01c. 1976 ADYou know what would help?" I asked, not meeting his eyes."Hmm?""If you turned off this crap music and put on something that came out after the Berlin Wall went down."Dimitri laughted. "Your worst class is history, yet somehow, you know everything about Eastern Europe.""Hey, gotta have material for my jokes, Comrade." Still smiling, he turned the radio dail. To a country station."Hey! This isn't what I had in mind," I exclaimed. I could tell he was on the verge of laughing again."Pick. It's one or the other."I sighed. "Go back to the 1980s stuff."He flipped the dail, and I crossed my arms over my chest as some vaguely European-sounding band sang about how video had killed the radio star. I wished someone would kill this radio.Richelle Mead / quote ↗
02c. 1976 ADFrom behind Lissa, I heard Christian say, "Worst. Timing. Ever." Adrian studied Lissa and then looked at Christain sprawling on the bed on the far side of the suite. "Huh," Adrian said, letting himself in. "So that's how you're going to fix the family problem. Little Dragomirs. Good idea." Christian sat up and strolled toward them. "Yeah, that's exactly it. You're interrupting official Council business.Richelle Mead / quote ↗
03c. 1976 ADOkay, God, I thought. Get me out of this and I’ll stop my half-assed church-going ways. You got me past a pack of Strigoi tonight. I mean, trapping that one between the doors really shouldn't have worked, so clearly you're on board. Let me get out of here, and I’ll...I don’t know. Donate Adrian’s money to the poor. Get baptized. Join a convent. Well, no. Not that last one.Richelle Mead / quote ↗
04c. 1976 ADYeah? Can you draw a skeleton riding a motorcycle with flames coming out of it? And I want a pirate hat on the skeleton. And a parrot on his shoulder. A skeleton parrot. Or maybe a ninja skeleton parrot? No, that would be overkill. But it'd be cool if the biker skeleton could be shooting some ninja throwing stars. That are on fire.Richelle Mead / quote ↗
05c. 1976 ADIt's okay," I said soothingly. "You're just getting your stride back. Once you're up to full power, I'll go crack a rib or something so we can test it."She groaned. "The horrible part is that I don't think you're joking.Richelle Mead / quote ↗
06c. 1976 ADA gun. I had been brought down by a gun. It was practically comical. Cheaters, I thought.Richelle Mead / quote ↗
07c. 1976 ADRelax, having kids is years away. But can you imagine? Your brains, my charm, our collective good looks... then add in the usual physical abilities dhampirs get. It's really not even fair to everyone else.Richelle Mead / quote ↗
08c. 1976 ADAre you sleepwalking?' A voice asked behind me. "I was testing dorm security," I said. "It sucks.Richelle Mead / quote ↗
09c. 1976 ADYou were wrong. She really is the new general in town."I smiled back, hoping he wasn't aware of my body's reaction to us standing so close. "Maybe. But, it's okay. You can still be colonel."He arched an eyebrow. "Oh? Did you demote yourself? Colonel's right below general. What's that make you?"I reached into my pocket and triumphantly flashed the CR-V keys I'd swiped when we'd come back inside. "The driver," I said.Richelle Mead / quote ↗
10c. 1976 ADI wasn't fooled. He was avoiding looking at me. "There's nothing to talk about.""I knew you'd say that. Actually, it was a toss-up between that and 'I don't know what you're talking about.'"Dimitri sighed.Richelle Mead / quote ↗
11c. 1976 ADDo not do that again," he said stiffly."Don't kiss me back then," I retorted.He stared at me for what seemed like forever. "I don't give 'Zen lessons' to hear myself talk. I don't give them because you're another student. I'm doing this to teach you control.""You're doing a great job," I said bitterly.Richelle Mead / quote ↗
12c. 1976 ADPiece of Heaven?" "No, that other place I'm going to go to for thinking what I'm thinking.Richelle Mead / quote ↗
13c. 1976 ADSex had been amazing, but it wasn't a magical cure for everything. Damn. Somewhere along the way, I'd picked up common sense.Richelle Mead / quote ↗
14c. 1976 ADYou look too pretty to be useful." "Truer words were never spoken.Richelle Mead / quote ↗
15c. 1976 ADMy muscles informed me they did not want to go through any more exercise today. So I suggest that maybe he should let me off this time. He laughed, and I'm pretty sure it was at me...not with me. "Why is that funny?" "Oh," he said, his smile dropping. "You were serious.""Of course I was! Look, I've technically been awake for two days. Why do we have to start this training now? Let me go to bed." I whined. "It's just one hour.""How do you feel right now?""I hurt like hell.""You'll feel worse tomorrow.""So?""So, better get a jump on it while you still feel...not as bad.""What kind of logic is that?" I retorted.Richelle Mead / quote ↗
16c. 1976 ADAh, well,ʺ said Abe, idly studying his fingertips. ʺI have it on good authority thereʹs going to be a new ‘gateʹ opening up soon over on the south side of the wall."The truth dawned on me. ʺOh lord. Youʹre the one whoʹs been doling out C4.ʺʺYou make it sound so easy,ʺ he said with a frown. ʺThat stuffʹs hard to get a hold of.Richelle Mead / quote ↗
17c. 1976 ADI just rely on natural talent," said Adrian, strolling up to the start of the Dragon's Lair. "When you have such a wealth of it to draw from, the danger comes from having too much.Richelle Mead / quote ↗
18c. 1976 ADDo you love him?"There were only a few people in the world who could ask me such insanely personal questions without getting punched. Dimitri was one of them.Richelle Mead / quote ↗
19c. 1976 ADWhen he finished, he drank from the cup. Everyone else did too, so I followed suit.And nearly choked to death.It was like fire in liquid form. It took every ounce of strength I had to swallow it and not spray it on those around me."Wh...what is this?" I asked, coughing.Viktoria grinned. "Vodka."I peered at the glass. "No, it isn't. I've had vodka before.""Not Russian vodka."Apparently not.Richelle Mead / quote ↗
20c. 1976 ADHow do you feel right now?" "I hurt like hell.""You'll feel worse tomorrow.""So?""So, better get a jump on this while you still feel...not as bad.""What kind of logic is that?" I retorted.Richelle Mead / quote ↗
21c. 1976 ADOh... Adrian, I've got one more favor to ask you. A big one." "Fondue?" he asked hopefully.Richelle Mead / quote ↗
22c. 1976 ADThings on the essential list: vodka, Nine Inch Nails, a steady supply of mortal men, and an all-purpose bitchy attitude.Richelle Mead / quote ↗
23c. 1976 ADIt was a lame excuse, and I knew that wasn't the reason he was canceling. If he wanted to avoid me, I would have preferred he made up something about how he and the other guardians had to up Moroi security or practice top-secret ninja moves.Richelle Mead / quote ↗
24c. 1976 ADYou did not just say that. I have a feeling we're on the verge of hugging and coming up with cute nicknames for each other.Richelle Mead / quote ↗
