The single greatest advantage anyone can take into any battle is hope.

I was stunned to see that he looked stunned himself, which was an exorbitant display of emotion for Barrons.

Mac." He said my name and laughed. "What a name for something like you. Mac.

I looked from one to the other, and realized that Barrons and my dad were having one of those wordless conversations he and I have from time to time. Though the language was, by nature, foreign to me, I grew up in the Deep South where a man’s ego is roughly the size of his pickup truck, and women get an early and interesting education in the not-so-subtle roar of testosterone.

You mean you have to be epic already, for it to make you more epic?

Yesterday is skin on snake, to be shed many times.

You're grumpy and broody and secretive all the time. You're no joy to live with, I can tell you that!""I smile sometimes. I even laughed about your . . . hat.""MacHalo," I corrected tightly. "It's a brilliant invention, and it means I don't need you or V'lane to keep my safe from Shades, and that, Jericho Barrons, is worth its weight in gold: not needing either of you for something!