I didn’t care about anything except her and the way touching her drove me wild, even as her calm and steady presence soothed the storms that raged within me.

Keep it. I think I’ve got something else to help center my life.

Because it’s our duty to God to protect the rest of humanity from evil creatures of the night.

He caught hold of my hand. “Sydney, please don’t do this,” he begged. “No matter how confident you feel, no matter how careful you are, things will spiral out of control.” “They already have,” I...

Sage?” Adrian lightly touched my arm, and I jumped at the feel of his fingertips against my skin. “You okay?””I don’t know,” I said softly. “I just thought of something crazy.””Welcome to my world.

Piece of Heaven?” “No, that other place I’m going to go to for thinking what I’m thinking.

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 certainly hadn’t expected to walk away from today’s trip with joint custody of a miniature dragon.

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.

His eyes were on his heart, completely caught up in his work. ‘Just something kicking around in my head. Reminds me of you. Fiery and sweet, all at the same time. A flame in the...

I remembered those frantic seconds when I’d thought all I loved and knew, all that was Sydney Sage, would be lost from this world. My battered friends and I had just had a brush with...

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.

And you doing scientific and magical calculations. We’re thinking, cerebral beings one minute . . . and the next, completely given over to physical acts of passion. How do we do that? Back and forth,...

We all screw up. Everyone makes mistakes. That’s what she did. It was bad judgment, that’s all. You don’t cut off the people you love for mistakes like that.

I sent a quick text to Adrian: I have a hickey! You can’t ever kiss me again. I honestly hadn’t expected him to be awake this early, so I was surprised to get a response:...

You look confused,” said Adrian.I shook my head and sighed. “I think I’m just overthinking things.”He nodded solemnly. “That’s why I try to never do it.

Whereas Angeline’s antics made me want to pull out my hair sometimes, Trey found them endearing.

The ghost of a smile flickered across his lips. ‘You’re always the voice of reason. Just try listening to yourself once in a while.

She continue kissing me with that ferocity, so much so that her lips lightly scraped my teeth. It was only a few drops, but as the sweet metallic taste of her blood touched my tongue,...

I didn’t realize when I brought him back here that you’d inflict more damage.” I said, once I’d finished the story.”I was defending your honor.” Adrian gave me that devil-may-care smile that always managed to...

You look too pretty to be useful.

Our lips met hungrily, and his clever artistic hands wrapped around my hips. A sudden buzz from my regular cell phone startled me from the kissing.”Don’t,” said Adrian, his eyes ablaze and breathing ragged.”What if...

Think of me.

The tension between us kicked up a notch, and I realized that along with our bodies being nearer, so were our lips.

Not everything about me is cute.””That’s true, some things are cute. The rest are sexy. Astonishing, agonizingly sexy. It’s a wonder I can get anything done at all, when all I ever think about is...

Well, this is a nice surprise,” he said. He looked us over. Jill had changed into her normal clothes during her isolation today, but I still had on the Amberwood blouse and skirt. “Sage, aren’t...

Oh God. She probably thinks we were off doing—you know—romantic type, um, things—

As far as I’m concerned, you’re both.

Already crazy about you, Sage.

If you went twenty-four hours without cigarettes, I’d drink a can of pop. Regular pop. The whole can.”Isaw the glimmer of Adrian’s earlier smile returning. “You would not.””I totally would.” “Half a can would put...

My boyfriend was insanely sexy, vampire or not, and I couldn’t keep my hands off him.

Sage, did you just swear?

Bryan gaped, as though that was more than he’d been expecting. “Oh. Okay. Well, um, there’s a silent film festival downtown next week. Do you think you’d want to go?” I shook my head. “No,...

I’m into anything, so long as you’re with me.

You might not believe this, but there is no one like her at this school.””Oh I believe it,” I said, thinking back to the time Angeline had forgotten her locker’s combination and tried to get...

Do you want me to call you Celery Stick instead of Cupcake or Honey-Pie? It just doesn’t inspire the same warm and fuzzy feelings.

Moroi shied from the sunlight but as I watched Sydney, I knew without a doubt that humans had been made for the sun.

Damn, you have no idea what I have been through today.””Actually I have a pretty good idea.

He broods a little. Okay … a lot.