Rachel Caine

I'm all right, Nic," Wolfe said, and finally looked at him. "We walked through the dungeons under Rome, survived Philadelphia, and this perfumed cage won't bring us to our knees. We're all stronger than that.""All right," Santi said. "But don't ask me to stop standing next to you. Because you know I will, however much you shout about it.

Delighted," Jess said. "I think all houses should be stuffed with books. It makes them--""Homes?" the doctor finished. "You are quite the heretic, for someone in a Library uniform.""Guilty.

I ended your experiment. Because you're not a scientist. You're a monster. I'm not leaving any of them at your mercy.

Great," Shane said. "Look i'd rather not be on janitorial duty. I have allergies to cleaners.""And to cleaning," Michael said."Look who's talking, Didn't the do one of those Animal Planet documentaries about the roaches in your room?

She went back to Shane and settles in on his lap again, arm around his neck. His circled her waist. "I thought you had to go," he said. "And don't think i didn't see you kissing on my best friend.""He deserved it.""Yeah. Maybe i ought to kiss him, too."Michael, on his way out, didn't bother to turn around for that one. "Oh sure, you always promise.

Myrnin was silent for a beat, and then he said, "Bob would be very disappointed in you.

You couldn't be romantic if your life depended on it." "You know what's lucky? Most bad guys don't ask you to be romantic on command, so that probably won't matter.

This is the biggest damn IPod I've ever seen," Claire said, which made him choke on his beer. "Kidding. I have seen a jukebox before.

At the very leadt, we can grab Monica and hustle her skanky ass back to her dad wile you brave, strong menfolk hold off the bad guys. Right?

A rap at the back door made her jump, and she peered through the window for a long time before she eased open the door a crack. She left the security chain on. 'What do you want, Richard?'Richard Morrell's police cruiser was parked in the drive. He hadn't flashed any lights or howled any sirens, so she supposed it wasn't an emergency, exactly. But she knew him well enough to know he didn't pay social visits, at least not to the Glass House.'Good question,' Richard said. 'I guess I want a nice girl who can cook, likes action movies, and looks good in short skirts. But I'll settle for you taking the chain off the door and letting me in.

They came out in a dim, damp basement - a generic sort of place, full of moulding boxes. 'You take me to the nicest places,' Claire said, and sneezed.

Amelie said, __ won__ be your servant in Morganville. Nor should you be mine. Equals._ She offered her hand to him, and he looked down at it, clearly taken aback. But he took it. __ow defend what is ours, my partner.__e grinned _ grinned! _ and whirled to meet Myrnin in midleap as Myrnin attacked.

I never meant it," he was saying. "Never meant it to happen. Can't stand it,seeing her suffer. Must do something, do something... What do I do? What can I do...?

Well, friend, I don__ know about your tastes, but I tend to like it very bloody,_ Myrnin said. He shifted position, dragging Claire along like a rag doll without any effort at all. __ave we been introduced?___robably not. Why, are you asking me out, sweetheart?___ou__e not my type, darling. Is this one yours?___o,_ Frank said, and looked at Shane, just in a quick flicker. __et__ say she__ a friend of the family.

No,_ Shane said. ____ not leaving you two here alone. We stick together._____ still not kissing you,_ Michael said.__ease.

Claire said. __ might be able to get him to stop._ __ho, crazy dude? Maybe. Or he might pull your head off,_ Shane said. __ kind of worry.__he couldn__ help but smile. __eah?___ little bit.___hat__ _nice.__e studied her, and returned the smile. __eah,_ he said. __ind of is, actually.

Claire found herself staring at his feet, which were in bunny slippers. Myrnin looked down. "What?" he asked. "They're quite comfortable." He lifted on to look at it, and the ears wobbled in the air. "Of course they are," she said. Just when she thought Myrnin was getting his mental act together, he'd do something like that. Or maybe he was just messing with her. He liked to do that, and his dark eyes were fixed on her now, assessing just how weirded-out she was. Which, on the grade scale of zero to Myrnin, wasn't much.

I__ faster than the rest of you, if .. Because I__ a vampire,_ Michael said, and it was some kind of breakthrough for him to say that. __f you get in trouble, I__l be there.___ice,_ Shane said. ____ warming up to this bloodsucking thing, Mikey.___o, you__e not.___kay, no, I__ not, but right now let__ pretend I am.