"I shoved his arm with all my strength, but it wouldn't budge. His waist rippled with sculpted muscles. His chest and shoulders bulged and spoke of great strength. It was one thing to assume he had a big frame, another to have it confirmed with the moon's light."

"His power sings to your blood. I witnessed your reaction to him just now. He'll be a king in a few years... And you'll be his queen."

"Without her, I couldn't live."

"And with her hair, so red, she'd caught my eye... My little red riding hood."

"The very thought of him coming so close to tasting you makes me want to split his head in two."

"Asleep? That's what she is right now? Pure menace laced his words. 'And when you decide to answer that question, Kane, be sure that you answer this with great care. I for one see you as my friend. We've never had problems. But now you've met my Melody, and problems cannot be avoided. So when I ask you, is she asleep, be sure that you give me a clear answer, because different ones will result in your death and the slashing away of every fucking person you know."

"I've been waiting for you for a very long time. I raised her off my shoulders, lowered her to me, and guided her legs around my waist. 'Why did you take so long to come to me?'If I knew you were here, I would've come so much sooner."

"Everyone nodded in silent agreement, and then one by onedisappeared into the castle's dark shadowswhere night met blackened airand creepy thingswhispered the most haunting words into the wind."

"His gaze drank me in and he made no attempt to conceal that fact."

"Lay down, please. Samuel's voice stroked my ears like a man seducing his lover after they'd suffered a long absence."

"People called me, Lobo, which was Spanish for wolf."

"Art isn't a means for income when it comes to Hex. He would do it if he was trapped on an island by himself or the richest man in the world. For him, art is like breathing. He just has to do it."

"How do I know you're not the killer? MeShack asked.A smirk plastered on Zulu's face. 'Because you would've been the first victim."

"There's always a price."

"Melody. His voice was a tormented whisper on his lips.'Yes, I said.'If you ever need to escape, come to me.'What? I asked.'Just come. I won't. . .I would never hurt you.'But-'You're all that matters to me."

"I call you domina because that's what you are, Samuel insisted.'It's what I was. Now I'm just Brie. What if I only called you pathfinder?"

"I couldn't stay away from her."

"Dante and this Palero were definitely playing some sort of game, and I didn't know the rules, which was fine with me. Whenever a game became too complicated, I just set the board on fire."

"Would she flee if she knew the thoughts I kept in my mind? My hands went to her flat stomach. My fingers sank in the soft tan flesh around her waist. One day her belly would be full of my children and her mind would only be focused on me."

"Why let me heal when you'll just break me anyway?'Because breaking you is half the fun."

"Their faces showed beautiful smiles boasting magnificent teeth. Their skin gleamed in the perfect lighting. Even their scarred flesh seemed to hold its own intricate designs, as crazy as it seemed. Luscious curves still decorated their hips and the swell between their legs. They were striking and endearing like a tribe of taunting sirens on top of a cliff in the middle of the sea. I gazed at them for longer than I should have."

"I think I could have loved you."

"I know you've been through an ordeal, but you don't want to start drowning yourself in liquor. You'll find that it's easy to do, but by the time you realize it could start to be a problem, you're already over that cliff."

"She wants her freedom."

"She held her hand out in front of her. 'Wait.'No, I groaned and then cleared my throat. 'I mean okay, I can wait."

"But my thoughtsbreed truthsthat my heartcan'tbare.Like Melody."

"He grabbed my hand again. That same warmth hit me, seeping into my skin. I bit my lip and forced myself not to relish in the tingling heat. Samuel's eyes widened. Fangs erupted from his gums. His nostrils flared as he inhaled me."

"Sorry. I would be bad for you."

"Ever since I drank your blood, my head has been crazy... I won't lie. The connection gives me a lot of power over you. I could read your thoughts and speak to you wherever I am, even several miles away."

"You're going to ruin me."

"It used to be that when I made mistakes like this or came close to losing my life, I would just call Miguel. He'd drop it all to come to me-his movies, media engagements no matter how big they were, and even his criminal activities went on hold for me. It made me think he cared.Miguel canceled an appearance on the Dave Letterman show just because he called me and thought my voice sounded like something was wrong.He directed his gaze to the bruises decorating my face. 'You said you weren't hurt.With those big arms, he picked me up and slammed the door behind us. 'When I ask you if you're okay, you tell me the truth."

"I'd been just like her, a youngster with something to say, a rebel through street art, leaving my mark on public buildings, to taunt the government and humor the public."

"Draw: For the most part, a draw occurs when it appears that neither side will win."

"And you're absolutely breathtaking."

"Fine, I'll live. Just give me time to fill the void you left."

"I shuddered at the thought of what I would do for her if she asked-kill, steal, desecrate the holy god Ambi, destroy cities and masses of people just at her command."