"Firen didn't waste any time setting up the meeting with Egnatious. The following day she was in such a rush to tell me about it that she burst into my room without knocking and found Andrew and me in an intimate and compromising position reminiscent of the game Twister. Also, I cannot confirm or deny if there was food involved. Let's just say I toppled over in embarrassment, taking Andrew down with me in a great heap. Firen didn't fare any better, as she nearly knocked herself out when she ran into the doorframe in an attempt to escape. We were both scarred for life, especially after Firen apologized for walking in on our 'naked fun time, which was apparently what Joseph called it. There were some things people should never know, and that was one of them."

"I wish the Fallen would just come to us for a change.Ironically, Fallen Angels dropped from the sky and surrounded us.'I wish I had a chocolate cake! I exclaimed, staring up.No cake appeared, though I did get a few wry glances. Andrew's body shook with silent laughter while Lucia gaveme raised eyebrows.'What? It worked for the Fallen Angels."

"We need the Fallen Legion, I said without preamble, trying to catch my breath after running after her.'And I need an evil-proof bubble to put Jules in, Firen said dryly.'That'll teach me to start off a conversation with a demand, I grumbled."

"We want to fight.'And I want J.K. Rowling to keep writing in the Potterverse, but I know that's never going to happen, I said blithely."

"To see someone you love in so much pain-especially emotional pain that can't be remedied-was the worst form of torture."

"We both must burn this midnight oil together. You're just as new to me as I am you."

"Well, the only reason we're friends is because you can rock a tweed suit, she informed, tone mock serious. 'So if you want to keep me around, I expect more tweed."

"A part of me sought the light in all the people I knew, but with the Shadows, it was like bringing them back from a subterfuge comma. Literally tearing the veil of blackness down and showing them the luminescence of light."

"If this is where you ask me to run around in my birthday suit, I'm not entirely comfortable with that, I said, smirking."

"When the nurse leaves, Doctor Rose mouths, 'Act like you're in pain. Then she mimics a painful expression in case Summer doesn't understand. On the contrary, Summer's an expert at interpreting body language and reading lips. It's all thanks to her observant nature while enslaved on the Cosmos. Who else could tell that Peter's discomfort is due to him wearing the same pair of underwear for a week straight? Ah, yes, she always knew when day six and seven approached. She watched the crew member with much amusement as he waddled, pulled wedgies, and scratched his bum relentlessly. Not that anyone else cared to know that little nugget of information."

"Mmm. Sebastian moaned. 'It's so delicious. He laughed then. 'It's not the Poisonous Desert; it's the Oreo Desert. He scooped up handfuls of dirt and stones and funneled it into his mouth. He licked his palms, his teeth grinding against rock.'Did the plant scramble his brains? Firen asked, her lips twitching just a smidgen.'The plant's poison makes you delusional, Gabriella informed as Egnatious and Firen yanked Sebastian to his feet. 'He'll probably be a bit Looneyville for a while."

"I'm sorry, he says. No two words were ever truer.Still, she says nothing. Once a shield, now her taciturnity is brandished like a blade, carving away his sanity. She's the flaw in the paragon of life-the reason angels choose to dive to their downfalls in fiery comets of stardust."

"I tapped around on my new Miracle Phone-a gift from Joseph-as I listened to the discussion about our next move. I wasn't trying to be rude, but I'd recently become addicted to this one game on my Miracle Phone. Really, I was listening. I could multitask like no other. Trust me, there's an app for that."

"Struggling transforms her captor into a Chinese finger trap. She's suffocating. Sucking in air without relief. Her lungs expand. Contract. Expand. They fill with lies and broken promises. With despair and lost hope. Each inhale is empty. Invisible hands reach into her body and constrict around her windpipe. She watches her friends collapse like supernovae, their cognizance disappearing into a black hole. A black hole she's quickly cascading into. The dark consumes, bleeds into her vision. She blinks. Catches icy blue eyes peeking out from the shadows."

"Death and his scythe do not come. No sweeping black capes or ethereal escapes. There's no pearly gate, no prisms of colors as his soul slips away. The stillness is cold steel. The silence is empty with no memory to mend it."

"Landon drops the bloody knife and stares at Summer like he doesn't even know her anymore. The truth is, she'll never be the girl she was seven months ago. Too much has happened. Too much has changed.'Why'd you do that? Summer cries.'To save you, he says.But there's nothing left to save."

"You didn't tell Summer about it, did you?'What? Gage scoffs. 'Yeah, telling your girlfriend the Angel of Death might visit her if some switch is flipped is normal pillow talk."

"Your hair is like butterflies, Sebastian said, giggling like a child.'That's nice, Firen said impatiently. 'Keep moving.'Fantastic. I always like my days better with a touch of insanity, Gabriella quipped."

"Seconds ebb and wane. She's not afraid of her voice anymore, but she's not entirely sure she trusts it. She's seen the damage caused with a single word. Right now, each one is a weapon, a conduit of war, and she won't just throw them out there all willy-nilly."

"Jules lips quivered, and I feared she was about to cry. Then she asked, 'He bit off more than he could chew, didn't he? She made a motion as if she was biting into a tough piece of steak.Gabriella's lips sealed shut as she tried to hide her grin, though she failed at it when Andrew asked, 'Was he eating? He turned desperately to Gabriella, confused.Jules wasn't about to cry, she was trying not to laugh! She giggled then, the sound tinkling and odd in the outlandish setting.Andrew straightened and shook his head at Gabriella. 'Did you see him eat?"

"Maybe the Society was right all along. From the very beginning, that's what they called her. A time bomb.Tick, tick, tick."

"Her thoughts pulsated through him, frantic, desperate, pleading for him to stay behind.'I won't-can't, he murmured. 'If you're going, so am I.She exhaled a laborious sigh and flung her arms around his neck; her warm breath fanned over his skin as she tightened her grip. 'If you die, Andrew, I'll track you across multiple dimensions just to say I warned you, she cautioned, voice tender."

"Death. It was something I had to think about once. Weird, right? Strange that death was ever an inevitable end, but it wasn't anymore. Not really. I eluded it. Tricked it. It was an odd concept-the world aged, moved forward, yet I . . . didn't."

"When I see your scars, do I want to erase them? Absolutely. But not your physical scars. The real ones, beneath the surface. The ones that compel you to stay silent or force you to cringe. Those are the scars I want to obliterate. His finger circles the dip of a burn mark on her forearm. 'This is a battle trophy and nothing to be ashamed of. Every one of your scars makes you more beautiful to me."

"The truth, as much as people acted like they wanted to hear it, was sometimes too cruel and harsh."

"At the sound of her name, Lucia's blue eyes honed in on me. She cocked her head to the side as if puzzled. 'Why me? she wondered.'Lucia, you exploded with power after Ehno was killed. I shot Ehno an apologetic look. 'I felt your sorrow before I even knew something was wrong. It hit me like a freight train of boulders. You made the sky rain fireballs with red lightning. Need I say more?"

"The aftermath of bearing shackles is an exquisite devastation, fraught with the ravages of survival. Even though one is no longer held captive-be that from a person, a government, or one's inner self-the scars are deeply engraved into one's psyche, and there's no remedy for the soul. Many have the misconception that freedom equals happiness forever and ever.That's a wicked delusion."

"To have reservations is to show true leadership. To have certainty without question, to lead people to battle with no qualms, or to prosecute without hesitation are qualities of a tyrant."

"He strained his ears, and the darkness felt heavier than before. Oppressive.'We're hungry. That came from behind him.'They smell tasty, a voice to his left hissed.'I don't like this, Andrew said, feeling like the world around them was spinning with voices, taunting, echoing them.'I don't like this, a voice parroted. 'I don't like this. I don't like this. I don't like this."

"I think I found your vampire, Andrew said, except this time he wasn't so amused.However, Gabriella was, her smile huge as she laughed, the sound a trill in the densely packed cold air.'You think this is funny? The words came out surly, but Andrew couldn't stop his lips from twitching over her amusement.'I thought they'd be bigger, she said, stifling another round of giggles. 'Are you okay?'Just a flesh wound."

"Shut the front door! Jenna exclaimed.Andrew disappeared into the foyer, and when he returned, his eyebrows were furrowed in confusion. 'The door is shut?"

"Awe! Leaving so soon? Gabby said sweetly, holding the door open. 'I was just about to pull out the gun for you to play single-player Russian Roulette."

"It's okay. I'm-'Fine? Joseph chimed in. 'Obviously not. You need to be checked out by a doctor. 'I am a doctor. I rolled my eyes at him, but that didn't deter him from his train of thought. 'Not that kind of doctor.'What is 'that kind of doctor' going to say when they see my shimmering pink blood, Joseph? I changed my voice to mimic one of a concerned doctor. 'I'm sorry ma'am, you appear to be suffering from a mild case of Pretty Pretty Princess syndrome. Have you ingested any magical woodland faeries recently?"

"You should've told me, she repeats. 'Because here's a news flash: You might've wanted to shelter me, but there's nowhere you can hide me that'll keep me safe from what's inside my head."

"I'm not your boyfriend! I snapped, trying to gently move her hands away from my body.'How can you say that? Sara asked in horror.'It's shockingly effortless, I replied. 'My vocal chords vibrate, and my mouth and tongue articulate. I can even do it without thinking. I had to remind myself to stay calm, and sarcasm was the best way to do that.'When are you going to give me a key to your house so I don't have to knock like some guest? Sara asked, coming at me again.I backed away. 'How about never? Is never good for you?Sara, undeterred, said, 'You're the reason I go to therapy on Fridays.'The plot thickens! Gabby exclaimed for comedic relief."

"Joseph, you're out of clean towels. Lucia poked her head into the living room, the rest of her hidden behind the wall. Her red hair dripped water onto my wooden floors.'She's in the buff. Jenna guffawed. Gabriella rolled her eyes, beaming.I rose. 'Go back to the bathroom. I'll bring you a towel, I ordered Lucia. She disappeared down the hall.'You have naked angels running around your house, Jenna continued through her laughter. Gabby laughed louder."

"A glacial chill rushes through Gage. He whips around just in time to see arms clutch Summer around the middle and drag her into the dark. Panic seizes him, and he takes off after her, regardless of the chaos brewing behind him. Her cry of surprise echoes all around them, drilling into his bones."

"How ya doing? Gabby's face came into view, and she grinned down at me. She'd stopped doing her healing thing, and the pain rushed in.'I'm just peachy, I quipped, throat scratchy. 'Only hurts when I breathe or blink or exist, if I'm being honest."

"Every Forsaken in a mile radius can probably hear you. You're just asking for trouble if you two don't stop whipping out the measuring stick.'It's his fault, Avery snaps, pointing at Julian.'Shut up, ya wanker.They start in on each other again. They yell as if they both have megaphones to their mouths, standing inches apart. Each vulgar insult is more illogical than the last."

"Gabby, Jenna cried. 'It's so horrible. I can't believe this happened.'Jenna, I said in a soothing voice, 'I'm alive and okay. No worries.She sniffled into the phone. 'No, it's not that.I waited a beat. 'What?'The bridesmaid dresses are all wrong! she wailed.'Wait a second, I said. 'You aren't upset over my being dead for four days?'I knew you'd be fine, she explained, brushing off the subject. 'But these dresses? I don't know what to do. They're the wrong color, and they're hideous! She went into a hysterical fit of tears."

"The Ferryman will transport us across the moat, Chris informed. 'Yeah. This seems legit, Gabriella quipped as Chris helped her onto the boat. Andrew followed behind.'Are you sure this isn't a trick? Egnatious asked.Again, uncertainty filtered into Chris's blue eyes, but he nodded anyway. 'This is the only way."

"If you decide to war with us, you will fail and suffer an eternity of misery, he informed, his tone steady and cold. 'Is that explicit enough?'Oh, don't be so dramatic, I said cheerfully, getting in touch with my inner smartass."

"He's focused on something-or someone-over her shoulder.The harmonious warbling of the rainforest morphs into organized disarray, as if a primitive maestro has thrown conducting to the wind and let Mother Nature take over. Birds trill a warning as the breeze rustles the plant life. Wings flutter overhead. A crescendo of stridulation changes tempo, the insects seemingly performing a sonata as the rhythm shifts yet again.'What-who is it? Summer asks in a strained whisper.His gaze lands on her, his brows furrowing. 'The Forsaken."

"He holds her for an eternity. Time cascades into the void of the past. She inhales his scent. Full of man and strength and yearning. And she wonders why she ever doubted their relationship. Why she let Julian's soothing touch coax her into loving him too. Gage is everything. Gage is hers."

"The night surrounds, breathes across her skin. They're lost in the shadows of the moon."

"Just in case you're wondering, Gage says, breaking the silence, 'this alliance of ours doesn't mean I like you.'Feeling's mutual. Julian tosses him a disdainful look."

"She draws back, yet refuses to lose skin contact. Golden light flickers across his face. He is the night, the stars. His soul shines so brightly, she could pour it into a jar, and it'd be as bright as the sun."

"There was an image in my mind-an expectation of what it would be like when I finally gave myself fully to a man. It wasn't like this. It was always at night with candles flickering lazily, music filling the air with a sexy melody, and maybe a bubble bath. But no. It was infinitely better, and there was no froo froo, stereotypical scene that played out. It was incredible. Brilliant. Amazing. Indescribable, really. Like all the planets in the galaxy aligned for a perfect moment in time. As if this was the beginning of time. From now until the rest of eternity, everything finally had meaning."

"I'm not above using unsavory beings to kick the Gods' asses, but the Phantoms are too unpredictable for my taste, I said."

"It took me several minutes to persuade myself to watch the news. During which time I gave myself a stern talking to. That turned into me considering a local pub that would be the perfect place to drown my sorrows in a barrel of tequila, though after much introspection, I scratched the idea just to avoid needless drunken embarrassment. Then, admittedly, I contemplated pouncing Andrew for another steamy romp session. Despite its proven potency to assuage stress and tension, I decided now was not the time to indulge in explosive sexcapades."