Frostbite (Vampire Academy, #2)

by Richelle Mead

Always a half-smile for me. Rarely a full one.

You can’t force love, I realized. It’s there or it isn’t. If it’s not there, you’ve got to be able to admit it. If it is there, you’ve got to do whatever it takes to protect the ones you love.

It was just about being close to someone you cared about, about the emotion that kind of connection flooded you with. Dimitri might run off with Tasha, but I would still love him.

The voice spoke again, a voice that my soul would have known anywhere.

“I can’t.” The words hurt coming out. “I can’t leave him alone. I have to protect him.” “You have,” said Dimitri.

I’d wanted little more than to go curl up in a ball somewhere and not talk to anyone, except maybe Lissa.

Dimitri didn’t say anything when his turn came, but as always, his eyes spoke legions. Pride and tenderness filled his expression, and I swallowed back tears. He rested one hand gently on my cheek, nodded, and walked away.

“Now you’re one of us. I always knew you’d be one of the best,” I thought I’d pass out.

Everyone has light around them, except for you. You have shadows. You take them from Lissa.

What matters is that someone—that you—know me that well. When a person can see into your soul, it’s hard. It forces you to be open. Vulnerable. It’s much easier being with someone who’s just more of a casual friend.”