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7266480
|
He pushed to his feet, wobbly, still adjusting to his new center of gravity. He gingerly moved one forepaw, then the next, one rear paw, then the other. He picked up the pace, but still slow as he circled the clearing. A snort, like he'd figured it out, and he broke into a lope, stumbled and plowed muzzle-first into the undergrowth. I stifled a laugh, but not very well. and he glowered at me. He snorted and turned fast. When I fell back, he..
|
|
exercise
teasing-banter
chloe
derek
run
wolf
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
7b41a80
|
I backed off Nicole fast. They hit her with a needle, but she wouldn't stop trying to get me and they had to haul her out. she shrieked back at me. They dragged her away, still spewing threats.
|
|
nicole
maya
threats
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
ea3077b
|
I said. A dismissive snort as he got to his feet. He tried running again, and didn't fall, but did more lurching than loping, his legs threatening to tangle at every step.
|
|
keep-score
learning-to-walk
derek
wolf
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
0855009
|
At
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|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
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6494da4
|
Derek stopped short. I smacked into his back--not for the first time, since he insisted on walking in front of me. I'd been tripping on his heels and mumbling apologies the whole way. When I'd slow down to let him get farther ahead, he'd snap at me to keep up. Simon said. He was behind me--sticking to the curbside, walking as close as Derek. While normally I wouldn't complain about Simon being so close, I had the weird sensation of being b..
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|
chloe
derek
simon
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
3c56e47
|
he drawled. His grin turned a little less friendly, more bared teeth than smile. He stepped closer. I stepped back. he said. His look sent a shiver through me. He moved toward me, I sidestepped, leading him away.
|
|
liam
distraction
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
473f92c
|
He held out an old eight millimeter video camera. A video camera? What would I use it for? Recording our great escape? I didn't say that, because I knew it wasn't the point. This was a gift, a way to say His eyes begged me to take it. Just take it. Forgive him. Forget what happened. Start over. And that's what I wanted to do--accept his gift and smile and see that spark in his eyes and--
|
|
derek
sorry
gift
forgive
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
7d8a724
|
As we sat, Derek pulled a handful of energy bars from his pocket, and gave me one. Simon reached into his pockets. Tori said. Simon sat on the crate beside me. Derek interrupted. Simon swore under his breath. He turned to me.
|
|
showing-up
derek
simon
weird
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
233f0da
|
I glanced in the first open door and stopped short. Desks. Four tiny desks. A wall of faded posters of alphabet animals. A blackboard, still showing the ghost of numbers. I blinked, certain I was seeing wrong. Derek nudged my legs, telling me to get moving. I looked at him, and I looked at the classroom. This was where Derek had grown up. Four tiny desks. Four little boys. Four young werewolves. For a second, I could see them--three boys wo..
|
|
lab
chloe
derek
werewolves
childhood
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
eecfb07
|
said a voice beside me. I jumped so high, my heart rammed into my throat. Derek said again. Liam stopped. He looked at me, then at his body, on the ground. He swore.
|
|
liam
derek
ghost
dead
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
6c0d08f
|
A whisper of fabric as Derek dressed. Then a hand on my waist, a light touch, tentative. I turned and Derek was right there, his face above mine, hands sliding around me as I titled my face up-- We both jumped--again. Tori stood there, staring at us, Simon behind her, grabbing her arm. Simon began. She shook her head. Liz raced in. "Derek's ready," I said. "
|
|
interrupt
liz
tori
derek
simon
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
871c944
|
I looked at Liam. He choked on a laugh.
|
|
chloe
liam
ghost
dead
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
1cbc2a5
|
He moved into the moonlight. That was no accident. He wanted me to see his eyes burning with fever, his skin flushed, hair sweat soaked. He wanted me to say, leap out of bed, and insist on going outside with him, help him through it, a I had the last two times. I looked at him and I lay back down. He stepped froward. I sat up, swung my legs out of bed, and stood. He breathed a sigh of relief. I walked to the window. A spark of panic igni..
|
|
chloe
punish
derek
restraint
mean
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
b656268
|
As she did, someone else poked his head in. Rafe. He looked at the other two, then me. He lowered his voice. I said. He nodded and retreated. I said when he was gone. Chloe looked from me to the now-empty doorway. She trailed off and shook her head. Derek cut in. Chloe gave him a look as I inwardly flinched.
|
|
relationship-angst
rafe
derek
maya
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
250c402
|
I made it two steps before he snorted. I turned to see him lying on his belly ready to jump up. He jerked his muzzle, telling me to come back. He cut me off with a snort. It was hard for a wolf to scowl, but he managed a good glower. I took the switchblade from my jacket pocket. A snort. A head jerk.
|
|
derek
wolf
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
8ca70da
|
he asked. I hesitated, then blurted, He frowned. I glanced at the open door and lowered my voice.
|
|
rafe
the-look
maya
like
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
f4e4344
|
Step. Block. I blurted before I could stop myself. I took a deep, shuddering breath. I was going to say But Derek's expression said he already knew the answer. The look on his face...I'd been humiliated before, having Simon accuse me of liking Derek, but that was nothing compared to how I felt when I saw Derek's look. Not just surprise, but shock. Shock and horror. he said. Again, the words flew out before I could stop them. This tim..
|
|
humiliated
derek
like
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
1e917b4
|
Chloe. Always Chloe with him and his brother. I know I sound like a whiny brat when I complain, but I think I have a good reason. I'd just discovered that I was a witch and my mother was a bitch--the murderous kind. I was now on the run with three kids who didn't want me along. No matter how hard I tried to keep up and help out, the guys only cared about Chloe. If I ran in front of this bus to push her to safety, they'd race to her side to ..
|
|
chloe
tori
derek
simon
complain
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
26055d8
|
A hand touched my shoulder, shaking me. I was back on the bus. It was dark and warm and I just wanted to sleep, but Chloe kept shaking my shoulder. she whispered.
|
|
sleep
chloe
tori
told
derek
changing
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
321e610
|
Kit asked. Chloe and Derek's heads both whipped Kit's way. Chloe said. Dr. Inglis said. Derek said. Kit didn't answer him. He didn't even look over. Chloe looked from us to Kit, her blue eyes wide. Derek leaped to his feet. I gaped at Derek. Even Chloe looked confused. I might have known the guy for less than twenty-four hours, but short of demonic possession, I couldn't imagine him saying that.
|
|
dr-inglis
kit-bae
stand-up-for
derek
shocked
defend
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
cb0b6d2
|
Of the Phoenix kids, the one Derek got along best with was Daniel. In him, Daniel had found a good sparring partner. And a plotting partner, too. Derek wasn't just the biggest and strongest in our group. He was also the smartest. Scary, off-the-charts smart. That intimidated Daniel a little at first--he's bright, but he needs to work for his grades. But Derek wasn't a show-off or a know-it-all, so they got past that and we would hang out to..
|
|
friends
derek
smart
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
e749d31
|
Nate said. Brad slapped another photo on the table. A smiling teenage girl with blue eyes and blond hair streaked with red. Carter grunted. They looked surprised. The cute smiling girl definitely did not seem like a romantic match for the scowling brute in the other photos. But Brad had done enough surveillance to be sure of his facts. Carter's face screwed up. Theo said. Nate said. Carter said, still eying the photo. Nate said.
|
|
cains
chloe
carter
derek
nate
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
368d905
|
I like castles almost as much as I like museums. Centuries of bloodshed and betrayal and heartache, all under one roof. You just don't get history like that back home
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
336b4ae
|
Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be What thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o' the milk of human kindness." One of the cows mooed appreciatively."
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
76b86be
|
Just a guy. A college-aged guy. Talking to Chloe. I watched him bend over the table, hands planted on it, his gaze fixed on Chloe, his lips parting in a smile as he said something to her. A slow burn started in my gut, and before I could stop myself, I was barreling down on them, Simon's protests fading behind me.
|
|
derek
jealous
guy
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
ff04069
|
Suburbia: a place where they cut down trees and name streets in their memory.
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
b6a948d
|
I squared my shoulders and threw open the truck door. "Today or tomorrow, it'll still be my first day back. I should face it and get it over with. Who knows? Something new and exciting might happen." "You do realize we're still in Salmon Creek, right?" "I'm being optimistic." "Well, don't. You're scaring me." I laughed and climbed out."
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|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
6c28c01
|
Guin rode a few paces in thoughtful silence before continuing, "I suppose they thought I would take measures to prevent pregnancy. However, to do such a thing requires knowing that it exists. I don't know if the situation has changed, but in my time, one certainly did not discuss those matters with girls." Another thoughtful pause. "Though it would seem, since they are most affected, they ought to know." "Yes," Ashyn said. "They ought."
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
b6b2bfe
|
I flicked an eraser at him. He ducked it and threw me a grin. While I was getting my Changes under control, we'd decided I should try once a week. While Simon was joking about house-breaking, that's kind of what it was like--take me outside regularly, where I'd attempt to perform a bodily function, and hopefully train my body to do it on a schedule. So far, I felt like a month-old puppy, struggling to control my bladder before it was ready ..
|
|
house-breaking
derek
joking
simon
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
294f9db
|
A strike within the realm of the professional never justifies retribution in the realm of the personal
|
|
revenge
wisdom
tit-for-tat
retaliation
retribution
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
8f50d06
|
I was feeling skittish and unsettled and spooked by everything that was happening in my life. There was only one person who made me feel like my feet were firmly on the ground. And I'd let him walk away.
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
3a16cf2
|
But I didn't put it back on after the Porters. It isn't a crisis of faith. I'm not sure I ever had faith, not the way Mom does. Mine is more like Dad's - I believe there is a God, and I believe in honoring Him, but I'm not sure how much of a role He plays in our lives, and I don't blame Him for that, because it's up to us, isn't it? It's up to us to say we'll be a good person because that's what we believe is right, not because it'll earn u..
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|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
c1461cf
|
Everyone's life is interesting, if it's different from your own.
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
7704958
|
As for happy...The pursuit of happiness may be written into our Declaration of Independence, but that only means our founding fathers were hopelessly sentimental. You don't pursue happiness. You pursue everything you need to have a fulfilled life, and then, if you achieve it, you'll be happy some of the time. The rest of the time, you'll be content. One can't sustain happiness forever.
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
0e29d60
|
So did I hear right?" he said. "Race to the top? Winner gets a kiss?" "Maya's done seven climbs in a row," Daniel said. "You can race me." "But I don't want to kiss ." Everyone laughed. Everyone except Daniel."
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
1411b42
|
Only humans kill for sport.
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
6b172d3
|
The mummy twitched. This time, both Ronan and Tyrus leaped on it, blades slashing. Ronan severed an arm. Tyrus cleaved the corpse clean in half, the legs falling free. Yet the thing was already in flight, hurtling itself at Moria ... who skewered it on the end of her outthrust dagger. She held it there, casually, as the mummy gnashed its teeth and clawed with its remaining arm. "Need some help with that?" Tyrus asked. "No, it's remarkably l..
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|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
8414ee8
|
Tori said. Derek said. Tori waved her injured palm. She rolled her eyes. I said. She gave me a wan smile.
|
|
chloe
count-on
tori
derek
injured
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
c7bb750
|
you bend over backward to keep
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
6f6b3e1
|
I've done something wrong," Ronan grumbled as he shoved his spare tunic into his pack. "You know you haven't." Ashyn handed him his sleeping blanket. "See? Even you're trying to get rid of me. I've done something." She sighed. "Yes, Ronan, you have. I'm sorry, but it must be said. You've committed a grave offence. You wouldn't go back to check on your brother and sister until Tyrus put his boot to your arse." His brows lifted at her choice ..
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|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
845ead3
|
I pushed open the folding door and stepped out. "What are you doing here?" Sam spun. Her eyes narrowed when she saw me. "What am doing here? I'm not the one hiding in--" Her gaze lifted over my shoulder. "Daniel?" She looked from me to him. I realized I was in a notorious make-out spot with Daniel." --
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
9251223
|
We got out. I glanced at Daniel. He sighed. "Go on." "You sound like you're giving a five-year-old permission to play with an unsuitable friend." "If the shoe fits..."
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
8c92524
|
Go on." "You sound like you're giving a five-year-old permission to play with an unsuitable friend." "If the shoe fits..." I flipped him off. "Watch it or I won't marry you," he said. "Truck or no truck."
|
|
|
Kelley Armstrong |
|
c90e80d
|
Suddenly he was right there, his mouth on mine, my arms around his neck. Then he stopped. He caught my arms and backed up, studying my face. "Has anyone had access to your drinks recently?" he said. "Any strange allergic reactions? Bug bites?" "Shut up." He ducked out of the way as I took a mock swing at him. Then he realized we were closer to the edge of the cliff than he thought, veered fast, and stumbled, toppling into the brush. "Sorry..
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|
|
Kelley Armstrong |