"God, she got to him. The longer he was in her company, the stronger the attraction to her became."

"He was very leery of things that didn't add up, and she was one of them."

"The moment she was close, he found he took her in with every breath he drew. The more he breathed, the more he was aware of her. Every cell in his body seemed focused on her. He knew when she took a breath. When she let it out. He breathed with her. In. Out. Together. As if they were already exchanging breath."

"Amaryllis laughed softly. "You have this look on you face of absolute ecstasy." {…} "Woman. You can not use that word. I would only look like that if I was having sex. The right kind of sex." {…} She laughed again. "I can't help how you look. Maybe you get the same look on your face when you're having sex. Do you like food that much?"

"He rested his chin on her belly, his eyes that peculiar shade of Florentine gold. When his eyes were that color, his gaze seemed to burn his name right into her bones, branding her his."

"Talking quietly together. Was that what couples did? Was it small things that wove those relationships tighter? Made them stronger? She didn't know, but she loved being with Malichai just like this. Talking softly to him. Getting his reassurance. Giving him the same."

"I'm getting worried that you might be a little bloodthirsty."

"That Malichai had somehow become her world and she didn't want to live without him. There was no going back to an existence of no hope of a future. Malichai was her future."

"She'd never thought of herself as being a GhostWalker. She was part of the flawed group--a woman easily disposed of because she was so inferior. These men, elite soldiers, made her part of them with just a few words and the inclusive camaraderie she needed."

"She responded to him as if born for him-- and he was certain she was. More importantly, he was beginning to think he had been born for her."