Gena Showalter

I don't hate you.. I just don't like that you exist

That means life itself is a fairy tale. Like the characters, we all live and love and search for a happily-ever-after.

There are two kinds of people,_ she__ said. __hose who coast through life like ducks in a row, following one after the other, and those who ride the waves.__ Tears spilled down my cheeks, and my voice cracked. ___ide the waves, baby, and live. Live.

How does fear become so powerful? We can__ see it. We can__ touch it, yet it gets its claws in us and begins to control us. Sigh. I hate feeling afraid, and I hate, hate, HATE feeling out of control.

There are times I wish I were invisible. Which is silly, since I do everything I can to stand out.

I__ not a bad person. I haven__ killed anyone. I (rarely) lie. I don__ kick little puppies. So why do people look at me as if the world would be a better place without me?

People are the most difficult thing in the world to change

There__ a really stupid saying: When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade. Well, I have a better saying: When life hands you a lemon, shove that lemon up its stupid butt.

How long since you had sex?_ Aeron asked his friend. Another moan. __wo__hree days._ Paris wiped his mouth with the back of his wrist. Which meant Paris hadn__ had a female since before their return. But Aeron knew Lucien had flashed the warrior into town every night they__ spent in the desert for just that reason. Had the warrior had trouble finding a willing partner? __et me take you into town. You can__ __o. Only want Sienna. My female. Mine.

You're going to have to settle on one eventually. Why not save us both the hassle, close your eyes and point. Whoever you're pointing at will be our winner." "I've played that game once before. Ended up--" Paris shuddered. "Never mind. It's not good to wander down that particular memory trail. So no. Just no.

Her little fists pummeled at him, and he accepted the abuse. Until he realized she__ made an improper fist and was actually hurting herself. He wound an arm around her waist, spun her and slammed her into the hard line of his body to still her.__et me go!___n a minute._ As she struggled, he pulled her thumb out from beneath her fingers and rearranged her fist. __it like this._ Done, he released her.

Dangerous as a lightning strike, as lethal as a pair of crisscrossing short swords, William whispered, __ou__e about to find out how your liver tastes, my friend.___ have tasted it already,_ Zacharel said, his voice its usual monotone. The snowflakes began to fall in earnest, tiny at first, but growing in diameter. An arctic wind blustered around him. __t was a bit salty.__ow the hell was a guy supposed to respond to that?Apparently William didn__ know, either, because he gaped at the angel. Then, __aybe if you added a little pepper?__-kay. It was official. William had an answer for everything.

Sienna, meet Zacharel. He's a warrior angel for the One, True Deity. Zacharel, meet Sienna. She's mine.

Nothing and no one had ever belonged to him and only him__xcept Legion. Not that she would do anything necessary to save him, nor would he do anything necessary to save her. But. Yeah, there was always a but with him. He had been her first lover__nd he wanted to be her last.

He ignored me, thank God, saying to Kat, "Let go of Frosty's leash. You're choking the life out of him." Kat's eyes narrowed to tiny slits, a sure sign of her aggression. "He deserves to choke. He didn't keep little frosty in his pants this summer." the words snapped like a whip. "He did." Cole snapped back with unwavering confidence."Not.""Did.""Not!""Did,""Not, not, not!" she shouted with a stomp of her foot."What are we five?" Cole said."Six.

I may remember you, Scarlet,_ he bellowed, backing up when she grabbed her fork and held it out like a dagger. She__ murdered men with less. Even immortals. __ut you haven__ haunted me._ Motions stiff, he raised his shirt. Amid the cuts, above his heart, was a tattoo of eyes. Dark eyes. Like hers. __on__ you see? You_haven___haunted_me.

This woman might have a daughter, but she was as innocent and pure as newly fallen snow.

Are those chocolate chip?'' Cole reaches her first and claims one.''Oh, my godness.'' Nana sets the tray aside and coos the guy. ''Cole, dear, you have a boulder-size knot on your jaw.''''River did it.'' Cole smirks at the guy. ''And he insulted my mom. And my dad.''''River Marks.'' Nana shakes her head, as if her heart is acually breaking. ''How could you be so rough? And so insensitive!''River glares at Cole before bowing his head. ''I'm sorry, Nana.''''The human body is like a flower. Treat it well, and it will bloom.'' She approaches the ring and extends two cookies. River and I accept with eager thanks. ''Let's be kind to each other and keep our punches away from the face and groin.'' ''Yes, ma'am,'' we say in unison. Then of course, we devour the offering as if we've never tasted sugar.''Good, good.'' She brushes the crumbs from her fingers. ''I'll leave you kids to your practice.'' She kisses Ali, then Cole, and leaves.''Are you a rose?'' River sneers at Cole. ''Or a lilly?''''Orchid. And your jealousy is showing.'' Cole responds.