A Shade of Blood

I love you, Sofia,” I whispered. “And I honestly believe that I could never love another woman for the rest of my life. For the first time in the past five hundred years, I am sincerely thankful for my immortality, because without it, I never would’ve found you.

You're not a pawn, Sofia. You're the queen.

Just because sandcastles are temporary, it never stopped me from making them as beautiful as possible.

Derek’s. Lucas’. Ben’s. It’s beyond me what I must do to make them realize that I’m neither object nor possession. I don’t belong to any of them.

After all, it seemed far nobler to give up one’s life to the light than to the dark.

Why are you telling me all this, Vivienne?” Tears were threatening to spill down my cheeks. “Remember the night when you arrived? When you were in the dungeon? I told you that you were nothing but a pawn.” I could still remember her exact words and how frightened she made me feel: "Understand, girl, that you are nothing here. You’re nothing but a pawn, a piece used to make the board move. Your best chance at survival and proving your significance is to win Derek’s affections. Considering everything I know about my brother, I’m not sure that’s even possible." I smiled bitterly. “How could I forget?” “I was wrong.” Vivienne, in all her grace and beauty, looked me in the eye and said, “You’re not a pawn, Sofia. You’re the queen.

Sometimes, that’s the way it is with people. You think you can tell what they are based on the patterns that you see, but when you take a look inside, they’re nothing like you expect them to be.

This, Derek, is what you’re going to turn into without her in your life. You can only get worse from here. This is why you need her.

I don’t belong to you, Derek.” “Oh?” He challenged me. “I belong with you.

The wounded can inflict the most painful wounds without hesitation.

My word is law on this island. She is the woman I love. So shall her words also be law upon The Shade… unless I say otherwise.

The wounded can inflict the most painful wound without hesitation.

I feared what loving him could mean for me.

I always thought of you as the girl I would eventually become serious with. The only explanation I can really give you is that I wasn’t ready to settle yet. But I know I caused you a lot of pain and there’s no excuse for it. I was being a complete jackass.

I wondered if she had any idea how much her words meant to me. You never lost me.

When she didn’t return, your dad went

snuck into Abby’s room first. I smiled upon seeing her pink, star-shaped night light and the way she was clinging to her stuffed animal, Colin. At her age, she still sucked her thumb when she slept. I approached her bed and twisted a tendril of her blonde hair with my forefinger. “I’ll miss you, dwarfette.” I kicked myself for being so dramatic. It wasn’t like the hunters were going to take me captive and keep me from ever seeing my family again, but I knew that the choice I was making was going to break my family’s heart. My next stop was my parents’ bedroom. I snuck a peek at them cuddled in their bed, a reminder of how in love they still were with each other after all those years—something I felt I could never have now that Sofia had left me. I slipped through the door and snuck inside the room, careful to be as quiet as I possibly could. I saw my dad’s car keys above their drawers and took them. I took one last look at my parents and whispered, “I’m sorry.

Her gasp of pain made me ache with guilt when her maidenhead gave way beneath me. Still,

I’m not mad, but I should be.

I cupped her cheeks with both hands. “I adore you, Sofia Claremont.” I placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, breathing out when her arms snaked around my waist.

I’d like to speak with Corrine privately.” “Of course. Go ahead. I don’t mind.” Liar. I minded. I

When she leaned closer and her lips touched mine, I couldn’t bring myself to believe it. I held her waist and drew her closer, practically carrying her so I could plant her on my lap as I once again partook of the pleasures her sweet lips provided.

That night, at the lighthouse, everything else faded away and my entire world became Sofia Claremont.

A smile threatened to creep over my face. Who owns whom now?

speeding toward him, my claws sinking into his chest. Fear sparked in his eyes when he realized that he’d gone too far and that I could break his neck in two with my bare hands. “Broach the subject again, Felix, and I will demonstrate just how weak I am by ripping your heart out with my bare hands. Her name is never to escape your lips again. Do you understand?” He nodded. “Yes. Of course. My apologies.” With no

Crees que sabes lo que son basándote en los indicios que ves, pero cuando miras en el interior, no se parecen en nada a lo que esperas que sean.»

Eli Lazaroff stepped into the arena, looking more like a librarian than a warrior.