“I'm glad you're still upright, Charles, and the only reason you are is because she didn't have any silver. She'd have staked you right and proper otherwise. She has a tendency to shrivel someone first and then introduce herself afterwards.""That's uncalled for!" I said, insulted at the suggestion that I was homicidal."Right." Bones let that go. "Kitten, this is my best mate, Charles, but you can call him Spade. Charles, this is Cat, the woman I've been telling you about. You can see for yourself that everything I've said is... an understatement.”

“Kitten, this is my best mate, Charles, but you can call him Spade. Charles, this is Cat, the woman I’ve been telling you about. You can see for yourself that everything I’ve said is…an understatement.”

“Charles,” Bones said distinctly. “You’d better have a splendid explanation for her being on top of you.”The black-haired vampire rose to his feet as soon as I jumped off, brushing the dirt off his clothes.“Believe me, mate, I’ve never enjoyed a woman astride me less. I came out to say hello, and this she-devil blinded me by flinging rocks in my eyes. Then she vigorously attempted to split my skull before threatening to impale me with silver if I so much as eventwitched! It’s been a few years since I’ve been to America, but I daresay the method of greeting a person has changeddramatically!”Bones rolled his eyes and clapped him on the shoulder. “I’m glad you’re still upright, Charles, and the only reason you are is because she didn’t have any silver. She’d have staked you right and proper otherwise. She has a tendency to shrivel someone firstand then introduce herself afterwards.”

“Charles, mate, you fret too much. I'm a grown man, I am, and I can blood my handle.""Handle your blood?" Bones offered dryly.Ian grinned. "Exactly.”

“You're shagging a woman who can turn into a dragon? Blast you, Charles, I am sick with envy!”

“When I remember you, Randy, I'm going to smile, not cry. You're a part of me. One of the best parts. I just wanted to tell you that." She stopp up, brushing the headstone once more. "And if you meet someone called Giselda," she whispered, "tell her she's still part of Spade, too. A beautiful part. Please thank her for that.”

“And what are you doing with a bloody cat, Charles? Some sort of mascot four our dear Reaper here?""Not another word," Spade snapped, getting into the car and seating the carrier on his lap."Ian, trust me--don't," Crispin said”