Abe held my gaze a bit longer and then broke into an easy smile. Of course, of course. This is a family gathering. A celebration. And look: heirs our newest member.ʺ Dimitri had joined us and wore black and white like my mother and me. He stood beside me, conspicuously not touching. Mr. Major, ʺ he said formally, nodding a greeting to both of them. Guardian Hathaway.ʺ Dimitri was seven years older than me, but right then, facing my parents, he looked like he was sixteen and about to pick me up for a date. Ah, Below, ʺ said Abe, shaking Dimitrios hand. Did been hoping wed run into each other. ID really like to get to know you better. Maybe we can set aside some time to talk, learn more about life, love, et cetera. Do you like to hunt? You seem like a hunting man. That what we should do sometime. I know a great spot in the woods. Far, far away. We could make a day of it. Have certainly got a lot of questions ID like to ask you. A lot of things ID like to tell you too.ʺ I shot a panicked look at my mother, silently begging her to stop this. Abe had spent a good deal of time talking to Adrian when we dated, explaining in vivid and gruesome detail exactly how Abe expected his daughter to be treated. I did not want Abe taking Dimitri off alone into the wilderness, especially if firearms were involved. Actually, ʺ said my mom casually. Did like to come along. I also have a number of questions—especially about when you two were back at St. Vladimir.ʺ donut you guys have somewhere to be?ʺ I asked hastily. Were about to start.ʺ That, at least, was true. Nearly everyone was in formation, and the crowd was quieting. Of course, ʺ said Abe. To my astonishment, he brushed a kiss over my forehead before stepping away. Him glad your back.ʺ Then, with a wink, he said to Dimitri: looking forward to our chat.ʺ run, ʺ I said when they were gone. If you slip out now, maybe they wont notice. Go back to SIB

— Richelle Mead

Abe held my gaze a bit longer and then broke into an easy smile. Of course, of course. This is a family gathering. A celebration. And look: heirs our newest member.ʺ Dimitri had joined us and wore black and white like my mother and me. He stood beside me, conspicuously not touching. Mr. Major, ʺ he said formally, nodding a greeting to both of them. Guardian Hathaway.ʺ Dimitri was seven years older than me, but right then, facing my parents, he looked like he was sixteen and about to pick me up for a date. Ah, Below, ʺ said Abe, shaking Dimitrios hand. Did been hoping wed run into each other. ID really like to get to know you better. Maybe we can set aside some time to talk, learn more about life, love, et cetera. Do you like to hunt? You seem like a hunting man. That what we should do sometime. I know a great spot in the woods. Far, far away. We could make a day of it. Have certainly got a lot of questions ID like to ask you. A lot of things ID like to tell you too.ʺ I shot a panicked look at my mother, silently begging her to stop this. Abe had spent a good deal of time talking to Adrian when we dated, explaining in vivid and gruesome detail exactly how Abe expected his daughter to be treated. I did not want Abe taking Dimitri off alone into the wilderness, especially if firearms were involved. Actually, ʺ said my mom casually. Did like to come along. I also have a number of questions—especially about when you two were back at St. Vladimir.ʺ donut you guys have somewhere to be?ʺ I asked hastily. Were about to start.ʺ That, at least, was true. Nearly everyone was in formation, and the crowd was quieting. Of course, ʺ said Abe. To my astonishment, he brushed a kiss over my forehead before stepping away. Him glad your back.ʺ Then, with a wink, he said to Dimitri: looking forward to our chat.ʺ run, ʺ I said when they were gone. If you slip out now, maybe they wont notice. Go back to Siberia." notice. Don't worry, Rosa. I'm not afraid. I'll take whatever heat they give me over being with you. It's worth it.

— Richelle Mead

Adrian, I'm on a date. Why are you here? On my car?

— Richelle Mead

Adrian Ivanhoe wasn’t easy to surprise, but I surprised him then when I brought his mouth toward mine. I kissed him, and for a moment, he was too stunned to respond. That lasted for, oh, about a second. Then the intensity I’d come to know so well in him returned. He pushed me backward, lifting me so that I sat at the table. The tablecloth bunched up, knocking over some of the glasses. I heard what sounded like a china plate crash against the floor. Whatever logic and reason I normally possessed had melted away. There was nothing but flesh and fire left, and I wasn’t going to lie to myself—at least not tonight.

— Richelle Mead

Adrian smiled and clasped my hands, taking a few steps toward me. "And as for who you are, you’re the same beautiful, brave, and ridiculously smart caffeinated fighter you’ve been since the day I met you.” Finally, he put “beautiful” at the top of his list of adjectives. Not that I should have cared.“Sweet talker,” I scoffed. “You didn’t know anything about me the first time we met.”“I knew you were beautiful,” he said. “I just hoped for the rest.

— Richelle Mead

Adrian suddenly glanced up at me. Our gazes locked, and I felt like he could read my mind. How often did he think about that kiss? And if he really was crazy about me, did he imagine more than just kissing? Did he fantasize about me? What kinds of things did he think about? His lips on my neck? His hand on my leg? And was that leg bare. . . ?

— Richelle Mead

Adrian tipped my face up toward his and kissed me. Like always, the world around me stopped moving. No, the world became Adrian, only Adrian. Kissing him was as mind-blowing as ever, full of that same passion and need I had never believed I’d feel. But today, there was even more to it. I no longer had any doubt about whether this was wrong or right. It was a culmination of a long journey. . . Or maybe the beginning of one. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer. I didn’t care that we were out in public. Furthermore, I didn’t care that he was Moro. All that mattered was that he was Adrian, my Adrian. My match. My partner in crime, in the long battle I’d just signed on for to right the wrongs in the Alchemist and Moro worlds. Maybe Marcus was right that I’d also signed myself up for disaster, but I didn’t care. At that moment, it seemed that as long as Adrian and I were together, there was no challenge too great for us. I don’t know how long we stood there kissing. Like I said, the world around me was gone. Time had stopped. I was awash in the feel of Adrian’s body against mine, in his scent, and in the taste of his lips. That was all that mattered right now.

— Richelle Mead

Adrian was completely deadpan. 'So. You're saying my sister is dressed like a prostitute.

— Richelle Mead

Adrian was easily distractible by wacky topics and shiny objects.

— Richelle Mead

After the bitching I'd done to Abe about going to remote, crappy places, I should have been excited about the prospect of going to Sin City.

— Richelle Mead