"A slow, knowing smile came over Keirah's face. Her heart filled with happiness, believing the Gwarda gypsy sitting next to her at this very moment was worthy of her beloved sister."

"Hey, look who's alive! I knew you were too tough to leave this f@$#ed up place without a fight, and you do realize that if you had wanted to get into Wharick's bed, there certainly would have been easier ways to get there than getting yourself poisoned,' He smiled widely."

"Kathel smoothed out his shirt in an exaggerated manner. 'It was the least I could do. I owed her one,' he said referring to when Keirah saved Willow. He looked at Keirah and winked. Yeah, so not the thing to do right now, Keirah thought."

"If measuring by this earthly realm's time then it's been years but in the unseen realm above known as Vehaven, it has been but a moment."

"She knew without a doubt what he had said was true. They were created for each other. Destined for this time of reconciliation. For Keirah, it was a moment, no, it was the moment of a lifetime, and it would forever be engraved on her heart and etched in her soul to be remembered long after forever."

"Darius began to walk away, but as if he thought better of it, turned back to face Wharick. He stared into the Gwardian's eyes for a moment and then spoke quietly. 'If ever a blade comes that close to my neck brother, the only debt you owe me is to make sure it connects."

"We're traveling into the territory of I don't care. Let's not take that trip, hmm?'Arrogant. Mean. Still gorgeous."

"His shoulder-length hair was a rich, dark-brown color with a slight wave to it and it flowed behind him as he ran into the center of the gypsies. He was tall, muscular, and so beautifully handsome, yet primal. He looked magnificent."

"You don't have a mommy,' Gunnar proclaimed as he walked around Breccan. 'Ok, I want my surrogate,' Breccan said as he sped up to catch the other men. Darius came forward to walk in step beside Wharick and whispered in a discreet tone, 'Please, let me kill him."

"You may run from the calling, but, you will find no real peace until you fulfill your destiny."

"He put his wrists out in front, and as he spoke the words engraved on them, he turned his arms around slowly. 'Dum spiramus tuebimur, which in English reads: while we breath, we shall defend,' he told her."

"A warmth spread throughtout Keirah's body, in part from the closeness of Kathel, but mostly because she knew that he had meant Wharick. Kathel hadn't even spoken Wharick's name, but at the very inclination of her mate, Keirah's body had responded."

"Wharick, on the other hand, remained there with his eyebrows raised slightly as he waited for her to complain about his behavior. 'You have no right, Wharick,' she said sternly. And there it is, he thought feeling more than pleased that he knew her better than she thought."

"Sorvus's eyes widened then fell as she accepted whatever fate had in store for her. 'It will be as it will, Thristan.' Thristan looked at her intently, bringing his head back with a frustrated sigh. 'Ah, this 'destiny' crap you all talk about!"

"We all have scars, Wharick. Mine happen to be on the the outside,' Kathel answered but knew what he said wasn't entirely true. He bore scars on the inside as well."

"Your fiery spirit excites me, Keirah, like nothing I have ever felt before. Yet I have the overwhelming desire to put you over my knee when you don't do as you are told."

"Yes, I can see why so many are taken with you. You're so, so, so..' Vincent's words trailed off. He gazed off into the trees. 'What's the word I'm looking for?''Adorably handsome?' Breccan offered with a smug smile.'Incredibly stuck on yourself.'Vincent quickly gave his retort. 'Seriously, you're not that cute. And I mean that in every offending way possible."

"His eyes widened and he sucked in a small portion of his bottom lip as if trying to control his temper which she had no doubt was brutally savage. He didn't back off, only let out a short puff of air.'Oh, I'm good with brats. I've broken dozens of them."

"So, Gwardian, are you going to stand there, or may I have some privacy so I can bathe? We aren't all as full of ourselves as you are."

"I'm pleased to know you realize she is mine, gypsy. Care to explain why it is that I find you here in the Gwarda arena and touching what belongs to me?"

"The bantering between them only caused their connection to spark that much more. Instead of forcing them to be at odds with each other, arguing did the opposite. It caused the flame to rise on the existing fire which churned inside of them, and they knew it and relished in the burn it created. There was a storm coming. As their desire intensified so did the turbulence of passion grow increasingly wild, demanding nothing less than consumption."

"Hi there. I am the Gwarda, Breccan, the good-looking, sweet one.' He winked. 'The one thundering, yet, remaining aloof,' he said loudly and continued, 'is Darius. He's a savage, you know,' he said quietly, leaning closer like he was telling her a secret."

"Thristan looked at her with a bewildered look on his face. 'You think to bind me as the new race will be bound?' he asked solemnly. Sorvus smiled. 'I do not think to bind you, my friend; I think to free you."

"Kathel did not back down at all. 'Well, Keirah told me she was suddenly unattached, if you know what I mean. And I figured, what the hell, why not have a go at her myself,' Kathel said enthusiastically."

"Surrounding the two of them was the love they shared but also an overwhelming feeling of fear--fear of a future filled with the emptiness which would consume them if they remained apart. A fear of a future of being separated forever, and it gripped both of their hearts, demanding preventative action."

"She considered him further and decided he could definitely pass for a pirate. No, she thought, correcting herself. More like a sea captain, a younger version of the captain from that old movie where the pretty woman rents an old sea captain's house only to find the place haunted by the sea captain himself.She let out a heavy breath. Man, she loved that movie."

"Isn't he beautiful? His silky hair, his muscles so strong and powerful yet amazingly, he trembles slightly at my touch, and the more I stroke him, the more he leans into my hand,' Keirah said her eyes remaining on the horse. Yes, Keirah, the horse is a fine one,' Wharick said as he slowly walked closer to her. 'What I said was not to you, Gwarda,' she teased, 'I was speaking to the horse."

"Breccan stood for a second, deep in thought of what Darius had just described. 'Dude, seriously, you gotta get a hobby. Oh, and anyone else want their mothers right now? Cause, damn, that was some scary shit,' he added."