Quotes from Kelley Armstrong

I really don't know why we even bother trying to be subtle around you." "Neither do I. It's not like he isn't going to realize he's being vetted as daughter-dating material." Rafe grinned. "So we are dating?" "No. You have to pass the parental exam first. It'll take you awhile to compile the data. They'd like it in triplicate.

As for happy…The pursuit of happiness may be written into our Declaration of Independence, but that only means our founding fathers were hopelessly sentimental. You don't pursue happiness. You pursue everything you need to have a fulfilled life, and then, if you achieve it, you'll be happy some of the time. The rest of the time, you'll be content. One can't sustain happiness forever.

My phone chirped with a text. When I made no movement to answer, Gabriel fished the phone from my pocket and checked. The possibility that might be considered rude never occurs to him.

Gabriel, Ricky, and I fight against our roles as pawns by sticking together. That's where the original three failed. We will not repeat their mistakes.

We have Kenjii. We have my cell phone. Since we aren't yet officially dating, I'm sure you'll agree that's all the protection we need." Dad choked on his coffee. Mom waved us to the door. "Go. Have fun. Dinner will be at six thirty.

I opened my eyes and when I did, he was right there, and all I could see was his eyes, those amazing amber eyes that I could fall into and-- I stumbled back. "You're not real." "Mmm, actually, I am. Not a ghost." He brushed his hand over the tops of the tall grasses, making them sway. "Not a zombie either, or I'd smell even worse by now.

Maya always pays attention," Daniel said. "She notices everything and has an opinion on it, which she's not afraid to share as frequently and as loudly as possible." Corey laughed. "Watch it," I said as I walked away, "or I'll share my opinions on what happened last night.

Like vampire lore," Gabriel said. "Once they are invited in, you can't rescind the invitation and your wards are no longer effective." "Looks like you finally get vampires," I said to him. "I know you've been waiting." He sighed.

No beer?" Corey said. "What kind of place is this?" "The kind that knows better than to leave anything that'll make it a target for kids like you," I said.

Is it because of the party?" she asked. "You think maybe he did drug you? Because I'm sure it was Hayley. If you want, we could try to prove it--break into her place, look for the dope." I stared at Nicole. Her cheeks colored. "What can I say--I'm a closet rebel.

I think I saw a cabin. Whether there's anyone in it or not--" "Who cares?" Corey said. "It's civilization. Let's go." He broke into a jog, and his knee gave way. I managed to catch him before he fell. "The only place you're going is flat on your ass," Daniel said.

Yes, I had another wild encounter last night," I said as we walked toward the entrance. "Really?" "That's not what you wanted to talk to me about?" "No." "Damn.

Better kick it up a notch," he said, as he drew alongside me. "I know you really want those extra holds." "And I'm sure you really don't want to make them. But don't forget the second part. You win, you gotta kiss me. Might be better to stick with the holds.

I squared my shoulders and threw open the truck door. "Today or tomorrow, it'll still be my first day back. I should face it and get it over with. Who knows? Something new and exciting might happen." "You do realize we're still in Salmon Creek, right?" "I'm being optimistic." "Well, don't. You're scaring me." I laughed and climbed out.

He walked beside me, so close I could smell woodsmoke on his jacket. I thought of warning him that there was a ban on campfires with the dry weather, but that sounded snotty. I'm sure he knew. I'm sure he didn't care.

I…I still--" "Can't believe it?" Rafe shrugged. "I'm guessing a regular person wouldn't have survived. But we're part cat so maybe falls aren't so bad. I think I lost one of my nine lives though." He twisted to look at the stab wound. "Maybe two.

After a moment, I grinned over at him. "Loser." "The rope slipped," he said, tugging at it, like he was testing the belay system. "You just keep telling yourself that. It'll keep you busy while you're building those new holds." "You still need to beat everyone else. You haven't won yet." "Just keep telling yourself that, too.

That's personal?" "Sometimes, with you, I think 'Would you like fries with that?' is too personal.

He grinned, that blazing grin now, hair plastered to his face, eyes glittering. I leaned over and kissed him. He hesitated for about a nanosecond, like he really hadn't expected that, and I laughed. Then he kissed me back, a light kiss, almost teasing, making me shiver. "Probably not the safest place to make out," I murmured, pulling back to glance at the ground, fifty feet below. "I don't care if you don't," he said.

You said there's a road?" "I did. That part I'm sure of. And where there's a road, there are people. In theory." The grin burst through. "In theory.

When we turned the corner, he veered so that his hand brushed mine, and I jerked away. "You really don't like me, do you?" he said. "I don't know you well enough to say that." "Easily fixed. What are you doing after school?

When he reached the top, I was standing there. He grinned and stepped toward me. I stepped back. His grin widened. I glanced over my shoulder. The cliff topped out on a hill, with forest stretching behind us, the mountains a distant backdrop. "Uh-uh," Rafe said. "If you run, I'll chase. You know how much I like that part." "All the more reason to do it.

Suddenly he was right there, his mouth on mine, my arms around his neck. Then he stopped. He caught my arms and backed up, studying my face. "Has anyone had access to your drinks recently?" he said. "Any strange allergic reactions? Bug bites?" "Shut up.

You said there's a road?" "I did. That part I'm sure of. And where there's a road, there are people. In theory." The grin burst through. "In theory." He threw an arm around me, a half-embrace, whispering, "Good work," and I started to shake a little. It was over. Our ordeal was almost over. Except it wasn't. Our real problems--being subjects in a supernatural experiment--had only begun.