Rachel Vincent

Whatever your weakness, there's a hellion to exploit it.

This isn't happening to you, princess,Ђќ Sabine snapped before I could do more than shake my head. 'This is happening to us. While you spent the past few months prancing around in ignorant bliss, we were all being possessed, or kidnapped, or stalked by this hellion. So dry your tears and take off the tiara, because this is a call to arms, not a pity party. You're not going to find any sympathy here.

At least you don't need a prescription for tequila.

Did you think you could dump me, and I'd bounce back to her and miraculously be happy? I'm not a Ping-Pong ball. You can't just swat me back and forth and expect me to be content wherever I land. If Tod dumped you tomorrow, would you come back to me?

Come on, Kaylee, before I choke on testosterone and melodrama.

So, did the costume come with a condom, or is that sold separately?

The school sent you flowers. I'm sure that totally makes up for the fact that they hired the psychotic, soul-stealing pedophile who murdered you in your own home.

He's like the Rasputin of reapers.

You already said that,Ђќ Sabine said, folding the wrapper back from her burger. 'You said it a lot, actually. Which supports my theory that apologies are basically pointless. They don't fix anything, right? That's why I rarely bother.

What if the house catches fire?Ђќ 'Roast marshmallows. And if it floods, you'll go down with the ship. If there's a tornado, I'll meet both you and this house in Oz, after my shift. Got it?

But all I said, as I dug a five from my pocket to pay for my soda, was, \'You have a friend?\' Tod scowled. \'Well, I wouldn't call him a friend according to the traditional definition, but in the sense that he imposes on me constantly and isn't afraid to point out my flaws, I'd say he qualifies.\' \'Sounds more like a cousin.

You thought you could figure that out online? Somehow I don't think hellions are much into social networking.

A smart woman would have shut up. Did I? Hell no. Intelligence is overrated anyway.

And I met Madeline's necromancer. His name's Luca.\' \'A death detector?\' Tod made a face. \'That's creepy.\' \'It gets weirder. He's dating Sophie.\' \'On purpose?

We're days away from going full scale against Malone, and in the meantime, we're under fire from above. And I'm about as useful as a three-legged dog.Ђќ 'You're much more useful than any kind of dog, mi vida.Ђќ Marc purred and pressed me into the counter, his hands on my hips. I couldn't resist a smile. I was a real sucker for Spanish.

It was an addiction. A pointless, self-destructive addiction. But really, is there any other kind?

Had I just begged for an audience with Death?

I was fine with that. The very idea of Death knowing my name made my skin crawl. Even if this particular Death was only one of many, and almost too pretty to look at.

If Eastlake High School were the universe, I would be one of the moons circling Planet Emma, constantly hidden by her shadow, and glad to be there. Nash Hudson would be one of the stars: too bright to look at, too hot to touch and at the center of his own solar system.

What took you so long?Ђќ Nash asked, as he slid into the passenger seat and pulled the door closed. 'I stopped to donate all your underwear to the homeless. You're gonna wanna take care of those tighty whitiesЂ'they're all you've got left.Ђќ He leaned against the door, either too tired or too drunk to sit up. 'And to think, most people don't understand your sense of humor.Ђќ 'Fools, all of them.

Why do they call it losing your virginity, anyway? It's Not Like I don't know where I left it.\' \'You'd be surprised how many people don't.

Is that a joke? Please tell me you're joking. -Sophie I never joke about carnivorous bunnies. -Luca

Sneak out.\' He shrugged, as if that should have been a no-brainer. But that was easy for him to say. He was dead. What else could they do to him, take away his birthday?

We haven't met I'm Kori Daniels. If you don't get that gun out of my face, I'm gonna take it, then I'm gonna break your jaw so I can unhinge it and shove your pistol down your throat. That way the bullet goes through the long way.

I signed on for the role of 'boyfriend,' not 'conscience.' If you want wholesome and ethical, you'll have to look elsewhere. But I promise that won't be half as much fun as this is .Ђќ His hand slid down my side and over my hip, and my heart beat faster.

She just got out of the hospital. Why don't you go gossip behind her back, like decent people?

Dad, I can count the number of normal school days I've had this year on one hand.

His gaze burned into mine, like he could see past my eyes into parts of me no one had ever seen, and I knew I was seeing the same in him. No one else had ever seen him so vulnerable before, like if I pushed him away, he might crumble into pieces that could never be put together again. Yet there was strength, too. He was strong beneath that fragile need, and I knew that I could never fall with him next to me. If I tripped, he would catch me. If I lost my balance, he would find it.

Bold. Risky. Dramatic. I approve.

Hey.\' Tod squeezed my hand to draw me out of my thoughts. \'I think death looks good on you.