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“Fear can change you if you let. Even a proud,strong woman can become a whimpering mess if her fear overwhelms her. Terror reaches inside you and twists your mind, colors your decisions, and limits your options. If I'm going to live my life under the constant threat of death, then I'm going to live it on my terms. And when I do die, I want people to remember me as I am, not as whatever creature my fear wants to turn me into." ... "My circumstances have taken certain choices from me. I'll be damned if I let fear take any more...”
― One Bite
― One Bite
“Marrying a prince was a fairy tale come true, but being part of a real, loving family…that was heaven.”
― Before Midnight
― Before Midnight
“Pixies never fail,” the little blue creature informed her imperiously. He turned and disappeared in a blue glowing streak into the woods.”
― Before Midnight
― Before Midnight
“One of these days I’ll learn how to say no to a beautiful woman in distress. If I live that long,” he added pointedly.”
― Beautiful Salvation
― Beautiful Salvation
“Loupe, are you listening to me? I am your husband, it is my job to protect you. I cannot do that, if you insist on ignoring me and engaging some madwoman-"
"You know what, my darlings?" Loupe continued loudly, still looking at the pups. "I almost didn't call for you. I love you so much, it would destroy me if anything happened to you. But," she said clearly, "then I realized that trying to protect you from all danger would only keep you weak. I would much rather you grow to be big, strong, confident wolves. And I never want you to be afraid. Of anyone."
There was a long pause as she continued to ruffle the pups' fur and make baby noises at them.
Finally, Etienne knelt beside her and sighed. "I'm an adult, you know," he muttered. "You could have just said that to me."
Loupe raised an eyebrow at him, but didn't say anything.
-Etienne and Loupe”
― Before Midnight
"You know what, my darlings?" Loupe continued loudly, still looking at the pups. "I almost didn't call for you. I love you so much, it would destroy me if anything happened to you. But," she said clearly, "then I realized that trying to protect you from all danger would only keep you weak. I would much rather you grow to be big, strong, confident wolves. And I never want you to be afraid. Of anyone."
There was a long pause as she continued to ruffle the pups' fur and make baby noises at them.
Finally, Etienne knelt beside her and sighed. "I'm an adult, you know," he muttered. "You could have just said that to me."
Loupe raised an eyebrow at him, but didn't say anything.
-Etienne and Loupe”
― Before Midnight
“They started to walk back through the woods and the wolves bounced around their legs as they went, frolicking like they were still puppies. A tinge of sadness tugged at Loupe's heart. "Etienne?"
"Yes?" He growled and swatted as one of the wolves almost knocked him over.
"I want more puppies."
Etienne froze, his jaw dropping as he stared at her. One of the wolves caught him off guard and a well-timed leg bump sent them both crashing to the grass.
Loupe shrugged and kept walking as Etienne sputtered on the ground. "We'll talk later, then?"
-Loupe and Etienne.”
― Before Midnight
"Yes?" He growled and swatted as one of the wolves almost knocked him over.
"I want more puppies."
Etienne froze, his jaw dropping as he stared at her. One of the wolves caught him off guard and a well-timed leg bump sent them both crashing to the grass.
Loupe shrugged and kept walking as Etienne sputtered on the ground. "We'll talk later, then?"
-Loupe and Etienne.”
― Before Midnight
“Paw Patrollers consisted of two buildings separated by a large square of well-maintained grass that looked out of place in the middle of Cleveland. The first building was small and square, with a sign over the door that labeled it the main office. Across the yard, the other building was lower with a rectangular shape. It looked like a miniature stable, and I assumed that was where the dogs were boarded”
― Caged
― Caged
“Whatever Patricio was looking for, he didn’t seem to find it. His frown deepened. “Help with what?” he asked finally.
“A young woman is dying in my castle. I need your help to save her life.”
“What business is it of mine if you’ve taken too much from one of your blood whores?” Patricio asked, his voice thick with disgust. “If—”
His voice cut off as Kirill pressed the blade of his dagger against the angel’s stomach. He would have preferred to press the steel against the judging angel’s throat, but he wasn’t willing to sacrifice his leverage to reach up as high as that would require given the disparity in their height. Instead, he pressed the blade into the angel’s tunic, easily sliding through the material until he was rewarded with the scent of fresh blood. He did a few quick calculations, angling the knife so he could easily find the angel’s heart if the situation degraded.
“Never speak of her in that manner again,” he said softly, his voice as cold as his own grave. “I need your blood to save her life. There’s no reason you have to die for me to get it.”
Tension roared to life in the air around him, coming from within as well as from the princes standing behind him. Kirill cursed. He hated having people behind him, especially when weapons had been drawn.
Irina, even now you distract me.
Patricio stepped forward, pressing his body against the blade and driving it farther into his skin. His eyes flashed with a hint of that same brilliant lightning Kirill had seen when the angel was feeding. “You would offer me harm in my own kingdom?”
“Your kingdom, my kingdom, or the land of oblivion. If you judge Irina so wrongly again, I will kill you and leave your rotting carcass for the vultures.”
-Patricio and Kirill”
― One Bite
“A young woman is dying in my castle. I need your help to save her life.”
“What business is it of mine if you’ve taken too much from one of your blood whores?” Patricio asked, his voice thick with disgust. “If—”
His voice cut off as Kirill pressed the blade of his dagger against the angel’s stomach. He would have preferred to press the steel against the judging angel’s throat, but he wasn’t willing to sacrifice his leverage to reach up as high as that would require given the disparity in their height. Instead, he pressed the blade into the angel’s tunic, easily sliding through the material until he was rewarded with the scent of fresh blood. He did a few quick calculations, angling the knife so he could easily find the angel’s heart if the situation degraded.
“Never speak of her in that manner again,” he said softly, his voice as cold as his own grave. “I need your blood to save her life. There’s no reason you have to die for me to get it.”
Tension roared to life in the air around him, coming from within as well as from the princes standing behind him. Kirill cursed. He hated having people behind him, especially when weapons had been drawn.
Irina, even now you distract me.
Patricio stepped forward, pressing his body against the blade and driving it farther into his skin. His eyes flashed with a hint of that same brilliant lightning Kirill had seen when the angel was feeding. “You would offer me harm in my own kingdom?”
“Your kingdom, my kingdom, or the land of oblivion. If you judge Irina so wrongly again, I will kill you and leave your rotting carcass for the vultures.”
-Patricio and Kirill”
― One Bite
“So you want to see me?” Adonis prodded.
The light in Ivy’s eyes dimmed, but only slightly. Part of Adonis waited for her to brush him off, to pretend she didn’t care one way or another. Surely she couldn’t really be as open as she seemed?
She met his eyes with a surprising calm. “If I did, would you come?”
Where? Back to her? Heat flared inside him as he remembered the feel of her body against his, the taste of her mouth, her skin. More than that, he remembered the wonder she’d greeted the astral plane with and the debilitating fear that had twisted the dream of his home world into a nightmare. For a moment he’d had the overwhelming urge to banish that terror, to hold her hand and show her the world, all of it. Her mother had tattooed the world with darkness, but Adonis knew he could change that. He could show her all the wonders that existed outside her tower and then they could paint together, capturing all the— And that’s why he’d had to leave. Foolish urges like those would only hurt them both. He couldn’t see her again.
“Of course I would come.”
Right, so I’ve lost my wits completely then. Good to know.
-Adonis and Ivy.”
― Golden Stair
The light in Ivy’s eyes dimmed, but only slightly. Part of Adonis waited for her to brush him off, to pretend she didn’t care one way or another. Surely she couldn’t really be as open as she seemed?
She met his eyes with a surprising calm. “If I did, would you come?”
Where? Back to her? Heat flared inside him as he remembered the feel of her body against his, the taste of her mouth, her skin. More than that, he remembered the wonder she’d greeted the astral plane with and the debilitating fear that had twisted the dream of his home world into a nightmare. For a moment he’d had the overwhelming urge to banish that terror, to hold her hand and show her the world, all of it. Her mother had tattooed the world with darkness, but Adonis knew he could change that. He could show her all the wonders that existed outside her tower and then they could paint together, capturing all the— And that’s why he’d had to leave. Foolish urges like those would only hurt them both. He couldn’t see her again.
“Of course I would come.”
Right, so I’ve lost my wits completely then. Good to know.
-Adonis and Ivy.”
― Golden Stair
“Your condemnation bothers me, because it’s symbolic of an ugliness that doesn’t suit you. Hatred leaves a mark, anger leaves a mark.” He took her hands in his, pleased when she didn’t fight him. He almost smiled when he saw the paint under her fingernails, the smudges that never really came off the hands of an artist. “Don’t paint yourself with those colors if you don’t have to.”
-Adonis to Ivy”
― Golden Stair
-Adonis to Ivy”
― Golden Stair
“Then the man looked at her and smiled.
She jerked her spine straight. “Can you see me?”
“Yes,” he said softly.
The object of the angel’s ire jerked his head around, his eyes widening when he saw her. “Oh. Why hello there. I’m Adonis, what’s your name?”
“You… You can see me too?” Hope blossomed to life in Irina’s breath.
“Who are you talking to?” the angel asked suspiciously.
Kirill darted forward and grabbed the demon by the arms. “What is it? Who do you see?”
“Whoa, there, hold on, Your Highness,” the brunet said. “It’s a girl, dark hair, beautiful pale skin.” He winked at Irina. “A real beauty.”
“Irina?”
Adonis leaned back, brow furrowing. “Who’s Irina?”
Kirill pointed to the coffin and Irina flinched.
“Oh,” the man said, noticing her still form. He frowned. “Oh.” He looked back at Irina then at her body inside the coffin. Then he looked at Kirill. “Ohhhhh—”
“If you draw that out for one more syllable,” the angel snarled.
-Irina, Saamal, Adonis, Kirill, and Patricio.”
― One Bite
She jerked her spine straight. “Can you see me?”
“Yes,” he said softly.
The object of the angel’s ire jerked his head around, his eyes widening when he saw her. “Oh. Why hello there. I’m Adonis, what’s your name?”
“You… You can see me too?” Hope blossomed to life in Irina’s breath.
“Who are you talking to?” the angel asked suspiciously.
Kirill darted forward and grabbed the demon by the arms. “What is it? Who do you see?”
“Whoa, there, hold on, Your Highness,” the brunet said. “It’s a girl, dark hair, beautiful pale skin.” He winked at Irina. “A real beauty.”
“Irina?”
Adonis leaned back, brow furrowing. “Who’s Irina?”
Kirill pointed to the coffin and Irina flinched.
“Oh,” the man said, noticing her still form. He frowned. “Oh.” He looked back at Irina then at her body inside the coffin. Then he looked at Kirill. “Ohhhhh—”
“If you draw that out for one more syllable,” the angel snarled.
-Irina, Saamal, Adonis, Kirill, and Patricio.”
― One Bite
“I've nearly lost you three times now-nearly lost you before I even realized how much I wanted to keep you-and that is inconceivable. I would be a fool not to see what the gods are trying to tell me."
"The gods?" Irina repeated, staring at him like he'd grown a second head.
"Please don't look at me like I'm going insane, I truly do not need the reminder," Kirill mumbled. He signed and lowered his forehead to hers. "Irina, you must marry me. You must bond with me, let me take away that part of you that can be hurt so easily. Let me protect you as much as I can, do everything I can to make sure I am never again standing without your warm presence beside me."
"I'm only half human, Kirill," Irina whispered. "You cannot make me a vampire."
"No, but your human blood will allow me to bond with you. You will share my strength and anyone who tries to hurt you will learn, just before they die, that you are mine, forever."
-Kirill and Irina.”
― One Bite
"The gods?" Irina repeated, staring at him like he'd grown a second head.
"Please don't look at me like I'm going insane, I truly do not need the reminder," Kirill mumbled. He signed and lowered his forehead to hers. "Irina, you must marry me. You must bond with me, let me take away that part of you that can be hurt so easily. Let me protect you as much as I can, do everything I can to make sure I am never again standing without your warm presence beside me."
"I'm only half human, Kirill," Irina whispered. "You cannot make me a vampire."
"No, but your human blood will allow me to bond with you. You will share my strength and anyone who tries to hurt you will learn, just before they die, that you are mine, forever."
-Kirill and Irina.”
― One Bite
“Even a proud, strong woman can become a whimpering mess if her fear overwhelms her.”
― One Bite
― One Bite
“Um, Adonis, what…what are you doing here?” she asked.
“Well, apparently, when I tried to use the magic of the painting world to give us a more appropriate setting, the magic responded a little more enthusiastically than I’d anticipated.”
“You thought my bedroom was an ‘appropriate setting?’” Kirill dead-panned.
Adonis shrugged. “I wasn’t exactly putting a lot of thought into it. I was concentrating on something else at the time. I just used the first image that came to my mind.”
“Charming. Will you be leaving for your own bedroom soon or should I tell the servants there will be two more for dinner?”
“Is he being sarcastic?” Ivy whispered.
“I think so. It’s hard to tell. He’s not the most expressive person at the best of times.” Adonis eyed Kirill, glancing from him to Irina, who seemed to be trying not to laugh.
“Thank you for your generous offer,” he said finally. “But I think we’ll take our leave.” Ivy shifted beneath him and arousal crackled to life along Adonis’ skin. He cleared his throat, fighting to keep his voice steady. “Unless you’d like to give us a little more time…?”
Kirill’s face darkened. “Irina, tell Isai we need an exorcism.”
-Irina, Adonis, Kirill, Ivy.”
― Golden Stair
“Well, apparently, when I tried to use the magic of the painting world to give us a more appropriate setting, the magic responded a little more enthusiastically than I’d anticipated.”
“You thought my bedroom was an ‘appropriate setting?’” Kirill dead-panned.
Adonis shrugged. “I wasn’t exactly putting a lot of thought into it. I was concentrating on something else at the time. I just used the first image that came to my mind.”
“Charming. Will you be leaving for your own bedroom soon or should I tell the servants there will be two more for dinner?”
“Is he being sarcastic?” Ivy whispered.
“I think so. It’s hard to tell. He’s not the most expressive person at the best of times.” Adonis eyed Kirill, glancing from him to Irina, who seemed to be trying not to laugh.
“Thank you for your generous offer,” he said finally. “But I think we’ll take our leave.” Ivy shifted beneath him and arousal crackled to life along Adonis’ skin. He cleared his throat, fighting to keep his voice steady. “Unless you’d like to give us a little more time…?”
Kirill’s face darkened. “Irina, tell Isai we need an exorcism.”
-Irina, Adonis, Kirill, Ivy.”
― Golden Stair
“I look forward to the day I can repay my debt to each of you,” Kirill straightened and braced his arms behind his back. His voice lowered to a mere whisper. “Know that I am just as serious in repaying my allies as I am in punishing my enemies. You gave me your help when I needed it, before you had any reason to help me.” He lifted his chin, staring up at the World Tree. “Until I can make the proper repayment of your kindness, I intend for this…sharing of information, to be a step in that direction. But…” He slanted hard eyes on the werewolf. “I will not apologize for my pragmatism.” He sighed. Heavily. “And for pity’s sake, didn’t we agree that you would leave some clothes here, Etienne?”
The unexpected joke shattered the tension. Adonis, Patricio, and Saamal chuckled and Etienne flushed as if he’d only just noticed his nudity. “I left in a hurry.” Etienne scratched the stubble at his face and neck before threading a hand through his shaggy brown hair.
Kirill raised an eyebrow and pulled a small knapsack from the dark folds of his thick forest green cloak.
Eurydice leaned forward and sniffed like it would help her figure out just what else Kirill might have hidden in that cloak. Weapons, certainly, but how on earth did the vampire keep the lines of his clothes so smooth and unassuming? Surely there should have been a lump where he’d hidden that sack.
Etienne caught the knapsack as Kirill tossed it across the clearing.
Adonis crowed with laughter as the werewolf prince opened it to find a pair of plain, brown leather breeches. “No shirt for the werewolf, eh, Kirill?” Adonis snickered.
The corner of the vampire’s mouth quirked. “Adonis, even a prince as wealthy as myself could not afford to supply our lycan friend here with a complete outfit every time he shows up skyclad.”
Etienne snorted and shook his head, but raised a hand in a begrudging half-wave. “Thanks.”
-Kirill, Adonis, Etienne.”
― Golden Stair
The unexpected joke shattered the tension. Adonis, Patricio, and Saamal chuckled and Etienne flushed as if he’d only just noticed his nudity. “I left in a hurry.” Etienne scratched the stubble at his face and neck before threading a hand through his shaggy brown hair.
Kirill raised an eyebrow and pulled a small knapsack from the dark folds of his thick forest green cloak.
Eurydice leaned forward and sniffed like it would help her figure out just what else Kirill might have hidden in that cloak. Weapons, certainly, but how on earth did the vampire keep the lines of his clothes so smooth and unassuming? Surely there should have been a lump where he’d hidden that sack.
Etienne caught the knapsack as Kirill tossed it across the clearing.
Adonis crowed with laughter as the werewolf prince opened it to find a pair of plain, brown leather breeches. “No shirt for the werewolf, eh, Kirill?” Adonis snickered.
The corner of the vampire’s mouth quirked. “Adonis, even a prince as wealthy as myself could not afford to supply our lycan friend here with a complete outfit every time he shows up skyclad.”
Etienne snorted and shook his head, but raised a hand in a begrudging half-wave. “Thanks.”
-Kirill, Adonis, Etienne.”
― Golden Stair
“Don't tone it down on my account," Prince Adonis insisted, his trademark cigarette smoke spilling from his lips. "Go ahead and fight it out." He smirked. "I like to watch."
"If the demon is going to make crude jokes all evening, I'm leaving now," Prince Patricio mattered, ruffling the feathers on his wings.
"Well then, bye bye, birdie," the incubus said sweetly.
- Adonis and Patricio.”
― One Bite
"If the demon is going to make crude jokes all evening, I'm leaving now," Prince Patricio mattered, ruffling the feathers on his wings.
"Well then, bye bye, birdie," the incubus said sweetly.
- Adonis and Patricio.”
― One Bite
“you can tell everything you need to know about a man by three things: how he treats his mother, how he treats customer service, and how he treats animals.”
― Monster
― Monster
“Those who clearly recognize the voice of their own conscience usually recognize also the voice of justice." - — Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn”
― Conviction
― Conviction
“I’ve learned that the only bad ideas are the ones that make it hard to live with myself afterward,” I said quietly.”
― Corruption
― Corruption
“A defensive female was no one’s friend. It was always best to start with a laugh.
-Adonis' thoughts.”
― Golden Stair
-Adonis' thoughts.”
― Golden Stair
“But Father Salvatore often spoke of listening to hear instead of listening to respond.”
― Corruption
― Corruption
“I went to see a wizard today,” Adonis added. “And a necromancer. I don’t know why, the idea just came into my head this morning and I went. Asked perfect strangers if they could help me—help me not have to need sex—and told them about a situation that was none of their business.” He crossed his arms. “I’ll bet Kirill is twitching somewhere in Dacia and he has no idea why.”
- Adonis to Ivy.”
― Golden Stair
- Adonis to Ivy.”
― Golden Stair
“I’d come here a lot over the years, using the enchanted door in my mentor’s home to get into concerts and bear witness to the burgeoning careers of such artists as Elvis Presley, David Bowie, and Bruce Springsteen. Treasured memories all.”
― Deadline
― Deadline
“Why don't you turn that charm on a young lady from a nice noble family?" his mother demanded, pulling her hand back. "You're not getting any younger, you know."
"I'm not getting any older either."
The queen rolled her eyes.
-Kirill and his mother.”
― One Bite
"I'm not getting any older either."
The queen rolled her eyes.
-Kirill and his mother.”
― One Bite
“For the love of Perun, what happened to you?”
Adonis cried out with relief. He struggled to get an arm under his body to push himself up, wincing when he toppled over on the first attempt. It took another two attempts before he managed to prop himself up on his forearms and raise his face to the spot Kirill’s voice was coming from.
A hiss of breath told him Kirill had noticed his eyes.
“I met the mother,” Adonis joked feebly.
“Wonderful,” Kirill muttered, disgust thick in his voice.
-Kirill and Adonis.”
― Golden Stair
Adonis cried out with relief. He struggled to get an arm under his body to push himself up, wincing when he toppled over on the first attempt. It took another two attempts before he managed to prop himself up on his forearms and raise his face to the spot Kirill’s voice was coming from.
A hiss of breath told him Kirill had noticed his eyes.
“I met the mother,” Adonis joked feebly.
“Wonderful,” Kirill muttered, disgust thick in his voice.
-Kirill and Adonis.”
― Golden Stair
