to get the stake in deep enough to his heart, unsure if I could do it from this angle. Then, his struggles stopped. His eyes stared at me, stunned, and his lips parted, almost into a smile, albeit a grisly and pained one. That’s what I was supposed to say. . . he gasped out. Those were his last words."

"What's up? I asked. You tell me, he said. You were the one about ready to start making out with Adrian. It was an experiment, I said. It was part of my therapy. What the hell kind of therapy are you in?"

"Throughout history, people with new ideas—who think differently and try to change things—have always been called troublemakers."

"Relax, having kids is years away. But can you imagine? Your brains, my charm, our collective good looks... then add in the usual physical abilities dhampirs get. It's really not even fair to everyone else."

"Wow, said Adrian. He sat down on the bed and tested its bounciness, giving it a nod of approval. This is amazing. What do you think, buttercup?I have no words, I said honestly. He patted the spot beside him. Want to try it out?"

"How come when mortals want things, their only option is to make a deal with Hell and sell their soul? Why can’t they make deals with God in exchange for good behavior?It was another of those rare moments when I’d surprised Carter. I waited for the glib answer I’d mentioned to Seth, something along the lines of goodness being its own reward. The angel considered for several seconds. Humans make those deals all the time, he said finally. They just don’t make them with God. Then who are they making them with? I exclaimed. Themselves."

"Vampires. Honestly, they're like children sometimes."

"Don’t take the high ground and assume you already know what you’ll do. The truth is, when it comes to someone you love, you’ll find there isn’t anything you won’t do."

"Whatever happened to the dragon?I mustered my primmest tone. He has a name, you know. Adrian pulled back and gave me a curious look. I didn't know, actually. What'd you decide on?Hopper. When Adrian laughed, I added, Best rabbit ever. He'd be proud to know his name is being passed on. Yes, I'm sure he would. Did you name the Mustang too?I think you mean the Ivashkinator. He stared at me in wonder. I told you I loved you, right?Yes, I assured him. Many times."

"I get in that kind of situation all the time, Comrade. It's not a big deal. Anger replaced my fear. I didn't like being treated like a child. Stop calling me that. You don't even know what you're talking about. Sure I do. I had to do a report on the R. S. S. R. last year."

"Keith was just bringing the glass to his lips when Adrian said, "Mmm. O positive, my favorite."Keith sprayed out the wine he'd just drunk and promptly started coughing. I was relieved that none got on me. jill burst into giggles, and Clarence stared at his glass wonderingly."Is it? I thought it was a cabernet sauvignon."So it is," said Adrian, straight-faced. "My mistake."

"“Because I can't help doing it, he said with a shrug. And hey, if I keep loving you, maybe you'll eventually crack and love me too. Hell, I'm pretty sure you're already half in love with me. I am not! And everything you just said is ridiculous. That's terrible logic. Adrian returned to his crossword puzzle. Well, you can think what you want, so long as you remember-no matter how ordinary things seem between us-I'm still here, still in love with you, and care about you more than any other guy, evil or otherwise, ever will. I don't think you're evil. See? Things are already looking promising.”"

"What was love, really? Flowers, chocolate, and poetry? Or was it something else? Was it being able to finish someone's jokes? Was it having absolute faith that someone was there at your back? Was it knowing someone so well that they instantly understood why you did the things you did—and shared those same beliefs?"

"“Stop fighting me! he said, trying to pull on the arm he held. He was in a precarious position himself, straddling the rail as he tried to lean over far enough to get me and actually hold onto me.“Let go of me!” I yelled back. But he was too strong and managed to haul most of me over the rail, enough so that I wasn’t in total danger of falling again. See, here’s the thing. In that moment before I let go, I really had been contemplating my death. I’d come to terms with it and accepted it. I also, however, had known Dimitri might do something exactly like this. He was just that fast and that good. That was why I was holding my stake in the hand that was dangling free. I looked him in the eye. I will always love you. Then I plunged the stake into his chest. It wasn’t as precise a blow as I would have liked, not with the skilled way he was dodging. I struggled to get the stake in deep enough to his heart, unsure if I could do it from this angle. Then, his struggles stopped. His eyes stared at me, stunned, and his lips parted, almost into a smile, albeit a grisly and pained one. That’s what I was supposed to say. . .” he gasped out. Those were his last words.”"

"Well, that depends, I suppose. I heard someone once say that men dance the same way they have sex. So, if you want everyone here to think you're the kind of guy who just sits around and— He stood up. Let's dance."