“But even in the unglamorous warp of the peephole, she looked like a million sunny days to me.”

“Sunny, whose demeanor was the exact opposite of her name;”

“Looks like it’s game time,” Shame said. “Beautiful day for some ass kicking, don’t you think?”

“Dad pressed against my mind. Please, Allison. Let me, just this once, hold my son. I shouldn't. Nothing good ever came from letting my father have his way. But I could feel his love for this baby. And even if he couldn't love me, I knew that at this moment, before the baby could grow up and become a disappointment to him, he truly loved him. I slowly stepped away from the front of my mind, letting him fill that space, letting him feel through my hands, see through my eyes. "He's amazing," Dad said through me. "You're amazing." He looked up at Violet, and she smiled.”

“...Magic is a heartless bitch, and she's had me by the throat for years.”

“And it's just a hunt?" Bea asked. "Just tracking the guy down, or are we going to have to do a little covering up of our own?" Had she just told me she was willing to kill someone and cover it up? She gave me a happy smile, but that glint in her eyes told me that, yes, she'd just offered to off someone.”

“Shame scowled. “How about I just make you angry again? That coat makes you look fat.” “Even more reason to take the stairs.”