Gena Showalter

The air smelled like testosterone and manflesh again. (That was a thing, right?)

My momma says we don__ need a man to do our chores for us, __ause we are smart and capable and I believe her even though Sara__ mom says men were born to be our slaves, we just have to know how to manage them.

It was common knowledge that big, bad city boys spent the bulk of their time sleeping around, coiffing their hair and posting pictures of food on the internet.

What I've learned over the years is that people shouldn't be defined by a single mistake. Everyone messes up," she said. "You have to forgive yourself and move one.

I didn't ask you to give up anything for me," she told him, "but I would have given up everything for you." The war is over, and I have lost. War. Ha! As if she could have fought a dead woman. The battle had been over before it began. "Until the end of forever, Layel." -DELILAH

We__e gonna lie when the truth is hard? That__ how this relationship is going to work? All righty, then.

Last will never be more important than commitment. Commitment stacks the odds of a successful relationship in my favor.

Let your light shine, never look back and live as if today is your last day...because it just might be.

You again,_ she said, and she did not sound happy.__ know,_ the warrior replied with a heartfelt sigh. __ou__e so lucky to see me twice in one day. You__e honored by my presence, yada, yada, heard it all before. Let__ just move on, shall we. I don__ handle fawning very well.

William slapped him on the shoulder, sending Sex into rapturous convulsions. __efore we do this, I__e got one question for you. And you can__ lie. This is too important.__ bit sick to his stomach at what such a debaucher could want to know, Paris cast his attention to the black-haired, blue-eyed he-devil. __sk.___re you going to suggest I kiss you for good luck or strength or whatever it is your sex demon needs?__hat earned the warrior a two-fingered salute.__o that__ a no?_ William asked.Paris worked his jaw. __ere, let me help you off the cliff to the drawbridge._ With no more warning, he shoved William over the ledge. He thought he heard a fading, _ So not cool,_ from the bastard as he fell_fell_Splat.

Suddenly William loomed over him, scowling, snarling and bloody, his suit dirt-stained and ripped. __o you know. How many strands. Of hair I lost. On my way down?__hatever. __ath was never my thing, but I__ gonna say you lost_a lot.__lectric-blues glittered with menace. __ou are a cruel, sadistic bastard. My hair needs TLC and you_you_ Damn you! I__e gutted men for less.___ know. I__e watched you._ Paris lumbered to his feet and scanned the rocky bank they stood upon, the crimson ocean lapping and bubbling in every direction. The drawbridge was only a fifty-yard dash away. __on__ kill the messenger, but I__ thinking you should change your dating profile to balding.__asculine cheeks went scarlet as the big bad warrior struggled for a comeback._ __ne of these days you__e going to wake up,_ William finally said, __nd I will have shaved you. Everywhere.___on__ make a difference. Women will still want me. But you know what else? What I did to you wasn__ cruel, Willy._ He offered the warrior a white-flag grin. A trick. A lie. __his, however, is.__e grabbed William by the wrist, swung the man around and around before at last releasing him and hurling his body directly onto the bridge.

I have never battled a gargoyle before._ Zacharel shook his head, a dark lock of hair tumbling into one emerald eye. Damp from the melting snow, the hair stuck to his skin. He didn__ seem to notice. __ut I am certain these will murder Paris before willingly carrying him inside.__s if he were the only intelligent life form left in existence, William splayed his arms. __nd the problem with that? He__l still be inside, exactly where he wants to be. And by the way,_ he added, blinking at Paris with lashes so long they should have belonged to a girl. __our new permanent eyeliner is very pretty. You__l make a good-looking corpse.__o not react. He did, and the teasing about his ash/ambrosia tattoos would never end. __hanks.___ prefer the lip liner, though. A nice little feminine touch that really makes your eyes pop.___gain, thanks,_ he gritted.He wants us!Stupid demon.William grinned. __aybe we can make out later. I know you want me.__ell him yes!Not another word out of you, or___aris? Warrior?_ Zacharel said. __re youlistening to me?___o.__ach nodded, apparently not the least offended. __ enjoy your honesty, though I believe you suffer from what the humans call ADD.___h, yeah. I definitely have attention deficient demon.

It is my job-no,-my privilege-to make the fire become an inferno. -Gray

But you will trust me again, Annabelle. You will want me again, and we will be together. I will behave. You'll see. - Zacharel

Sister?_ Jessie Kay scowled. __o I really look like his sister? I clearly come from grade-A stock while his ancestors made a few poor choices along the way.

Sometimes what we want isn't what we need.

And the peace! The most magnificent peace. I lose myself in a place where time no longer exists and nothing is impossible. I can do anything I imagine. I can fight and win any war. Nothing frightens me, because I know I'm here for a reason; and I'm not alone. I have friends in high places. Friends here. Friends up there. Victory is mine.

She's beauty and she's the beast, rolled into one.