My life won’t be ruled by the evil of others. My life is mine. No one else’s. No matter what they’ve tried to do to me.

No? Then why do I feel like I’m under a spell, as if something is gripping me, and I’m helpless to free myself.” His voice dipped impossibly lower, more growl than words, his fingers lulling me.

I wanted to make it official and move in with him. Sadly, Mindy would feel like I abandoned her for a mere boyfriend, something she’d never do. And my dad, well, he wouldn’t be happy at all with cohabitation. Too old-fashioned.

I was drawn to her light. The one so much more brilliant than anything the stars could manage. The one that kept calling to me, over and over again, reminding me what I’d been missing all my immortal life.

Nadya, when he comes for you, when he figures it out, it’s going to be a firestorm.

A liar knew a liar.

I want you in my arms. I want you in my bed. I want to bury myself deep inside you and feel you shatter beneath me, again and again. I want you daily, nightly, repeatedly, constantly, forever. And when I know it’s safe to take you, you’d best be ready. If you’re not, you’d better run and hide, because it will take a legion of angels and demons to keep me off of you.

You know this, Nadya. You know it already.” He started to untie my robe again in slow sweeping movements. My hands dropped away. “My light.” He held my gaze. “My love.

A man,” he said, deep voice like velvet, warm breath caressing my cheek, “knows when to take action and when to be still, knows his strengths and his weaknesses, knows control when it is necessary and release when it is essential. And a man” – his voice had dropped deep, throaty, close to my ear – “knows when a woman wants him and how to please her.

Come now, Miss Snow. We both know that’s a lie.” He forced her gaze upward, his fingers slipping into her hair against her scalp, loosening her bun. A pin popped and fell to the floor. He dipped his head low, lips hovering close. “You want to indulge.