Amanda Bouchet

“I don’t know why it’s not universally acknowledged that looking back is a terrible idea. It only makes going forward that much harder.”

“Temporary homecomings are bittersweet. Sometimes it's better not to go back at all than to have to leave again.”

“We were friends before.” Sort of. We never tried to kill each other.”

“Happiness is a strange, frightening, fragile feeling when you're not used to it.”

“The ice inside me melts. Suddenly, I'm burning up and terrified, scared I'll be too weak to resist.Scratch that - I'm petrified I've already given in.”

“Don’t you get it Cat? You’re the key. I knew it the day I laid eyes on you.”

“I turn back to Griffin. His expression is stony and unreadable, although if I had to take a wild guess, I’d say it was tending toward ominous.”

“I want him everywhere. I burn for him in places he hasn't even touched.”

“It’s just you always…” “Run,” I finish for him… I gaze up at him. Soft light plays over his striking features – the hard planes of his cheekbones, his strong jaw, the slight hook in his nose. “I’ll still run, Griffin. The difference now is that I’ll run to you.” He looks at me for a long time, his gray eyes inscrutable. “You’d better.” I arch an eyebrow. “Or you’ll spank me?”

“You’re the shield, and I’m the sword.”

“I roll my eyes. "Oh, the woe of being adored."Beta Sinta grins. "It's a hard life.”

“Unless they're utterly heartless, people put a certain value on human life. It keeps us from killing each other off for no reason. But for leaders like you and me, a moral high ground is too absolute. There are choices to be made.”

“I dread this power he has over me. It makes me want to tell him all my secrets and see if he still wants me.”

“He’s barely finished himself inside me when my release hits. My thighs tense. The breath stalls in my lungs, and then I kick back my head and let out the loudest, throatiest, and most breathless moan in the history of all history, going boneless in a blissful rush. “Gods, I missed you,” Griffin rasps, holding me as I throb around him.The high-impact tremors fade into sweet, lingering aftershocks. I look up at him with heavy-lidded eyes. My lips part, but no words come out. Even the drag of frosty air over my kiss-swollen lips is almost too sensual to bear.Griffin quirks a dark eyebrow, looking smug. “That was easy.” I grin, falling in love with him all over again. “Then do it again.”