What are the rules," The cop said. "There are none." Vishous spread his stance and braced himself. "Do whatever you want...but you have to break me. You've got to tear me apart.

Bacon's on the way." He smiled. "Hey, they like you!" Wrath to Beth after the brother's bow to her.

He could feel V's eyes sharpen, the vampire's fierce intellect churning over the situation. Among the brothers, Vishous had the most raw brainpower, but he paid for the privilage. Man, Wrath sure had his own demons, and they were no walk in the park, but he wouldn't have wanted Vishous's cross to bear. Seeing what had yet to come was a terrible burden. -Wrath's thoughts

The thread of will-they-or-won't-they was the real driver of every word and glance and shift of body. So...this was a date, Blay thought. A subtextual negotiation slipcovered in talk of books read and music enjoyed.

Sometimes the only way to know how far you'd come was to return to where you once had been.

She is more beautiful than I have words for. And last night, I was blessed beyond measure to serve her.

No matter what you wear... to me, you will always have diamonds on the soles of your shoes.