“it was very important business. Negotiations for a cease-fire between warring parties."David rolled his eyes. "You could just say makeup sex.”

“Deven tilted his head again, set down his glass, and said, "Any fight between us, my Lady, will be short and unpleasant.""Just like you." Miranda bit back.Silence.Then Deven laughed.Miranda didn't, but she felt the tension in the air dispel and sat back with her wineglass."I like her," Deven told David. "She's bright and fearless, just like they say. Give her fifty years and she'll be a force of nature.”

“god, can you imagine getting married at nineteen?" miranda asked. "when i was nineteen i didnt even know how to do my own laundry." she added, for david's beneit, "you know, laundry? washing your own clothes? there are people who do that."he rolled his eyes. "i know how to do laundry. i watched my wife do it dozens of times.”

“David's a unicorn? That explains so much.”

“What about you? If I asked you . . . would you turn me?"Faith's eyes went wide. "Turn you into a vampire?""No, turn me into a frog. Could you do it?"Faith finished her beer in one long swallow. "I might be able to, physically. But I wouldn't."Miranda had known she would say that, but still, her heart sank. "Why not?"She laughed. "Because my boss would kill me.”

“Uh.. you'er Sophie?" Mrianda ventured"That's me""How old areyou?"Sophie rolled ker wide brown eyes, "Ahunderd and forty-eight" she relied. "I got to live back when women coulden't vote, isn't that awesome?”

“Sure. I’ ll go out and start drinking blood right now . Then I’ ll come back with fangs and a melanin deficiency and rule the world. And also, David willfall so madly in love with me that the Signet will pick me as his Queen and we’ ll live happily ever after in bloodsucking bliss among the sparklyunicorns.”