"Their eyes drifted directly behind her. At the same time she felt the presence of a rather large, imposing figure, then the sudden heat permeated the air around her. He's behind me, isn't he?"

"There were three, very large males standing above her, staring. She started from left to right. Big green-eyed male, big green-eyed male and, hey, lookie there, another big green-eyed male. Dear gods. Did I fall so hard that now I am seeing three of them?"

"He was determined to stick with his plan, convincing himself to stay neutral and detached. That's the plan!Then she leaned over him."

"He was determined to save her, to be her hero, to give her a reason why the gods had seen fit to place him inside her visions. Gods, he wanted to rescue her. After all, she had rescued him; she had become his heroine a long time ago, before his death became imminent."

"He quickly left the room, and when he shut the door behind him he leaned his back against it, tilted his head back, and put his palms to his eyes before bowing his head. '....That was too close,' he murmured under his breath.."

"We are bastards of the gods, Sorvus, you and I. I once shared the dream you seem to think you are now living. The dream of living here, in Northbrook, the birthplace of our mothers.' Thais turned his head to the trees. He heard something. 'Such deception."

"He was the most wickedly handsome creature she had ever seen in all her days. His hair was black as night, his stature large, his muscles were etched with precision into his smooth skin, every last ripple chiseled into wicked perfection."

"The fact that he got to save the Gwardian's mate and managed to piss him off at the same time, well that was just a bonus and pure luck of circumstance. After all, he had gypsy blood inside of him and could not stop the satisfaction he got from pissing people off."

"Kathel, you have the face of a scoundrel.' Her eyes drifted slowly over his face and landed for a moment on his full lips. 'With lips created for sin.''Keirah,' he whispered, gently squeezing her hands. 'Talk like that is not helping matters."

"Without even thinking about it, she reached out for warmth, reached out for acceptance. She was hurt and as much as she tried to build up the wall of protection and never let anyone in again, Wharick had changed her building capabilities. Wharick had changed her heart."

"It was the simplest of acts, the smallest of gestures, yet no one had taken the time to do something kind for her in a very long time. No one had made her feel special. Unbeknownst to her, a single, unfamiliar tear fell down her cheek as her worn and wounded body fell into a deep, safe slumber."

"Had Keirah and her sisters known what was set in motion the day their stones appeared and how personally they would be affected by it, they would have still fought the darkness, still battled for what belonged to them."

"I do not belong to anyone! Certainly not to a self-centered, brute of man, err...being or whatever it is you are, person!' she fumbled."

"Even though he knew both of their hearts were taken by others, he recognized beauty when he saw it and appreciated it as any male would."

"She looked up into Wharick's ethereal face, her eyes drifting across his features. Close your mouth, Keirah. Her brain finally caught up with her face's reaction."

"Are you telling me, or are you asking me?' Kathel said sarcastically.'Depends on your answer,' Wharickreplied. 'Yes, Gwardian. It would be my honor to be your second.' 'Then I was telling you,' Wharick told him."

"Truth was she liked that he came after her. She liked the thought of being under submission to him in an intimate way. It was a welcome desire which Wharick alone sparked."

"Oh, don't look at this frail, old druid like that, Solomon. I may be slow in my movements, buy my mind is sharp as a dagger's tip.' Lazerin smirked."

"You're causing the world to spin again, Keirah,' Wharick teased about her druid gift with nature. 'You out of control? Do you need something to settle you down? he asked."

"Such anger. Do you want to talk about it?' Vincent called out. When there was no reply, Vincent picked up the whistling where he'd left off, smiling at the success of wreaking havoc on Darius. Vincent didn't hate Darius, or any other Gwarda for that matter, he simply got pleasure from messing with the race."

"If he sees you unclothed, I will have to kill him,' he spoke in her ear. She didn't know if she should believe him or not, but she took no chances. 'Tell him to leave, then,' she said calmly but sternly."

"I should take off this ridiculous hood so they can see my face and catch a glimpse at real perfection.' (Vincent)'Then you'd just be an enormous man with a hump and a beautiful face,' Breccan said.Vincent hissed. 'And the fact remains you do think I'm beautiful,' he said as he started to leave."

"He didn't need a curse to realize the desire of his heart was to fight the Horfins of this land, the Kravens, and the darkness that had swayed his brothers toward evil. He would continue to fight, continue to lead. Curse or no curse."

"Come here, female!' a thundering voice called out to Sorvus. A thrill of excitement at this male's voice instantly shot up her spine. It is him, she thought. It is my Destoul."

"I may have been born into this world to be the Gwardian, but I was created for you, for us. You are the reason I exist, the reason I breathe. You are the light to my darkness, and without you I am lost forever."

"Vincent made his way closer to the group and shuffled his feet while he watched them embrace. Breccan's head remained buried in the huddle while his large hand reached out, grabbed Vincent's good wing, and pulled the archangel into the fold."

"The new race of warriors would be their hope, their salvation, their loves' destiny. But they too could be tainted. They too could be seduced by the black forces they had been created to fight against."

"Never try to stop me again,' he told her. It was a sensuous command of a lover and brought a chill of excitement in Mahgen's spirit, spreading throughout every inch of her body.'No, Kathel,' she said, 'if that is my punishment, I shall always try and stop you."

"Why aren't I seeing more tracks?' After no reply he repeated himself. 'Helllloooo, why aren't there more tracks?' His eyes examined the ground. Then he suddenly saw a foot? Breccan slowly lifted his head to see Darius, obviously irritated, standing in front of him with his arms crossed over his chest."

"Love knew no bounds, knew no limitations. It looked beyond the unseen realm and reached in for a taste, for a moment of regenerated happiness, and in that moment fate was altered and the destinies of many were changed. Their land, their Northbrook, they discovered, was a very magical place."

"Ummm, anyone else getting the creeps? Breccan asked. 'Okay, let's vote. Who here is in favor of daylight? Come on, show of hands. Don't be shy."

"Even among the ugliness of evil that resonated throughout the green hills and flowering landscape, Northbrook was simply breathtaking to those who took the time to appreciate it."

"Make it stop,' Vincent murmured, coming out of sleep and pulling the blanket over his head. 'I think your mutt is howling for you."

"You know you really have to beware of gypsies in these parts,' he said teasingly, dismounting from his horse...Keirah gave him a small smile that she didn't quite feel. 'Good thing I have the Gwarda here to protect me,' she teased back."

"You know, Breccan, we were all born into this realm for a purpose. We were born to live in that forest,' Gunnar said, pointing ahead. He swallowed deeply as he continued to take in the sight of Surchin. Breccan came up behind Gunnar. 'And you know, we are all gonna die there. How convenient. Yep, we are all gonna find finality before we've taken a woman. So not the way I wanted things to go."

"Thais believed that in defeat the downtrodden, courageous soul would rise with the fiercest determination for victory. That is when the true spirit of warriors shined through and soared. A new day would dawn and with it a renewed hope would rise above the blood and the ash, strengthening even the weakest and igniting a birth of revolution."

"She knew from her visions that she would be one of them, one of the chosen, set apart and marked for her mate. Unlike her, the other chosen women lived on earth, regenerated from the soul of a lost love, the most cherished of the heart, a Destoul."

"Love knew no bounds, know no limitations. It looked beyond the unseen realm and reached in for a taste, for a moment of regenerated happiness, and in that moment fate was altered and the destinies of many were changed. Their land, their Northbrook, they discovered, was a very magical place."

"You have family, only a brother you clearly don't like to speak about. Fine. That's all right.' She ran her fingers through her hair. 'But don't ever say dreams are a waste. It's a miracle I can still speak of dreams and futures after all I've been through. There's love in this world, Thristan, love that can encompass the heart abiding in humans' mortal, fragile bodies. And there are stupid little humans like me, dreamers, who believe one day they'll find it."

"Careful, Miss Cavanaugh,' he whispered. 'You don't know what you're asking.' He lowered his face to her neck, dragging his lips along her skin up to her ear. 'If I steal more from you, if I give you more, I'll want it all and won't let up for a very, very long time."

"Dammnnn,' Breccan slowly spoke each letter with a grin on his face that spread from ear to ear. 'Impressive flames, guy."

"You will answer this day for your treason.' Then he added solemnly, 'You break my heart, brother.' Before Eyramus could blink Thristan was gone."

"Thank you, I think. And what is your name?' Keirah called out a bit more loudly, as she watched Darius retreat...'His name is of no consequence.' A male's loud, booming voice came from behind the two men who remained. The sound of his voice was gritty, husky, and the sound brought a spark to Keirah's blood."

"One day, when you are sitting with my sister, Mahgen, around a fire, and you're feeling how perfectly right it is to be next to her, this moment, this tease of desire between us, will be long forgotten."

"Oh, now look what you've done. You've gone and pissed him off,' Breccan said as he stood behind two of the gypsies, one of his large hands clamped down on each of their shoulders."

"Darius did not take the bait, showing no signs of anger or irritation. 'So, what you're saying is that you ugly f@*ks are not half breeds and that makes you superior? Please, do wow me with your druid sorcery."

"We are immortal beings, Thristan. You cannot hate me throughout all eternity."

"You and your sister will be going with us this day, and that is not up for discussion.' He moved closer. 'Nor will it be an argument.' He stepped even closer and leaned his head slightly downward, his lips near her face. 'If you have a problem with that, little girl,' he commented at her display of stubbornness, 'then I will be more than happy to have Darius put you over his shoulder and carry you out of here. Either way, you will do as you are told, and behave yourself."

"He waited at her side, staring... hovering. She had the distinct impression this man wasn't used to being disobeyed. My, but he was an irritating sea captain."

"There was no mistaking what the feeling of fullness in his heart meant. They were mates and were bound together. Forever. Wharick's green eyes closed for a moment as he absorbed the feeling of completeness their bond provided his spirit."