And you're been nothing but a pain. So don't get all high and mighty. Good chocolate milk by the way."Muscles ticked in Matthias' jaw. "It's not chocolate milk. It's Milo."I took another sip. "Well, it's good.

Her dad’s coming,” she said, voice shrill.“What?” we all said in unison.Tristan, Ayden and the fairy looked at me and said, “What?”“What?” I repeated, panicked and irritated at my lack of control in responding to a fairy I wasn’tsupposed to see or hear.“What?” came their reply.“What?” I continued the theme of repetition because I lacked any form of explanation.Ayden held up a hand for silence. “Why are you ‘whatting’?”“What?”The hand again. “Okay, stop that,” Ayden said.

His chin rested on top of my head as he stroked my hair. "It's alright," he murmured. "I'll keep you safe.""She okay?"Ayden jerked away, dropping his hands. And me.

Matthias flinched, teeth grinding. "Which one of them told you?" He zeroed in on Ayden."One?" I said.With a growl, Matthias pushed a button on his watch and spoke into it. "What part of 'don't tell her anything' didn't you all understand?"A moment of silence, then Blake's voice cracked through static, "Can't-" The static sounded suspiciously like crinkling paper. "Hear-" More "static" then, "break- up.

He turned around and came toward me. I’d seen a panther stalking its prey on the DiscoveryChannel. I think it took lessons from Ayden.

Boys next door were supposed to be fresh-faced with fair skin,butterscotch-blond hair they brushed out of clear blue eyes, and a smattering of freckles. They werealso supposed to be friendly. We’d moved in a week ago and this kid had avoided us like we were afamily of spitting cobras on crack.

The monster towered ten or twelve feet tall. Its bright green leathery skin was covered in dirt,moss, leaves, and patches of grass, the stench repulsive. His teeth gleamed brown. Evidently hewasn’t aware of the multitude of whitening products on the market.

I do. I understand if I let you go, you'll put yourself right in the middle of the fight. And I know it could get you killed.""So what?" I struggled to stay calm. "Look, I'm not suicidal, but it's my family, Ayden. If I die keeping them safe, I'm okay with that. You know how I feel."He threw up an arm and his voice rose. "And what about how I feel?

Dogs aren’t my thing.I hate dogs.And if this one was dumb enough to sacrifice itself for me, hallelujah. I kept running.After I reversed course.Stupid dog.