“Lion has his claws already sharpened and is ready to go.”

“Night wasn't so much falling as sharpening its claws.”

“The vampire leaned forward, tapping a scimitar claw. "Is that a lion with horns and a pitchfork?""Yep.""Is he carrying a moon on his pitchfork?""No, it's a pie.”

“Ready to put your claws where your mouth is, or are you going to cringe behind the big boys and yip all day?"His eyes flared yellow "Is that a challenge?""Yes it is.”

“Connor smiled sadly at me. “Go on, that's where you belong.”My fangs were already sharpening when I returned his smile. “Just don't try to pet me.”

“To venture ... close (to a lion) on foot ... would mean the sudden shattering of any kindly belief that the similarity of the lion and the pussy cat goes much beyond their whiskers. But then, since men still live by the sword, it's a little optimistic to expect the lion to withdraw his claws, handicapped as he is by his inability to read our better effusions about the immorality of bloodshed.”