Discover a wealth of wisdom and insight from Karen Chance through their most impactful and thought-provoking quotes and sayings. Expand your perspective with their inspiring words and share these beautiful Karen Chance quote pictures with your friends and followers on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or your personal blog - all free of charge. We've compiled the top 239 Karen Chance quotes for you to explore and share with others.

I'm not worried about me," I whispered viciously. And as sono as I said it, I knew it was the truth. Apparently, the surefire antidiote for your own fear is concern for someone else.Pritkin looked surprised, the way he always did at the idea that anyone might actually care about him. It made me want to hit him. Of course, right then I wanted to do that anyway."Nothing is going to happen," he repeated. "But even if it did, you don't need me. You don't need -""That isn't true!""Yes, it is." He looked at me and his lips quirked. "You can't fire a gun worth a damn. You hit like a girl. Your knowledge of magic is rudimentary at best. And you act like I'm torturing you if I make you run more than a mile."I blinked at him."But I've known mages who aren't as resilient, who aren't as brave, who aren't -" he looked away for a moment. And then he looked back at me, green eyes burning. "You're the strongest person I know. And you will be fine. By Karen Chance Looked Viciously Worried Whispered Hit

The only good thing was that by midnight, even most of the bums had gone home to sleep it off. That was lucky for them, because Ray was the worst damn driver I'd ever seen. And that was after I jerked his head out of the duffel and parked it on the dashboard."Gah! That makes it worse!" he told me, as I tried to get the eyes facing forward."How can it possibly be worse?""Because I got double vision now! Get it off! Get it off!"He batted at his own head and succeeded in sending it tumbling into Christine's lap. She immediately went into hysterics and slapped it away. The head fell out of the car; Ray hit the brakes and we came to a screeching halt."What are you doing?" I screeched, as he hopped out. "There are people firing at us!""Tough!" came from somewhere under the car. By Karen Chance Midnight Ray Head Good Thing

Can we just do this?" Ray asked tightly, clinging to Zheng's already slightly elongated arm. Because Louis-Cesare wasn't the only one with a master power around here. "Let go," Zheng told him. "I'm the rubber band; you're the spitball. And spitballs don't hold on to rubber bands." "Die in a fire," Ray told him savagely. But he let go. By Karen Chance Zheng Ray Told Rubber Die

I looked up to see the sailing ship above me, the prow dipped low and Mircea hanging off the end of the wooden figurehead. His fist was knotted in my waistband, which explained why I couldn't breathe. Considering the alternative, I really didn't mind so much.Even so, I was surprised his reflexes had been good enough to catch me. He looked kind of shocked himself. For a second, the reserved demeanor cracked open on something wild and fierce and compelling. Then he dragged me up, put a hand on either side of my face and kissed me full on the lips. From somewhere above, I heard Pritkin swear. By Karen Chance Mircea Figurehead Sailing Ship Prow

Success. I turned back to my sandwich, only to find that it wasn't there anymore. Maybe because it had been hijacked. "Give me that!" I told the vamp, who was holding it firmly against his chest, a determined look on his face. "What ees zat?" he demanded, eyeing my prize. "Cheese." I held it up. "Zat ees not cheese." "How do you know?" "Eet is orange." "A lot of cheese is orange." "Non! No cheese ees that color. Cheese comes from zee milk. Zee milk, eet ees white. When 'ave you seen milk that looks like zat?" I held up the square of little slices and pointed at the bold-faced label. "Processed American Cheese." He snatched the package, without letting go of his hostage. And eyed it warily. "Eet says 'cheese food.'" He looked up, obviously perplexed. "What ees thees? Zee cheese, it does not eat. By Karen Chance Cheese Ees Eet Success Zat

I started to get up, but that hand tightened on my foot. I wanted to pace, needed to let off some of the nervous energy that kept me from eating half the time, kept me from sleeping. And just when I told myself I was being paranoid and everything would be fine, something tried to drown me in the goddamned bathtub.But I didn't get up. Because then I'd lose that bried, human connection. A connection that shouldn;t have been there, because Priktin wasn't the touchy-feely type. He touched me in training, when he had to, and grabbed me in the middle of crises. But I actually couldn't recall him ever touching me just ... because. By Karen Chance Foot Started Hand Tightened Connection

Once upon a time, when I was a child reading fairy tales, I'd ached to have my own adventures. Not that I'd wanted to be some dippy heroine languishing in a tower, awaiting rescue. No, I'd wanted to be the knight, charging into battle against overwhelming odds, or the plucky country lass who gets taken on as an apprentice to a great wizard. As I got older, I'd found out the hard way that adventures are rarely anything like the books say. Half the time you are scared out of your mind, and the rest you're bored and your feet hurt. I was beginning to believe that maybe I wasn't the adventurous type. By Karen Chance Tales Wanted Child Reading Fairy

That wasn't so bad," I decided, after downing the shot. Maybe I was getting my rhythm. "Because you threw it over your shoulder," Scarface told me, looking smug. "Did not." I looked behind me, only to see an outraged vamp with fey wine dripping down his face. "Oops." "It was for luck," Ray said defensively, wrapping both my hands around a glass. "Drink!" I drank. By Karen Chance Bad Decided Shot Downing Scarface

I was hoping that the first time you expressed affection for me, it would not be in a room full of strangers. And that you would not have just said it to a sniveling creature like that Raymond!" "I expressed affection for Ray?" "Yes!" "Man, I really must be drunk." Louis-Cesare just looked at me. I blinked politely back, until I realized that he expected a response. By Karen Chance Affection Strangers Expressed Hoping Time

I stared at him, unable to believe this was happening. That he could justdisappear, along with everything rich and strange he'd brought into my life.Vanished, like magic. By Karen Chance Unable Happening Stared Justdisappear Lifevanished

Be glad they didn't take you," I told him. "You were better off.""I doubt that.""I don't. You don't know what it's like, growing up around a bunch of people who treat you like an inferior, who see you only as a commodity to be used, who couldn't give a shit about you unless you're benefitting them in some way. . . ." I stopped, biting my lip. "You'd have tried to fit in, done your best to learn about them, to be one of them. But it would never have worked. You'd have always felt like what you were - an outsider. Because you're not like them. You're not . . . like anybody."I looked up to see his face swimming in front of me."Be glad they didn't take you!""Someone in your life was stupid, too," he told me. And then he kissed me. By Karen Chance Glad Told Off That Doubt

There are things we want, and things we may have ... Sanity lies in knowing the difference. By Karen Chance Things Sanity Difference Lies Knowing

There was a time when you trusted me with your life!" "And there was a time when you used your brain instead of blindly following orders, By Karen Chance Time Life Trusted Orders Brain

I was the dhampir daughter of the family patriarch, the little known stain on an otherwise immaculate record. Louis-Cesare, on the other hand, was vamp royalty. The only Child of Mircea's younger, and far stranger, brother Radu, he was a first-level masterthe highest and rarest vampire rank. A month ago, the prince and the pariah had crossed paths because we had one thing in common: we were very good at killing things. And Mircea's bug-eyed crazy brother Vlad had needed killing if anyone ever had. The collaboration hadn't exactly been stress free, but to my surprise, we eventually sorted things out and got the job done. By the end, I'd even started to think that it was kind of nice, having someone to watch my back for a change. Sometimes, I could be really stupid. By Karen Chance Patriarch Record Mircea Dhampir Daughter

Let me get this straight. First you decide I'm a demon because of a power I didn't ask for and don't even understand. Then when that falls through you label me a fallen sybil and a ho. Am I missing something or do you just not like me By Karen Chance Straight Understand Decide Demon Power

I don't know. Just pick one." "Well, there's a lot of choice. I mean, you got your flavored, your ridged, your pre-lubed, your thin, your super-ultra-thin, your super-ultra-thin-pre-lubed, your ... Huh." "Huh what?" "Would you look at this?" he asked, examining a small box. "It says it glows in the dark. By Karen Chance Huh Pick Choice Flavored Ridged

And I just couldn't take it anymore. I closed the distance between us, slammed him back against the chair and kissed him, holding his head still with both my hands buried in that stupid, stupid hair. I half expected more resistance, because Pritkin had never met an argument he didn't like. So it was a shock when he ran his hands down my sides, cupped my hips and slid us both to the floor."I'm going straight to hell for this," he muttered."At least you'll know a lot of people," I said breathlessly. By Karen Chance Anymore Stupid Hands Pritkin Slammed

Don't give me some stupid lecture about war when the person we're talking about losing is you!" I said, surprised by the savagery in my tone. At least my voice didn't shake.His face blurred and I tasted salt on my lips. It was warm, warm like Pritkin's hands coming up and framing my face, his thumbs brushing over my eyelids, soft as his fingers in my hair. "One person is not so important in the scheme of things", he said, and his voice was gentle, gentle when it never was, and that almost broke me.But you are important, I thought. And yet he couldn't see that. In Pritkin's mind, he was an experiment gone wrong, a child cast out, a man valued by his peers only for his ability to kill the things they feared. Just once, I wished he could see what I did."Then neither is this", I said, leaning in and pressing my mouth to his, the kiss lightened by desperation and weighted down by everything he meant to me. By Karen Chance Give Stupid Lecture War Talking

I was tops at the Scarlet O'Hara school of emotional distancing. I always thought about the uncomfortable stuff tomorrow, and, as everyone knows, tomorrow never comes. By Karen Chance Scarlet Distancing Tops Ohara School

Because the next moment, when I was hauled out from under the bed and up to a pair of so-familiar green eyes, I just hung there limply. And stared. At a face that was hard to look at. Not that it was unattractive. There had been a time when I'd thought so-the overlarge nose, the hard-as-glass eyes, the I-couldn't-be-bothered-to-shave-today-and-possibly-not-yesterday-either stubble didn't exactly spell out movie-star good looks. But there was a lot more to John Pritkin than looks, although even there I'd started to come around recently. The strong, stubborn jawline, the rock-hard body, and the flashes of humor behind the taciturn expression-hell, even the rigid blond spikes he called hair might not add up to handsome, but they added up to something. Something that might have been disturbing if I hadn't had plenty of other things to disturb me right now. By Karen Chance Moment Limply Hauled Bed Pair

I have to fix this," I told him, as clearly and calmly as I could. "If you want to help me, then help me. Don't shield me, don't protect me, don't bury me alive. Help me . By Karen Chance Fix Told Calmly Alive Shield

I leaned back in my chair, stretching luxuriantly, delibrately letting my jacket fall open. Predictably, his eyes moved down my body-some things outlast even the change. I grinned and he looked away, a rueful smile twitching at his lips. I finished breakfast in peace. By Karen Chance Chair Stretching Luxuriantly Delibrately Open

How did you hear about that?' 'Are you kidding me? So far, I had that runt Kyle-' 'I hate him. I hate all vamps. That complete toad, Michael-' '-tell me you were pregnant by a vamp-' 'kidnnaped me and-Kyle said WHAT?' 'and then a member of the Domi shows up and informs me-' 'The Domi sent someone HERE?' '-that you're actually pregnant by the late king of the Fey.' 'Late?!' Heidar squeaked. By Karen Chance Domi Hear Hate Kyle Late

Why is your hair green?" "It's a fashion statement." "It's hideous. And even if it weren't ... tinted ... or whatever you did to it, it still wouldn't do. We haven't had a blond Pythia before; it's simply not what people expect to see. And, frankly, it doesn't suit you." "It's my natural color!" "Then it's naturally hideous. And this" - he tugged at my curls - "will have to go." "If you touch me one more time - " I said softly. "I'll make you an appointment with a hairdresser who understands that we need suave. We need sophisticated. We need - well, someone else, obviously, but - By Karen Chance Green Hair Hideous Statement Pythia

Pritkin gave me a little shake and I eyed him without favor. The only other occasions when I had been dragged back in time, the trip had been triggered by proximity to a person whose past was being threatened. I have to tell you," I said frankly, "if someone is trying to mess with your conception or something, I'm not feeling a pressing need to intervene. By Karen Chance Pritkin Favor Gave Shake Eyed

So,high heels weren't a modern invention. I couldn't believe women had been putting up with these torture devices for centuries. By Karen Chance Sohigh Invention Heels Modern Centuries

Not really hungry.""She'll eat." Pritkin said curtly."I said - ""If you starve to death it would damage my professional reputation.""I eat plenty.""The same does not apply should I strangle you in understandable irritation, however.""I'll have a sandwich," I told Nick. "No meat. By Karen Chance Hungry Eat Nick However Pritkin

Not if we kill them - " I began, only to cut off when a sudden rushing noise filled the air. And Ray grabbed my gun and went ballistic on something on the wall over our heads."Die! Die! Die!" he screamed, emptying the clip and causing spent shells to rain down all around us. And okay, maybe I'd been wrong about the calm thing. Because he was just standing there, trembling and panting and staringAt the air-conditioning vent that he'd just shot the crap out of." - first." I took my smoking gun out of his limp fingers and patted him on the back. "See? That's the spirit. By Karen Chance Die Began Air Kill Cut

And then Mircea finally let me down, only to get his hands inside the coat and push me against the wall."I'm dirty," I protested.He waggled his eyebrows. "Promise?""Mircea!" I laughed in spite of myself ... By Karen Chance Mircea Wall Dirty Eyebrows Promise

How could he not see all the ways he'd changed my life? How could he not know-But he didn't. It was in the way he turned his head away, when I just stood there. In the way he closed his eyes. In the small, self-mocking smile that played around his lips that I didn't understand but knew couldn't be good. By Karen Chance Life Changed Knowbut Eyes Turned

I remember watching an old Dracula movie once with Alphonse and having him laugh himself sick at the sight of a vamp only a few days out of the grave supposedly raising another one.He'd been impossible for weeks afterwards,mercilessly teasing all the weaker vamps in court about the three-day-old baby that was more powerful than them. By Karen Chance Dracula Alphonse Baby Remember Watching

I looked him over for a second and suddenly it clicked. "Still want me to be mean to you?"His eyes widened. "Yeah?""Well, come on then."A minute later I had an oversized T-shirt that worked as a dress, a belt to shove my weapons into and a too-large leather jacket to toss over it all. I slammed out into the hall, leaving the guy tied to the desk chair by his underwear. Judging by his expression, he'd just leaned a valuable lesson about screwing with strange women. By Karen Chance Clicked Looked Suddenly Yeah Tshirt

You will die a worse death if you do not leave my domain," a voice thundered down from the third story of the old tenement. "I am a servant of the Sacred Fire, the wielder of the flame of Arnor - " "So I should call you Gandalf? By Karen Chance Domain Tenement Die Worse Death

There was some sort of commotion going on outside, and I decided I'd had enough. I went to the door and stuck my head out. Marco was gasping for breath on the sofa, and two of the guards were bent over a cell phone."What are you doing?" I demanded."Trying to record this," the smart-ass from the shopping trip told me. "Nobody is going to believe us otherwise.""Well, cut it out. It isn't funny!""On what planet?"I glared at him, which did no good,because he simply went back to to tinkering with the phone. So I looked at Marco. "Can't you do anything with them?"Marco flopped a hand at me, tears streaming down his reddened cheeks, and tried to say something. But all that came out for several moments were asthmatic wheezes. I bent over his prone form, starting to worry about him, and he put a hand on my neck and pulled me down." It ... is ... funny," he gasped. By Karen Chance Marco Sort Commotion Decided Funny

After a long time, one small hand moved, slowly, tentatively, tracing the feathers falling around her, stroking the black slashes along one huge wing. She didn't ask where he'd gotten them, didn't ask why they mimicked the marks on his shoulder. She didn't ask, just kept running her soft fingers through the down, along the spines ... "How long will they last?""A few hours," he said hoarsely. He should tell her, he thought, that the feathers weren't just a projection. That for the moment for however long the Irin's essence held out, they were an innate, physical part of him. And that her fingers stroking along the marks felt just like they once had, moving over his scars. He ought to tell her, ought to ask her to stop. It's what a gentleman would do, he knew that. But then he was half demon. And tonight, he thought maybe he'd just go with that. "They're nice," she murmured, pulling one around her. "Yes." One hand tightened in her thick soft hair. "Yes. By Karen Chance Slowly Tentatively Time Moved Tracing

My new 9mm didn't fit my hand as well as my old one, but it was rapidly becoming a familiar weight. At first I'd decided it was okay to wear as long as I shot only at supernatural bad guys who were already shooting at me. Lately, I'd had to broaden that definition to anytime my life was in danger. I was currently leaning toward a slightly more comprehensive rule somewhere between proactive self-defense and the-bastards-had-it-coming, which, if I survived long enough, I intended to blame on my deranged partner rubbing off on me. By Karen Chance Weight Fit Hand Rapidly Familiar

They'll have to eat first. And by the time they're finished, you'll be back." "With the condoms." "Right." "For the giant orgy you're convinced we're about to have in the backyard." "Dory! Just go!" "I'll go with," Ray said, getting up. "I need a snack." Which was how I ended up condom shopping with a vampire. By Karen Chance Eat Dory Finished Back Ray

You gotta think it's a waste of - " "Ray!" I glanced around, but there was nobody within earshot. "Well, excuse me if I'm not used to buying condoms for aliens," he said more softly. "They're not aliens." "Well, they're not human. I mean, they could have anything under those tunics, you know? By Karen Chance Ray Gotta Waste Aliens Earshot

Oh yes. I was telling you about my research into the old Norse sagas- the mythology of ancient Scandinavia. Have you read them?""Uh no.""You'd like them, Cassie." He waved the hand with the chalk in it. "All sex and violence."I frowned. "Why would you think that I'd- By Karen Chance Scandinavia Cassie Norse Sagas Telling

The worst part was the silence. Death was supposed to be loud - gunshots, explosions, screams and thunder. Not this eerie quiet that wrapped around me like a shroud. By Karen Chance Silence Gunshots Explosions Worst Part

Laura won't hurt you," I said, wrestling him for control. "She's one of the sweetest ghosts I ever met. She just likes to play." "Yeah, I bet. With my bones, if I had any!" "She isn't like that!" "Sure. 'Cause when the innocent little girl shows up in a horror flick, it's always a good thing! By Karen Chance Laura Wrestling Control Hurt Yeah

I'm beginning to sense a theme," Mircea said, tossing his suit coat over a buckskin-covered chair. A moose head with huge, outspread antlers loomed over it, its bright glass eyes looking oddly lifelike in the low light. Mircea took in the room, his expression slightly repulsed yet fascinated. "I believe there is only one thing to say at this point."What's that?"Yee haw," he said gravely, and took me down like a rodeo calf. By Karen Chance Mircea Theme Tossing Chair Beginning

You ... didn't use the knockout pills, I take it?" he finally asked, staring out into the void. I shook my head. He sat down and we spilt the last Twinkie. "You realise we just sent a herd of flying pigs soaring out over medieval Wales," I said, sometime later, when the last little oinking cloud had disappeared over the horizon. "Hm." "You don't look too concerned." Rosier got to his feet and then actually extended a hand to help me up. "Maybe it will give the Pythias something else to do. And in any case ... " "I any case?" " Well. The expression had to start somewhere, didn't it? By Karen Chance Case Twinkie Wales Pills Asked

You said something else ... something about needing me, for me. What did you mean?""I meant-I mean, well, we're friends-""Are we? Are we friends?""I-yes. What else would you, uh..""I am not sure what I would call it. I had never given it much thought until recently. There did not seem to be a point.""Yes, yes, exactly. And there's no reason to suddenly-""But I suppose I shall have to now, if I am returned, that is. Won't I? By Karen Chance Friends Iyes Needing Meanti Recently

Who is this Marlowe guy anyway? He's an ass. Threw him out. Threatened to have Ysmi sit on him if he returned.Why are there two severed heads rolling around the house? Cats tried to eat one. Mostly prevented.Headless guy is in hallway broom closet with head that I think is his. By Karen Chance Marlowe Guy Ysmi Ass Threw

My one-time roommate Claire had inherited the house from her uncle, and when she went off to bigger and better things, she'd left it in my care. And it needed a lot of it. Most importantly, it needed a new roof. There was a worrying stain on the ceiling of my bedroom that had started out roughly the shape of Rhode Island, but now looked more like North Carolina. Another few more days of rain and it was going to be Texas. And then it wouldn't be anything at all because the battered old shingles were going to cave in on my head. By Karen Chance Claire Uncle Things Care Needed

We cannot do this now!" ... "Sure we can."He scowled ... "Go home, Dory.""Give me what I want and I will!"Radu appeared in the doorway. "I know this is a stupid question before I ask it, but is there any chance that we can discuss this like civilized people?"Louis-Cesare ... stepped back a pace and dangled the duffel of one long finger. "Come and get it."I stared. "Oh, no, you didn't.""Oh, yeah. He did. You gonna take that?" Raymond piped up ... "You really want to do this?" I demanded ... The only answer I got was a flying tackle that caught me around the knees and sent me skidding on my back over hard wood.I grinned. Well, all right then."That's what I thought." Radu sighed. By Karen Chance Radu Dory Give Back Can

I'm tired, I'm hungry and I have a head in a bag," I warned him. "Do not fuck with me. By Karen Chance Tired Bag Hungry Head Warned

I started to duck under the spears, only to have the two vamps on the other wall suddenly appear in my face. Or, at least, their crotches did. Another day, I would have made a cute remark about heat and leather jock straps, but I wasn't feeling real cute right now. By Karen Chance Spears Face Started Duck Vamps

Tony wanted to kill me, the Senate wanted to make me their stooge, and, oh, yeah, I'd also managed to piss off the mages. What can I say? I'm an overachiever. By Karen Chance Yeah Wanted Senate Tony Stooge

I left it with a warmer, he said drily. Because war mages ate their fried chicken frozen to the ground and they liked it. By Karen Chance Warmer Drily Left War Mages

War mages ordered, threatened and bitched. They didn't deal. By Karen Chance War Ordered Threatened Bitched Mages

The war mages might have been running a full-on offensive, but she'd been right there with them. She'd sent them screaming in terror. She'd imprisoned one like a bug under glass. She'd run one the hell down.Mom, I realized in shock, had been kind of a badass. By Karen Chance Offensive War Mages Running Fullon

I have a theory about war mages," I said. "The more powerful they are, the worse the hair. By Karen Chance Mages Theory War Hair Powerful

I bent over him and, before I could say anything, he grabbed me by the back of my head, dragged my mouth down and kissed me. Kissed me, with no drama and no explanation, like it was just something we did.Knowing in a half-forgotten way that he kissed like a demon was one thing; experiencing it all over again was quite another. There was no refined seduction- Pritkin kissed openmouthed, hard and hungry, until I could hear nothing over the pounding of my heart, until I could taste my blood on his lips as his tongue thrust into me. By Karen Chance Kissed Head Dragged Bent Grabbed

Pritkin, it's a hotel room, not a death trap!" A glance over his shoulder showed him impatient blue eyes under a fall of messy blond curls. "Anyway, you're here.""I can't protect you from everything," he forced himself to say, because it was true. It was also frankly terrifying in a way that his own mortality was not. He'd never had children, but he sometimes wondered if this was how parents felt when catching sight of a fearless toddler confidently heading toward a busy street. Not that his charge was a child, as he was all too uncomfortably aware. But the knowledge of just how many potentially lethal pitfalls lay in her path sometimes caused him that same heart-clenching terror.And the same overwhelming need to throw her over his lap and spank the living daylights out of her, he thought grimly, when she suddenly popped out of existence. "Cassie! By Karen Chance Pritkin Room Trap Hotel Death

Mine, I thought deliriously, as a shadow swept over us, like a cape had been thrown over the sky.Mine, as my hands stroked up that strong back, velvety and warm, where every dip and line of muscle fit sweetly into my palms.Mine, as the storm trembled in the air around us, and shook the earth beneath us."Mine," I murmured, as blue eyes met mine, wide and startled. And then closed again as he took my breath in a kiss so consuming that I barely noticed when the storm continued on toward the horizon, the midnight wings showing vague starlight through in patches as it passed overhead.As it missed us."Yours," Louis-Cesare groaned By Karen Chance Mine Storm Deliriously Skymine Back

You're blaming me for this?""No. I am merely pointing out that it is a security risk""How? I thought we were on the same side.""We are on the same side""Then how it is a risk for me to be in your head?""It's a privacy issue""A minute ago it was a security issue.""It is possible for it to be both!" He snapped.I blinked."I'm starting to wish I had popcorn," Marlowe murmured."You can leave," Mircea informed him.A dark eyebrow raised. "This is my office. You already threw me out of yours. By Karen Chance Security Risk Blaming Pointing Marlowe

Great. I'd been dumped in Hell's waiting room. By Karen Chance Great Hell Room Dumped Waiting

He smiled at that, and then his gaze shifted to a spot over my shoulder and it faded. 'These doubts wouldn't have anything to do with the company you're keeping of late, would they?'I didn't get a chance to answer before the shop door was thrown open and a furious war mage stomped in. Pritkin spotted me and his eyes narrowed.'You shaved my legs?!'Mircea looked at me and folded his arms across his chest. I looked from one unhappy face to the other and suddenly remembered that I had somewhere else to be. By Karen Chance Faded Smiled Gaze Shifted Spot

- but they're minor-level functionaries. They can't do that kind of shit. And a demon can't possess another demon - or a half, for that matter. So two plus two, okay? His other half ain't Ahhazu, it's incubus. And there's only one half human, half incubus ever been recorded - " "Maybe Pritkin's birth wasn't recorded." "Bullshit. You know damn well who we got - " "Don't say it." " - next door, and John Pritkin ain't his - " "I'm warning you." " - name. It's motherfucking Mer - " "Say it and spend the rest of your life in the Jurassic," I hissed. By Karen Chance Half Functionaries Pritkin Minorlevel Recorded

My tried-and-true philosophy of keeping people at a distance was taking a beating lately. It wasn't working so well with Mircea, and Pritkin had somehow bulldozed past every defense I had before I'd even noticed. I still wasn't sure how he'd done it.He wasn't that good-looking, he had the social skills of a wet cat and the patience of a caffeinated hummingbird. In between crazy stunts and, okay, saving my life, he was just really annoying. When we'd started working together, I'd assumed it would be a question of putting up with Pritkin; then suddenly the stupid hair was making me smile, and the sporadic heroics were making my heart jump and the constant bitching had me wanting to kiss him quiet. And now I cared more than was good for me. By Karen Chance Philosophy Pritkin Keeping People Distance

You look furious," Pritkin said, watching me."I just - I can't understand not fighting for your life - for what you want. Just giving up - "A corner of his mouth quirked. "No. You would not understand that. You never stop trying, do you?""What else is there?""Despair. Hopelessness. Anger. Depression.""But those don't get you anywhere."He huffed out something that might have been a laugh, only it didn't sound happy. "No. They don't. By Karen Chance Pritkin Furious Watching Life Fighting

They-" He stopped and just blinked at me for a minute. "You know, people are always saying that you're cuckoo. Looney Tunes. Off the freaking edge. But I tell 'em, no, she's okay. She's got some ... anger management issues. But you know what? They're right. You're nuts. By Karen Chance Minute Stopped Blinked Tunes People

Louis-Cesare looked pained. Ray was even dirtier than I was, and his bright red briefs had gotten a tear across the butt at some point, flashing a glimpse of hairy cheek whenever he moved. An awesome trophy he was not. By Karen Chance Louiscesare Pained Looked Ray Point

He shook me, and despite it being one-handed, it made my teeth rattle. "If anything like that ever happens again. You. Leave. Me. Behind. Do you understand?" I would have argued, but I was feeling a little shocky for some reason. "I'm not good at abandoning people," I finally said. A front-desk person scurried over, first-aid kit in hand, but Pritkin snarled at the poor guy and he quickly backed up a step. "Then get good at it!" He stomped off, limping, one shoulder hanging at an odd angle. "You're welcome," I murmured. By Karen Chance Onehanded Rattle Shook Made Teeth

This is getting surreal," Marlowe murmured. "Even for this place.""Cassie is here-mentally," Mircea told him."I gathered that.""She seems to find it difficult to understand why I do not wish to have her in my head, unannounced, any time she pleases"Marlowe gave a bark of a laugh. "Oh this should be fun. By Karen Chance Marlowe Surreal Murmured Cassie Mircea

Trash can!Pritkin cursed and grabbed one, just about the time everything I'd eaten that night paid a repeat visit. Whiskey, pizza, milk shake, beer-and a lone, half-dissolved gummy bear, which was a surprise, since I couldn't actually recall having eaten any. Fun times. By Karen Chance Pritkin Trash Visit Eaten Cursed

I rotated my eyeball - and, goddamnit, even that hurt - to see the leader of my bodyguards peering at me. By Karen Chance Goddamnit Eyeball Hurt Rotated Leader

When we'd started working together, I'd assumed it would be a question of putting up with Pritkin; then suddenly the stupid hair was making me smile, and the sporadic heroics were making my heart jump and the constant bitching had me wanting to kiss him quiet. By Karen Chance Pritkin Making Smile Quiet Started

Louis-Cesare's anger suddenly filled the small room like water, and in a heartbeat his eyes went from silver tinged to as solid as two antique coins.I sat frozen, awash in a sea of power. I was beginning to understand why Mircea had wanted him along, only Daddy had failed to mention anything about the hair-trigger temper. I guess he assumed the red hair would clue me in. By Karen Chance Louiscesare Water Frozen Awash Power

Dory mentally added another grand to the tally sheet for this job as a heat tax. And then another for the mosquitoes. And what the hell, a third for the freaking smell, By Karen Chance Dory Tax Mentally Added Grand

Pritkin muttered something that sounded fairly vicious. "My clothes are warded! Even if I wished to accede to your demand, it would not work on them.""Then strip.""I beg your pardon?" He sounded almost polite suddenly, as if he believed he couldn't possibly have heard right. By Karen Chance Pritkin Vicious Muttered Fairly Sounded

You'll be all right, Cassie.""No! I won't be! I need you-""Why? What can I give you that others can't?""What?"Green eyes suddenly burned into mine. "It's a simple question. You said you need me. Why?""I-I told you. This job-""Which you're handling admirably.""I am not! I couldn't even get to my parents without help!""There are other demon experts-Jonas for one.""But I need you!"(...)"Then give me a reason.""I...there's so many-""Name one.""I can name a hundred-""I didn't ask for a hundred; I asked for one. And you can't give it to me.""Yes, I can!""Then do it!""I..." I stared at him, because he looked like there was a lot riding on my answer. Maybe everything. By Karen Chance Cassie Give Hundred One Green

I moved to assist, but never got the chance. there was some pretty violent banging for a minute, and then a tearing sound. Finally the stall door flew open, and Ray's shirtless body emerged and started bitch-slapping everything in sight.His aim was off, probably due to the difficulty of having his eyes on the other side of the room, but he made up for it with sheer determination. By Karen Chance Assist Chance Moved Ray Minute

They were short and squat and had too many limbs, and he had no idea what either of them were. But they looked suspicious. By Karen Chance Limbs Short Squat Idea Suspicious

Before I left, I just wanted to say ... thank you." It came out a little strangled. I thought about it for a moment. "You're welcome?" "Do you know what I'm thanking you for?" Damn. I'd hoped he wouldn't ask that. It couldn't be for lunch, since we'd never had any. And I guessed we wouldn't now, what with a possessed fridge and all. "No?" I said, figuring I had a fifty-fifty shot. By Karen Chance Left Wanted Strangled Moment Damn

What do you know about racing? Ronnie asked, curious. He looked fascinated, like a scientist confronted by a strange new species: dontgivadamnus from the phylum couldntcareless. By Karen Chance Racing Curious Ronnie Asked Fascinated

Yes, but knee pants are so much more flattering. You can see my legs."You want people to see your legs?"I have very nice legs!" We both paused to admire them for a moment. By Karen Chance Flattering Legs Knee Pants Legs

Dory stared at it. Twenty feet of muscle. Twenty feet of terror. Twenty feet of prehistoric hate with a maw of what-the-fuck and claws they didn't make anymore because even nature had looked at those things and thought, you know what? By Karen Chance Twenty Feet Dory Stared Muscle

My lord ... I can explain-," Louis-Cesare began, looking less than certain that he could do anything of the kind.Radu held up a hand. "I am sure there is a perfectly good reason why my niece is naked and tied to her bed. I am also equally certain that I do not wish to hear it". By Karen Chance Lord Explain Louiscesare Began Hand

I glanced at Radu. "What, exactly is Louis-Cesare's problem?'. [..]Suddenly a speculative gleam lit his eyes. It made me nervous. 'He tends to be very protective of women,"he said thoughtfully. "You're a woman Dory.""Thank you for pointing that out. But I didn't think dhampirs qualified."Radu smirked. "It appears you've been upgraded. By Karen Chance Radu Glanced Suddenly Dory Problem

Come and take your seat, Lady Dorina. By Karen Chance Lady Dorina Seat

Thank you, Captain Obvious.""I'm on the Senate," he reminded me. "It's Lord Obvious. By Karen Chance Captain Obvious Senate Obvious Reminded

He didn't take his eyes off me, as if he'd like to see my head mounted on his wall over a sign reading PROBLEM SOLVED. By Karen Chance Solved Problem Eyes Head Mounted

My name is Cassie Palmer and I've cheated death more times than anyone has a right to expect. In the last two months, I've been shot, stabbed, beaten and blown up a few dozen times, and that doesn't count all the magical ways I've almost been killed. I'd have been dead a long time ago if not for my friends, one of whom had just jumped off the cliff after me. I'd have been a lot more appreciative if he hadn't pushed me first. By Karen Chance Cassie Palmer Expect Cheated Death

For once, fate us taking a problem off our hands gratis. Let's smile, say thank you and stay the hell out of it! By Karen Chance Fate Gratis Taking Problem Hands

What's this shit?" Ray demanded, looking at the salesclerk. "Honey, truth hurts, but ain't no way you're a Magnum." "Well, I ain't no medium!" The clerk smiled. "Yeah, but I was being generous. By Karen Chance Shit Honey Yeah Magnum Ray

I drank some too-hot coffee and scowled at him, annoyed although I couldn't remember why. The light from the lounge was leaking in, highlighting his spiky blond hair. I decided that must be it. "You really hate my hair, don't you?" he asked, a smile flickering over his lips so fast I might have imagined it."Yeah""Why?"I reached out to touch it, and was surprised as always to find it mostly soft. Just a little stiff in places from whatever product he used on it. It felt weird, imagining Pritkin having anything in his hair but sweat. But he must have; nobody's did that all on its own."It's like ... angry hair," I said, trying to pat it down and failing miserably.He caught my wrist. "Most people would say that suits me.""I'm not most people.""I know. By Karen Chance Hair Annoyed Drank Toohot Coffee

So maybe it was just as well that my companion was more like Mulder. A coked-out Mulder with a lot of weapons, who knew that the monsters under the bed were real and would gut you. By Karen Chance Mulder Companion Weapons Cokedout Lot

Is anything going to kill me if I use your bathroom?" I finally asked."Knowing you?" Pritkin's voice was muffled since he hadn't raised his head.I frowned. "Is that a yes?"A couple of fingers came up to massage his temple. "That is a no. Assuming you didn't bring anything deadly along with you. By Karen Chance Bathroom Kill Knowing Asked Pritkin

I couldn't see Pritkin's face very well, just a pale blur against the shadows, but he didn't sound happy. Some people thought he had only one mode ... pissed off. In reality, he had plenty of them. Over the past few weeks, I'd learned to tell the difference between real pissed off, impatient pissed off and scared pissed off. I suspected that this was the last kind. If so, that made two of us. By Karen Chance Pritkin Pissed Shadows Happy Face

Pemphredo had been about to crawl off, but at that she came back and settled down, brushing off her filthy shorts. Deino crossed her legs. Enyo stopped picking at her fingernails with a knife and put it politely away. I kind of felt like I should be serving tea. By Karen Chance Pemphredo Brushing Shorts Crawl Back

I'd like for you to tell me who you are." The man blinked. "David Dryden." I just looked at him. "Your one o'clock?" "My one o'clock what?" "Date," the third vamp said, grinning. "For what?" I asked, confused. "Well, you know." The mage looked a little awkward suddenly. "The usual." "I think we've got a contender here, boys," the brunet said. "Smooth operator," the second vamp agreed. By Karen Chance David Dryden Oclock Looked Date

He leaned over and removed the lid, and some really wonderful smells steamed out. But I wasn't going to get excited, not this time, because it was probably Bambi in shallots or Nemo with fennel or - By Karen Chance Lid Leaned Removed Wonderful Smells

What is your problem?" I asked, scooping the freezing mess out of my cleavage. "We got unfinished business," he reminded me. "My name's not Bill." He chuckled. "Yeah, I loved that movie. Shoulda brought a katana, but it seemed like an unfair advantage. By Karen Chance Problem Yeah Bill Asked Scooping

You love me?"He just looked at me for a moment. And then he reared back his head and laughed, a rich, mellow sound, unreserved and unashamed. " No, not at all. I regularly battle gods for women I dislike! By Karen Chance Moment Love Looked Laughed Rich

They always assumed that I did not speak. That I could not. So many had plotted my death, discussed it, laughed about it, even while I was in the same room, because they assumed I was mindless. Like one of the failures of their kind, born mad. But I was not a failure. I was what I was supposed to be. I was dhampir. And they never lived to tell anyone they were wrong. By Karen Chance Speak Assumed Death Discussed Laughed

I didn't really want to talk. I'd wanted him there, but I asn't sure why. Maybe just to have someone to drink with. Actually, that sounded pretty good at the moment. I sat on the seat of the chaise and he sat on the foot, and we just drank at each other for a while.After a few minutes, he leaned back against the railing, like maybe he wanted a backrest, and I shifted my feet over to make room. But I guess I didn't shift far enough, because a large, warm hand covered my right foot, adjusting it slightly. And then it just stayed there, like he'd forgotten to remove it. I looked at it. Pritkin's hands were oddly refined compared to the rest of him: strong but long fingered, with elegant bones and short-clipped nails. They always looked like they'd wandered off from some fine gentleman, one they'd probably like to get back to, because God knew they weren't getting a manicure while attached to him. By Karen Chance Talk Foot Wanted Sat Back

I dodged behind Mac for cover and refused to take the bait. I glanced at my nonexistent watch. 'Oops, look at the time. Guess I have to be going now. Let's not do this again sometime, okay?'Before I could move, Pritkin was there, jamming the medallion into the skin of my upper arm.'Ow!'He looked at me expectantly. I glared at him. 'That hurt!'What do you see?'A big red mark, By Karen Chance Mac Bait Dodged Cover Refused

But his face was drawn and his eyes were pained as he looked down at me, and there was a strange expression on his face: defiance and fierce pride and something that looked like wonder, all jumbled up. And suddenly, I wanted to stab Lawrence all over again. I killed him for you, I thought, staring upward.I know. By Karen Chance Face Looked Defiance Drawn Eyes

Aw, fudge,' floated down to me, as a couple of golden eyes peered over a third-floor window ledge. 'You're a freaking dhampir. Why are you reading Tolkien?'I shrugged, then had to dodge the potted geranium he threw at me. 'After five hundred years, you've read just about everything. Besides, he had hella world-building skills. By Karen Chance Fudge Floated Ledge Couple Golden

Nobody said anything that time. Or maybe I just wasn't listening. After all, someone had to keep an eye on the fridge. By Karen Chance Time Listening Fridge Eye

I'm driving," Louis-Cesare said, sliding into the low seat as easily as if he'd done it a hundred times. "You're drunk."I wished. "I had all of two beers, mostly for the water content.""If you needed water, why didn't you drink water?""I don't like water. By Karen Chance Driving Louiscesare Sliding Times Water

Pritkin and Mircea mixed like oil and water, only not so well. By Karen Chance Mircea Pritkin Water Mixed Oil

Look," I said, trying to reason with him despite extensive experience that this rarely worked. "This isn't a great time. I have my inauguration - " "Coronation." " - coming up, By Karen Chance Worked Coronation Reason Extensive Experience

A courteous war mage. The world really was coming to an end. And then Pritkin ran back around the corner followed by half a dozen groggy people. He glanced at the cells that still had to be emptied. "You aren't done yet?" he demanded. The world righted itself. By Karen Chance Mage Courteous War World Pritkin

Like Claire said, there were other things to hunt and most of them were much less likely to hunt me back. But there was nothing that made my blood sing, my senses reel, my heart pound quite like chasing my natural prey. Except maybe fucking it. By Karen Chance Hunt Claire Back Things Sing

Prevarication, how divine! I always did get along better with sinners. By Karen Chance Prevarication Divine Sinners

It's about time! It's supposed to be a ritual, not a marathon. By Karen Chance Time Ritual Marathon Supposed

I did have regrets these past six months," he told me quietly. "I found it a curse as much as a blessing, all that time to think. About the things I could have said, that I should have told you ... By Karen Chance Months Quietly Regrets Past Told

And then I got to my feet and stumbled toward the door again. And got halfway there before I realized I was naked. Of course I am, I thought angrily, and went back to the bed for a sheet. God forbid I actually wake up dressed anymore. By Karen Chance Feet Stumbled Door Naked Halfway

What the hell was he carrying this shit around for?" the second vamp demanded. "It's useful in making captures, subduing difficult prisoners." Pritkin shrugged. "Then ... this is a weapon." "Yes." "But he was going on a date." Pritkin looked confused. By Karen Chance Demanded Hell Carrying Shit Vamp

I was the kind of gal who thought the nightgown drawer was where old T-shirts went to die and By Karen Chance Tshirts Kind Gal Thought Nightgown

This had expectations written all over it. Expectations that I was going to fuck up royally because I wasn't the kind of gal who wore designer nightwear and knew what all the forks were for. I was the kind of gal who thought the nightgown drawer was where old T-shirts went to die and who had only started using forks in the last century. By Karen Chance Expectations Kind Gal Written Forks

Think you can maybe not die for five minutes?""I'll try,"I told him seriously."You know, if anyone else said that, it would be funny. By Karen Chance Minutes Seriously Funny Die Told

What? I said defensively, clutching the mink and my dignity. Since I was barefoot, mostly naked and completely hungover, I was pretty sure I grasped only one of them. By Karen Chance Defensively Clutching Dignity Mink Barefoot

I turned over, and those big hands got to work on my back. I stifled a whimper in the pillow, because Marco's idea of a massage bore no resemblance whatsoever to the relaxing spa variety. There was no lavender oil, no soothing music, no hot towels. Just an all-out assault on cramped muscles, until they cowered in surrender and turned to Jell-O. By Karen Chance Back Big Hands Work Turned

He had all the self-preservation instincts of a bug near a shiny windshield. By Karen Chance Windshield Selfpreservation Instincts Bug Shiny

You can take him!" Ray whispered in my ear. "Damn straight." The next thing I remember, Ray was fishing me out from under the table. Or, at least, he was trying to, but Scarface's foot was in the way. "On. Her. Ass," Scarface said proudly. "She just slipped," Ray said, sounding frantic. "Anybody could slip. She's fine! By Karen Chance Ray Scarface Damn Ear Ass

It should have really ticked me off - the conceit of it, the more than a hint of possession, the presumption that he could just walk into my bathroom anytime he liked and - And I didn't care. I wanted to turn in to the feel of those hands,wanted to sink into all that warmth, wanted to preen like a cat being stroked, wanted - Wanted. And it scared the hell out of me. By Karen Chance Wanted Possession Care Ticked Conceit

Round-the-clock security meant that some of them got stuck on the day shift, which was hard on vampires. At least I assumed that was why, after a week or two, they started looking a little peaked. By Karen Chance Security Shift Vampires Meant Stuck

Mircea must have heard us come in, but he continued what he was doing.He stood with his back to us, the candlelight on his bare skin causing his muscles to fall into sharp relief. He'd washed the river gunk out of his hair and now he threw it back, the water droplets shimmering in the light. The scene looked for all the world like a really good romance novel cover. By Karen Chance Mircea Relief Back Heard Continued

Damn it, the man needed a keeper. Yeah, sure he did. A dark-haired, dimpled, dhampir keeper, which wasn't going to happen, so just shut up. Sometimes I didn't think it mattered what Mircea did in my head, because I was already crazy anyway. "It's like someone invented you just to mess with me," I said resentfully. "Quoi?" I sighed. By Karen Chance Damn Keeper Man Needed Yeah

The Circle had been less than thrilled by its choice, but we'd finally come to terms. As in, they were no longer trying to play Whac-A-Mole with my head. Only now they seemed to think they had the right to make sure that nobody else did, either. That was a problem, because the vampires felt the same way and the Senate didn't share well. By Karen Chance Circle Choice Terms Thrilled Finally

It never ceases to amaze me how many people think I kill for fun.""Don't you?""Well, not just for fun. By Karen Chance Fun Fun Ceases Amaze People

Then you must be willing to fight," Mircea responded. "Life is not a gift, Raphael; it's a challenge. Rise to it! By Karen Chance Mircea Raphael Fight Responded Life

I'd have been dead a long time ago if not for my friends, one of whom had just jumped off the cliff after me. I'd have been a lot more appreciative if he hadn't pushed me first." ~Cassandra Palmer By Karen Chance Friends Dead Long Time Ago

I'm fine," I told him tersely."Of course you are. You're one of the strongest people I know."It took me a second to process that, because he'd said it so casually. Like he was talking about the weather or what time it was. Only Pritkin didn't say things like that. His idea of a compliment was a nod and to tell me to do whatever it was I'd just done over again. Like that was usually possible.But that had sounded suspiciously like a compliment to me. By Karen Chance Fine Tersely Told Compliment Pritkin

My body cheerfully informed me that he felt really good pressed against me like that, all hard muscles and smooth contours and ominous bulges. My body liked the air of barely leashed strength and caged mayhem he was giving off. My body thought he smelled really good, like heat and coffee and electricity. My body was going to get me killed. By Karen Chance Body Bulges Good Cheerfully Informed

You decent?" I pulled the towel up a little higher. "Yes, if my wrinkled toes don't offend." Marco's swarthy head popped around the doorjamb. "Naw, they're cute. By Karen Chance Decent Naw Higher Offend Pulled

She was the oddest combination of contradictions he'd ever met -innocence and sensuality, candour and diplomacy, anxiety and utter fearlessness. He hadn't even begun to figure out how her mind worked. But she was damn well going to live long enough for him to try. By Karen Chance Met Innocence Sensuality Candour Diplomacy

One of the ghosts knows where the passage is! I told Pritkin. He looked surprised and I scowled. Just because I didn't know seven ways to kill a guy with my elbow didn't make me completely useless. By Karen Chance Ghosts Passage Pritkin Scowled Told

You know, dulceata, there are times when I truly believe you are the most frightening person I know.Thank you? By Karen Chance Dulceata Times Frightening Person Knowthank

You mean you let him talk to you like that and you aren't even getting any Man what a rip-off. By Karen Chance Man Ripoff Talk

He wasn't that good looking, he had the social skills of a wet cat and the patience of a caffeinated hummingbird By Karen Chance Hummingbird Good Social Skills Wet

Halfway through, I decided that if I survived this, I was going to kill him. It wouldn't be easy, him being a master vamp and all, but I would find a way. By Karen Chance Halfway Decided Survived Kill Easy

All I want to know is why a party of Fey wanted to kill me," I said heatedly. The beetle's lips twisted enough to show fang. "Doesn't everyone?" Radu hustled me out the door before I could find out if the vamp's plump little carcass would fit into his overstuffed desk. By Karen Chance Fey Heatedly Party Wanted Kill

Then why are you getting dressed?" "Maybe I don't like being the only naked one in the room," I said sarcastically. And immediately regretted it. "That is easily remedied," he told me, and pulled off his sweater. By Karen Chance Dressed Room Sarcastically Naked Remedied

This was Dante's. Crazy was what we had for breakfast when we ran out of Corn Flakes By Karen Chance Dante Flakes Corn Crazy Breakfast

So I guess this makes me your sidekick, right?" he asked. "Like I could be ... " "Robin?" He scowled. "I ain't no Robin." "What's wrong with Robin?" "What's wrong?" Ray rolled his eyes. "Two words: green Speedo. And he was lame. Batman was always having to save his ass." I didn't say anything. By Karen Chance Robin Sidekick Asked Guess Makes

Forgive me, Cassie, but Jonas Marsden is hardly an example of well-adjusted behavior! By Karen Chance Cassie Jonas Marsden Forgive Behavior

Dorina?" Louis Cesare's voice was loud in my ear. The one I had squeezed against thephone, which was squeezed against my sore shoulder, becuase I was using both hands tokeep Ray's point in his pants."The fey, damm it!" I told him. "They're for the fey!""Which one?" Louis Cesare asked, his voice going velvety soft."All of them- No Ray! Ray, cut it out!""All of them? By Karen Chance Dorina Ray Cesare Louis Fey

I lay there, no longer fighting, since my head was spinning too much. And because I wasn't going to win anyway. And because I kind of liked the feeling of sensual captivity, at least by this particular jailer. By Karen Chance Fighting Lay Longer Head Spinning

No they called it the Codex Merlini because it was written by a guy named Ralph. By Karen Chance Ralph Codex Merlini Called Written

Look, I need something-""Evidently.""Don't get all British on me," I snapped as his accent went clipped. That usually precipitated a hissy fit, but I was already having one and we didn't get to do that at the same time. By Karen Chance Evidently British Clipped Snapped Accent

Country is based on folk music, which has been around for centuries - " "So has the plague. By Karen Chance Country Music Centuries Plague Based

Aiyaaaa," Zheng said softly. And if that meant "holy shit," I agreed. By Karen Chance Aiyaaaa Zheng Softly Meant Holy

My nerves needed a break, not a reminder of how much trouble we were in. I prowled around, but it didn't help. I still felt like my skin was on too tight. By Karen Chance Break Nerves Needed Reminder Trouble

I felt betrayed and absolutely livid, but my body wasn't smart enough to know it. It had liked the feel of his hands, wanted more of it, wanted it now. It was almost like there were two of me, one who heartily approved of the mage and one who would have dearly loved to see him dead. By Karen Chance Livid Wanted Felt Betrayed Absolutely

Pritkin might be a hostile son of a bitch, but he was a damn good guy to have in a fight. By Karen Chance Pritkin Bitch Fight Hostile Son

I tossed it on a pile with the coat, my stiff-with-cold jeans and the expensive scrap of silk that had been wedged up my ass for the past half hour. By Karen Chance Coat Jeans Hour Tossed Pile

Have you lost your mind?""No. It got scared and ran away. By Karen Chance Mind Lost Scared Ran

Take them off!" I told him, grabbing the front of his jeans. "Take everything off!""I'm trying!""Try harder! By Karen Chance Grabbing Jeans Harder Told Front

The getup, sort of mad scientist meets Rambo, would have made me smile, except that I believe in showing respect for someone carrying that much hardware. By Karen Chance Rambo Getup Sort Smile Hardware

He was an enigma, John Pritkin: a mad scientist with gun calluses and old scars and even more secrets than me. By Karen Chance John Pritkin Enigma Mad Scientist

The most temptation I'd experienced had been with Tomas, the Senate's spy who had been feeding off me without permission, and Mircea, who was probably plotting some nefarious scheme. I have no taste in men. By Karen Chance Tomas Mircea Senate Permission Scheme

Louis-Cesare and Ray were in trouble.I could tell because I could see them, not clearly, but in fits and starts, little glimmers like a couple of ghosts, if ghosts made "oh shit" faces on the one hand agitated French gestures on the other. And that sort of shit wasn't going to go unnoticed for long.Aaaaand it didn't. By Karen Chance Ray French Ghosts Louiscesare Starts

every predator loves easy prey. Her lip curled, baring fangs that there was no one there to see. Because she wasn't prey. In the vamp world, she was pretty much the apex predator, the mongoose to his snake. And she was about to Rikki Tikki Tavi his ass. Dory By Karen Chance Prey Loves Easy Predator Curled

I didn't eat.""What difference does that make?""I'm not like you. I can't recharge by feeding off someone. I need food.""I know that! When was the last time you ate?""Yesterday.""Yesterwhy the hell didn't you eat?""We had to go buy condoms, remember?""And you couldn't grab a sandwich on the way out?" he said hysterically. "I'm gonna die because you couldn't grab a sandwich? By Karen Chance Eat Make Difference Grab Sandwich

He was like this when I got here?' That's you alibi? By Karen Chance Alibi

Can you repeat that pickup line for me?" I heard one of the vamps ask. "I want to write it down. Something about the usual? By Karen Chance Repeat Pickup Line Heard Vamps

You know, I was gutting this loser the other day, and I thought, It'd be more fun fighting that little dhampir. I wonder if she's recovered yet. And here you are." "Lucky me," I said. Scarface grinned. "You know, I might even let you live. You're funny. By Karen Chance Day Thought Dhampir Gutting Loser

More worryingly, my baby fangs were out, which usually happened only when I was perilously close to tipping over into Mr. Hyde territory. I quickly drew them back in. It didn't help much. I still looked like Dracula's daughter. Which was completely unfair, since he'd only been an uncle. By Karen Chance Hyde Worryingly Territory Baby Fangs

You are nothing like Christine!" he said, in my face. "She was a responsibility, a mistake I made when young and foolish, and from whom I came to believe I would never be free!""Then what am I?" I challenged, staring up into blazing sapphire eyes."A joy. By Karen Chance Christine Face Responsibility Foolish Free

My nose was running, I couldn't see worth shit and my brain was still frozen in abject terror. By Karen Chance Running Terror Nose Worth Shit

A legend is merely a history man decided to bugger. By Karen Chance Bugger Legend History Man Decided

I narrowed my eyes at it. Ming-de's little gift, I assumed. "You look better in color," I snapped.He sent me a sultry look over his shoulder. "Really? Most women think I look better in nothing at all. By Karen Chance Narrowed Eyes Mingde Gift Assumed

Louis-Cesare. It's good to finally have you in hand. By Karen Chance Louiscesare Hand Good Finally

Pritkin put a heavy hand on my shoulder, which was just as well. It probably wouldn't have looked good to choke the head of the Silver Circle to death right before the coronation. Then again, my reputation was shot to hell anyway ... By Karen Chance Pritkin Shoulder Put Heavy Hand

You could say I'm on the troubleshooting squad.""Troubleshooting?"He put a hand on the back of his waistband. "I see trouble and I shoot it. By Karen Chance Troubleshooting Squad Waistband Put Hand

Fanatics." Mircea sounded disgusted. "She called them utopians." "Same thing under a different name." "She said they could be dangerous - " "They always are. Anyone who can only see their point of view is. Once a group decides that their way is the only way, it is an easy progression to vilifying anyone who doesn't agree with them. And once someone has been demonized, has been characterized as opposing the good, killing him becomes a virtue. By Karen Chance Fanatics Mircea Disgusted Utopians Sounded

One day, you will say it to me again. You will be sober. And you will mean it. By Karen Chance Day Sober

Huh.""Huh what?""Would you look at this?" he asked, examining a small box. "It says it glows in the dark.""So?""So, what use is that to anybody? I mean, what am I supposed to do? Write her name inthe air with it? By Karen Chance Huh Huh Asked Examining Box

The eyes were the same color, darker than mine, to the point that they didn't seem to have a pupil as they regarded me quizzically. "For such a small creature, you cause a lot of trouble." "So people ... keep telling me," I said, dizzy and weaponless, and wondering what this new hell was. By Karen Chance Color Darker Mine Quizzically Eyes

A gentleman would have announced himself!" I told him, pressing against the side of the tub. "And a scoundrel would have joined you." Kit Marlowe to the witch Gillian (shortly before joining her in the tub!) By Karen Chance Tub Gentleman Announced Gillian Pressing

Pritkin kissed like he did everything else, straightforward, accepting no prisoners and with an intensity that left me breathless. It was hot and hard and desperate, like he was starving for it, and I opened my mouth and took it, because, God. By Karen Chance Straightforward Pritkin Accepting Breathless Kissed

Kiss me....Cassie....Like you mean it. By Karen Chance Cassie Kiss

Alejandro, who thought he was a wit. And he was, if you put a "nit" in front of it, By Karen Chance Alejandro Wit Nit Thought Put

It's okay. You aren't my type.What's your type?Someone who gets into less trouble. By Karen Chance Type Trouble

I didn't know how men managed with something taking up so much room down there. And what the hell kind of design left a person's privates dangling loose in the air and changing sizes all the time? By Karen Chance Men Managed Taking Room Time

Mircea leaned over to refill my wineglass, and a section of his bare chest showed under the robe, along with a hint of dusky nipple. It's a good thing I'm too stuffed to move, I thought hazily. I would so have jumped that. By Karen Chance Mircea Wineglass Robe Nipple Leaned

And that was despite the fact that she wasn't really here. I could see stars through her on the other side, although she wasn't a ghost. I knew ghosts. It was more like she was on an intertemporal version of Skype. By Karen Chance Fact Skype Ghost Ghosts Side

Poireaux vinaigrette aux grains de caviar." I did a quick translation. "Leeks and fish eggs in vinegar?" He grinned. "It sounds better in French." Yeah, but did it taste better? By Karen Chance Poireaux Caviar Vinaigrette Aux Grains

Where. Is. He?" Alphonse repeated, although it sounded more like "Don't make me eat your face. By Karen Chance Alphonse Repeated Face Sounded Make

This isn't sex."I blinked. "Oh. Then what is it?""An emergency!"I started to argue and then thought twice about it. Considering what Mircea would do to Pritkin if he ever found out about this ... Yeah. Emergency sounded good. By Karen Chance Sex Blinked Emergency Yeah Mircea

And if I order you to stay?" I asked, after a few moments.Pritkin didn't say anything. I looked up but I couldn't see him very well. He'd leaned forward, out of the sign's bloody light, and only a little filtered in from the lounge. But when he finally answered, his voice was calm."I would stay. And protect you as best I can. By Karen Chance Order Stay Asked Momentspritkin Forward

I'd been declared - over my loud and sustained protests - Pythia, the chief seer of the supernatural world. By Karen Chance Pythia Declared Protests World Loud

I looked up, but had to crane my head back, leaving the features above me wrong-side up. The clear green eyes were the same, and, unfortunately, so was the spiky blond hair. It didn't look any better from this angle, I decided. By Karen Chance Back Leaving Looked Crane Head

I'm about to rupture something, he was informed, as the big, gaily wrapped box she was carrying smacked into the small of his back again. She had an uncanny ability to hit the same spot every time. By Karen Chance Informed Big Gaily Rupture Wrapped

Louis-Cesare slowly pulled himself into a half-standing position against the side of the winery.'What? Did you think one little mage was going to do me in?' He swallowed hard. 'Hell, that was just a warm-up. By Karen Chance Louiscesare Winery Hell Slowly Pulled

And why not?" "You know why! This is a bad idea." "Perhaps I like a challenge." "Perhaps you're a glutton for punishment!" "Perhaps I am in love. By Karen Chance Idea Challenge Punishment Love Bad

I'm like the master. I like to walk on the wild side." It took me a moment to realize what he meant. "I am not the wild side," I told him flatly. "I'm about as far from the wild side as it's possible to get. By Karen Chance Wild Side Master Walk Meant

I wasn't entirely sure, but a polite John Pritkin might be a sign of the apocalypse. By Karen Chance John Pritkin Apocalypse Polite Sign

Fresh blood at midnight isn't red. It's a purplish black that easily blends into the shadows. By Karen Chance Fresh Red Blood Midnight Shadows

If I'm not supposed to be awake, why are you here?" I mumbled."To be the little spoon. By Karen Chance Awake Supposed Mumbled Spoon

I was alive, they were not. Go Me. (Touch the Dark) By Karen Chance Alive Touch Dark

I looked up to find a slim blond figure standing in the doorway to the kitchen. For a frozen second, I looked at him and he looked at me, and then I screamed and threw my coffee, which hit him square in the groin. By Karen Chance Looked Kitchen Find Slim Blond

What about your servant? Did he see anything?"[ ... ]As soon as the crisis was over, Billy had fled into his necklace and I hadn't seen him since.I gave him little poke, just for the hell of it, and got back the metaphysical version of the finger. "Billy doesn't know anything," I translated."Are you certain?"Tell him to suck my balls!"Pretty certain. By Karen Chance Billy Servant Pretty Poke Finger

Mess with my weed again and I'll be informing Daddy that there was an early casualty on the mission. I saw him wince at my designation for Mircea and grinned. By Karen Chance Daddy Mess Mission Weed Informing

The Lord Protector and his hair got off the elevator. By Karen Chance Lord Protector Elevator Hair

Pritkin was saying something, something I should probably be paying attention to since he was looking a little ... stressed. By Karen Chance Pritkin Stressed Paying Attention

He had the look of an atheist who'd just had a visit from God: stunned, disbelieving and faintly ill. By Karen Chance Stunned God Disbelieving Ill Atheist

Is there anyone in this apartment who hasn't seen me naked?" I demanded, grabbing the sheet and the phone. "I genuinely hope so, Cassandra. By Karen Chance Naked Cassandra Apartment Demanded Grabbing

I lay in the middle of an orgy-sized bed without the orgy, or anybody for company except a butterfly flirting with the sheers over the window. By Karen Chance Orgy Window Lay Middle Orgysized

Any day that starts off in a demon-filled bar in a casino designed to look like Hell isn't likely to turn out well. By Karen Chance Hell Day Starts Demonfilled Bar

I keep hitting [Escape], but I'm still here!Unknown, but used by Karen Chance in Hunt the Moon By Karen Chance Escape Unknown Moon Karen Chance

My sometimes friend, sometimes enemy, all the time pain in the ass. By Karen Chance Friend Enemy Ass Time Pain

They don't eat that much." "In comparison to what? Starving marines? By Karen Chance Eat Starving Marines Comparison

I hadn't realized how much I'd relied on his scowls or his shrugs or his grudging looks of approval to help me figure something out-until they weren't there anymore. Or how I could talk to some people about a lot of things but only to him about everything. And how unbelievably valuable that was. By Karen Chance Anymore Realized Relied Scowls Shrugs

But you were Mine. My child. And I would not give you up. By Karen Chance Mine Child Give

How the hell do you think I feel?" I don't want to end up inside a woman!" He paused. "Well, at least not that way By Karen Chance Feel Hell Woman Paused End

The result was enough noise to wake the dead, one of whom started hammering on the bathroom door. Miss Palmer. Are you all right? By Karen Chance Dead Door Result Noise Wake

I felt rather than heard someone come up behind me and I didn't have to wonder who. My vagina had just gotten a heartbeat. By Karen Chance Felt Heard Heartbeat Vagina

No, Miss Palmer. What is bizarre is that I currently have a vagina. By Karen Chance Miss Palmer Vagina Bizarre

If I'd had enough breath, I would have screamed, both at the sensation and at the sheer pettiness of the bastard who wouldn't allow me even a tiny chance of escape. By Karen Chance Breath Screamed Escape Sensation Sheer

I can get others to do what you do. They won't be as good, but ... okay. It could work. But it doesn't matter because no matter how good they are, they can't replace you. They can't because I don't need you only for what you can do. I need you ... for you. By Karen Chance Good Matter Work Replace

They were too cold and there was no lime, but today was obviously about hardships. By Karen Chance Lime Hardships Cold Today

I'd never known thatanyone could kiss in English, kiss in apologies. By Karen Chance English Kiss Apologies Thatanyone

"I ran out of stock around midnight and dropped by a place, got some Chinese." I hoped he meant takeout. By Karen Chance Chinese Place Ran Stock Midnight

I thought there was a good chance the fridge was possessed. It was subtle about it, but I had its number. I knew its ways. Oh yes. By Karen Chance Possessed Thought Good Chance Fridge

To know Pritkin was to want to kill him, but so far I'd resisted temptation. By Karen Chance Pritkin Temptation Kill Resisted

He's a war mage. They're almost impossible to kill." He scowled. "Even on purpose. By Karen Chance Mage War Kill Scowled Impossible

He's stupid about you," Ray said, glaring at me. "And you're stupid about him. You're both stupid about each other, which would be great if you weren't also really fucking stupid - " "Ray." " - and can't see it. That's all. That's all I'm saying. By Karen Chance Ray Stupid Glaring Great Fucking

It was the first time he'd persuaded a girl into bed by mentioning the possibility of fleas. By Karen Chance Fleas Time Persuaded Girl Bed

I see you.You always did, I thought, watching sparks dance in his eyes. By Karen Chance Thought Watching Eyes Youyou Sparks

Pritkin looked surprised, the way he always did at the idea that anyone might actually care about him. By Karen Chance Pritkin Surprised Looked Idea Care

Oh, shiiiiiiit!""Is that really your name?" Pritkin demanded as we crawled up onto the shore some time later. "Oh, shit?""It's more the story ofy life," I said miserably.And then I passed out. By Karen Chance Shiiiiiiit Shit Pritkin Life Demanded

Do you always get in this much trouble?" Pritkin asked from behind me. "Mostly," I breathed."You know, I've noticed that about you," he told me.And then he kissed me. By Karen Chance Trouble Pritkin Breathed Asked Noticed

We're going jogging.""I don't run for recreation. I run when someone's after me with a weapon.""That can be arranged, By Karen Chance Jogging Recreation Run Weapon Arranged

We were obviously going to have to have a talk about the difference between "maintaining security" and "being a dick. By Karen Chance Maintaining Security Dick Talk Difference

I quote Tolkien because he puts it better. But I can still open a can of whup ass all over you."You're right," I told him. "He does put it better. By Karen Chance Tolkien Quote You Puts Put

It didn't matter what my heart said, I reminded myself. My heart told me stupid stuff all the time. My heart should just shut the hell up. By Karen Chance Heart Matter Reminded Time Told

Mr. Complete Lack of Sympathy By Karen Chance Sympathy Complete Lack

You know, I've lived a long time," he told me, massaging my calf more firmly now. "And I met a lot of people. But I ain't never met a woman made me want to beat her to death as often as you. By Karen Chance Time Massaging Lived Long Told

The guy appeared to be on the verge of tears. "Zere is no more bread," he confessed tragically, like someone admitting witchcraft to the Inquisition. By Karen Chance Tears Guy Appeared Verge Zere

I liked Pritkin loud and bitching, in other words, his normal state. I didn't like it when he got quiet. By Karen Chance Pritkin Bitching Words State Loud

I barely heard him, I was too busy watching Pritkin, who had slumped over with his head on the sofa arm, shoulders shaking helplessly, and what looked suspiciously like tears leaking out from under his closed eyes. "Not that bad," he muttered, and then he was off again. By Karen Chance Pritkin Arm Shoulders Helplessly Eyes

I'm trying to remember all the reasons you are indispensable and can't be killed slowly and painfully. By Karen Chance Painfully Remember Reasons Indispensable Killed