My tablecloth was missing in action and long, jagged scratches covered the table's surface.The scratches looked suspiciously like letters. I climbed on a chair and looked at it from above. MINE. Oh, that's great. Fantastic. So mature. Perhaps he would pull my pigtails next or stick a tack on my seat.

I almost had her." Curran nodded. "I heard. And you could've taken her, too." My voice came out flat. "Rub it in, why don't you." He grinned. "No time for that now, maybe later." I closed my eyes. There wouldn't be any later. "Are you imagining me rubbing it in?" he asked.

Lyc-V is a jealous virus. It exterminates all other invaders with extreme prejudice.

Shifting in the hospital bed had blown her closet door wide open.

When you walk a dog on a short leash, she's close enough to bite you.

He joked while Dali cut him, mangling the words with his monstrous jaws, snarled with a pretended rage and dramatically promised to "kirrrl youraaalll for this!

The Order of Merciful Aid provided merciful aid, usually on the edge of a blade or the burn of a bullet.