I tried to be a better person for her– but it was to impress her, to get her to want me. But when I’m around you, I want to be better because… well, because it...

Any life worth living is going to have risks

Your boyfriend and Micah will both be speechless.” I unfastened my seatbelt. “That’s the third time I’ve heard ‘your boyfriend.’ What’s going on about that? Why won’t anyone say Brayden’s name?” Neither of them answered...

And that’s the thing, I think… the real reason I’m not that weirded out by you two. It goes against all sound logic, but somehow, you two together… it just works.

Metaphors. This was the cost of making out with an artist.

Besides, I could hardly complain to the administration that I was being forced to learn magic.

I’d never felt so helpless – so hopeless – in my life as I did there. To be completely under someone’s power, with no one to turn to for help, to make someone feel like...

This was the last thing I expected. You destroy my life and then feed me some inspiratonal philosophy.

Sitting beside Abe was Adrian Ivashkov–my more-or-less boyfriend. Adrian was a royal Moroi–and another spirit user like Lissa. He’d been crazy about me (and often just crazy) ever since we first met

And he has so much, Sydney. So much feeling. He feels everything so strongly— love, grief, anger. His emotions are up and down, all over the place.

I’m still here, still in love with you, and care about you more than any other guy ever will.” -Adrian-

I know I’m not supposed to say this, but I love you.

Abe held my gaze a bit longer and then broke into an easy smile. ʺOf course, of course. This is a family gathering. A celebration. And look: hereʹs our newest member.ʺ Dimitri had joined us...

Of course, now I had the problem of communicating what I needed. Marlen was still beating on the door, and Dimitri would be up in a couple of minutes. I glared at the human, hoping...

Adrian, I’m on a date. Why are you here? On my car?

Belikov is a sick, evil man who should be thrown into a pit of rabid vipers for the great offense he commited against you this morning.””Thank you.” I said primly. Then, I considered. “Can vipers...

She heard Adrian say to Christian, ʺYou know, your shirtʹs kind of grungy-looking. Seems like you could put in a little more effort since youʹre dating a princess.ʺ

Dimitri is dead,” she said. It was a statement, not a question, but she was looking to me for confirmation. I wondered if I’d given away something, some hint that there was still more to...

Of course, some might argue that one can never know what’s in the heart of a woman— For they are strange and mysterious creatures,and a man must be a mind reader if he ever wishes...

Let me get this straight. The future of our relationship hinged on advice from a fifteen-year-old girl, a probably untrue story from a one-eyed Chihuahua trainer, and me unromantically – yet skillfully – kissing you...

Bo podía darle lo que ella quería. No cuando…” Dio algunos pasos en mi dirección. “No cuando mi corazón pertenece a otra persona

Where are we going?” asked Victor. “If I’m allowed to ask.”I squirmed around in my seat so that I could look him in the eye. “That’s what you’re going to tell us. As hard as...

Lissa widened her eyes in pretend astonishment. “Is this Rose Hathaway talking? Have you reformed? Or do you have someone you like ‘more than okay’?””Hey” I said uncomfortably, “I’m just looking out for you.That, and...

Adrian stood there leaning against the doorframe, watching me with his heart in his eyes. In my chest, my own heart was breaking. On my cheek, the lily reminded me who I was. 

You’d think I wouldn’t be into something named that—you know, considering my own personal experience with Russians. But they’re surprisingly delicious. The drinks, not real Russians.

It was worth it. You looked…happy

He smiled willingly. “Well, I always aim to help others in need.””Yeah,” a new voice suddenly said. “That’s exactly what comes to mind when I think of you, old man.”I hadn’t thought anyone could shock...

… imperfection would get me farther than perfection.

Dorian used to watch you like a starving man who wants meat. Now he looks at you like he wants seconds.

I need you,ʺ said Lissa.ʺI hear that from women a lot,ʺ said Adrian.

Hey, have you ever heard of the Alchemists? ” “Sure, ” he said.”Of course you have. ” “Why? Did you run into them? ” “Kind of. ” “What’d you do? ” “Why do you think...

With Alicia and the Alchemists on the loose, Sydney couldn’t leave a secure location like this without good reason. She contented herself by holing up in a guest room and prepping some spells that would...

He stared at me for several heavy seconds and then laughed—though there wasn’t much humor in it. “You know what’s great? You’reserious. Look at your face.” He gestured, as though I actually could examine myself....

Rose once told me “If your eyes weren’t open, you wouldn’t know the difference between dreaming and waking.”Adrian Ivashkov to Sydney Sage

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....

As far as I’m concerned, you’re both.

You look too pretty to be useful.” “Truer words were never spoken.

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...

He’d barely seen me coming, and despite the horribleness of what I’d just done, I kind of wished one of my instructors had been there to grade me on such an awesome performance.

Nah. It’s part of the gift: you getting to think about it for the next three days.

I need it! I need it! It’s a royal heirloom!””Adrian?””What are you doing here?””Looking for you. Come on, we need to go. I’ll drive you home.””No, I can’t. Not until we get it. He stole...

Do you think I’m pretty?”He regarded me with utter seriousness, like he always did. “I think you’re beautiful.””Beautiful?””You are so beautiful, it hurts me sometimes.

But I didn’t know about the other story.””What other story?””About how you and Adrian Ivashkov are—””No, whatever you heard it’s not true.””But it was really romantic””Then it’s definitely not true.

I don’t balance you like you need.””What the hell does that mean?” he exclaimed.My heart ached for him, and I was so sorry for what I’d done…but this was the truth of it all. “The...

You approve?” I asked, spinning around.He slipped an arm around my waist. “Unfortunately, yes. I was hoping you’d show up in something a lot sluttier. Something that would scandalize my parents.” “Sometimes it’s like you...

And, finally, I noticed that a hot flush was spreading over me, and that the look in his eyes was doing more to me than Jesse’s kisses had. Dimitri was quiet and distant sometimes, but...

Not right? I think you mean so right.

Adrian Ivashkov wasn’t easy to surprise, but I surprised him then when I brought his mouth toward mine. I kissed him, and for a moment, he was too stunned to respond. That lasted for, oh,...

Escape plan number seventeen,” I told her. “Run away and open a juice stand in Fresno.””Why Fresno?””Sounds like the kind of place people drink a lot of juice.

You’re a solid person, Sage. You’re easy on the eyes, if a little skinny, and your ability to memorize useless information is going to totally hook in some guy.