Richelle Mead

I'm backing down now. I really do love you. That's why I'm doing this.

I don't care," said Seth. "I would have done it. I would have sold my soul for you. You and me...I told you. Something's always going to keep us near each other...even if we aren't together.

It was a lame excuse, and I knew that wasn't the reason he was canceling. If he wanted to avoid me, I would have preferred he made up something about how he and the other guardians had to up Moroi security or practice top-secret ninja moves.

This isn't a Christmas special! This is my life. In the real world, miracles and goodness just don't happen.

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

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.

Smiling, I cut across the quadrangle toward the commons. I felt better about life than I had in a very long time. We could do this, Lissa and me. We could do this together.

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

It was impossible to get the Dimitri and Tasha thing out of my head, but at least packing and getting ready made sure I didn't devote 100 percent of my brain power to him. More like 95 percent.

Wow. What'd he do to deserve that? Rescue orphans from a burning building? If so, you might want to make sure he didn't set the building on fire in the first place.

A gun. I had been brought down by a gun. It was practically comical. Cheaters, I thought.

But I couldn't help myself, couldn't help the way I felt as I recalled the bliss and rush of a vampire's bite.

He was too perfect, despite being one of the most imperfect people I knew.

Adrian was easily distractible by wacky topics and shiny objects.

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

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.

Only a true best friend can protect you from your immortal enemies.

What do you think Dimitri? Is this a good idea, Dimitri? Please give us your blessing so that we can fall down and worship you, Dimitri.