I look up to say something but he puts his finger to my lips and whispers, “Don’t talk. You’ll just spoil my fantasy of rescuing an innocent damsel in distress as soon as you open your mouth.

Here and there, plumes of dark smoke reach into the sky like the fingers of a drowning man reaching up for the last time.

NO!" Raffe grips me as if he can bind my soul to my body. An upside-down view of the doorway shows up in my field of vision. Smoke waft through it. Although the pain obscures Raffe's warmth, I feel the presure of his hug, the rocking of our bodies back and forth as he repeats the word, "No.

You don't even like me, remember?" That's what I try to say. What actually comes out of my mouth is closer to a baby's first attempt at babbling. "Shh." He runs his fingertips along my cheek, caressing my face. "Hush. I'm right here." He looks at me with deep anguish in his eyes. Like there's so much he wants to tell me but feel it's too late now. I want to stroke his face and tell him that it will be okay. That everything will be all right. And I wish so badly that it would be.

You’re smarter than you look,’ I say to Raffe.‘But not as smart as he thinks,’ says Howler.‘I can see discipline has broken down during your vacation,’ says Raffe.‘Yeah, it’s all that lounging on the beach with nothing to do but drink and watch women.

He leans down, and his lips hover a hair’s breadth from mine. I close my eyes, feeling the tingle of anticipation.Then he presses his lips to mine. His warmth spreads out from my lips down into my chest and stomach. Time stops, and I forget about everything else – the apocalypse, my enemies, watching eyes, monsters in the night.All I feel is the kiss.All I am is Raffe’s girl.

Just this once,’ he says almost more to himself than to me. ‘Just one moment.’ Then he leans down and kisses me.

My head seems to be rumbling. Then I realize it’s the sky. It’s thunder. Suddenly, warm raindrops fall on us, spraying us until we’re completely wet. Raffe ignores it and continues to kiss me. We hold each other, pressing tighter and harder together. We fly in each other’s arms in the rain over a smoldering hell.

It's about time you showed some sense. You should be afraid.""I'm shivering because I'm freezing.""You're cute when you're afraid."I give him a dirty look. "Yeah, you're cute when you're afraid too.""You mean I'm devastatingly handsome when I'm not afraid. Because you've never seen me afraid.