“My life used to be boring. A damnation here, a curse there, with an occasional blight or two to break routine. Now I have Aisling...She's better than reality TV, Internet porn sites, and the trashloids all put together.' - Jim”

“A knife!" I yelled, still brandishing my pillow. "Jim, I command you to get me a gelding knife. If this guywants to be a stallion—"He dissolved in a flurry of white smoke even before I could finish the sentence.Ha! Victorious again!"Yeah," Jim drawled while I remade the bed and fluffed up my pillows. "Aisling, two; sexy, naked menwho just want to give her the pleasure of a lifetime with no commitment, zero.”

“You are mine, Aisling. You are mine today, tomorrow and five hundred years from now. You will always be mine. I do not give up my treasures, kincsem. You would do well to remember that.”

“Jim eyed me for a couple of seconds, then got off the bed and went to curl up on the pile of blankets I'darranged as its bed. "I don't suppose you'd care to lend me a couple hundred euros?"I pointed at the wall. It turned its back to me so I could get into the nightgown Perdita had lent me. "Youare not going to bet on me. Or against me. No betting whatsoever.Got that?"Jim huffed and settled down for the night. "You sure do know how to take all the fun out of life. Bet youeven made Drake use a condom.”

“How many toes did I have when we left London, does anyone remember?" Jim asked, examining its feet. "I think one is missing.""Stop fussing about a missing toe. We have more important things to focus on, like finding Drake and saving him from whatever trouble he’s in," I answered, straightening my clothing and zipping up my heavy parka."Oh, man, I am missing one! I know I had four on this foot! What sort of place was that company you used, demon-haters or something?""Budget Teleporters is a perfectly good company. Didn’t you listen to their warning about keeping your arms and legs in the portal at all times?”

“I love you, hugs & kisses, smoochies galore, licks, nibbles & assorted gropages!! -Aisling said to Drake”

“Io. My name is Io." She pronounced the name "eye-oh" as if there perfectly ordinary. Which was ridiculous, because no one he knew bore a name with only vowels.”