“I swallowed hard, a hot flush blazing a trail across my skin. Reminded me of that old television show, Bonanza. You know, the one with the burning map and the lively western tune? Yeah, my skin was that map, but the song blaring in my head leaned more toward a “bow-chick-a-wow-wow” sound than anything else. Hormone overload!”

“It washed all over me and through me, into the floor and then it was gone. I never cried for my Da again after that, and God’s presence has been with me ever since.” – Adien MacRae, BETWEEN”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“She was evil. Couldn’t he, who killed demons with his own hands, realize that? And now I had to run for Mardi Gras Queen because of him. Or her. I didn’t know whose fault it was but there was no way I could back down now.”

“You’re apologizing? Seriously, what happened to you? Have you been taken over by a pod person?”

“I didn’t pretend to comprehend what he meant. I simply closed my eyes and let his arms wrap around me. The warmth that came from his body made me feel at home, as if, somehow, this is where I belonged. He smelled of woods after a thunderstorm, clean and elemental.”

“Yeah? You want to do some other worldly hanky panky? She laughed and almost fell off the couch. “Hanky Panky?” “Don’t knock it till you try it”

“—Que no voy a dejarte ir, que no pienso olvidarme de ti o castigarte con una fingida indiferencia —confiesa con tanta vehemencia y rabia que es como si las palabras le desgarraran la garganta al salir—. Que si te vas, te perseguiré. Da igual la distancia que te atrevas a interponer entre nosotros o las barreras que creas que puedes levan- tar para escapar de mí. Si alguna vez he sentido algo por alguien, si alguna vez una persona ha conseguido escarbar en mi corazón maldito, esa has sido tú, Siah. Nadie más que tú.”

“—No esperes que te diga que no te convengo o que te suelte un elaborado discurso sobre lo mal que acabará todo esto y las razones por las que no deberíamos estar besándonos —me dice sin rastro de burla en la voz—. No hay nobleza en mí y tampoco tengo alma de mártir.”

“What came to me later in those dark, dreaming hours put paid to that though and as always my mind led me treacherously back to the bleak and inescapable truth. There was no cure for what one had seen or done.”

“I wanted to apologize but what could I say? I’m sorry but I’m afraid my fangs might freak you out. Oh and by the way my eyes sort of glow in the dark when I get excited. I hope you’re cool with that.”

“Soul bonds can’t be broken. They only bend for a while . . .”

“Romance is everything to turn it into a cause for given is priceless”

“Holy fu-” he starts then catches himself.”Yes,this tithe will be most pleasing to her Goodness.” Me and Magnus exchange amused glances.”

“Weave the circle, tightly sewn,Let nothing evil or unknownEnter within. Stay withoutOn pain of death, we cast you out.”