“Really? Well, you'd definitely be interested in the fact that I just read To Kill A Mockingbird."I smiled and elbowed him. "Everyone's read that."I've read it five times."Nu-uh."Yep. I can even quote parts of it."That's bullpoopie."And then Stark, my big, bad, macho Warrior raised his voice, put on a little girl's Southern drawl, and said, "'Uncle Jack? What's a whore-lady?'"I do not think that's the most important quote from that book," I said, but laughed anyway.Okay, how about: 'Ain't no snot-nosed slut of a schoolteacher ever born c'n make me do nothin.!' That one's really my favorite."You got a twisted mind, James Stark.”

“She's magnificent," Radius said, smiling proudly as he vaulted the steps and followed Aphrodite."I can think of a lot of m words that she could be. Magnificent isn't one of them," Stark grumbled."Mental and mean pop into my head," I said."Manure pops into mine," Stark said."Manure?""I think she's full of shot, but it's too many words and doesn't start with an m, so that's as close as I could get," he said.”

“If I shot an arrow and thought about an ass, would it surprise you that I hit Erik?" Stark asked me in a pleasant, nonchalant voice."Wouldn't surprise me," Heath said.”

“Nerd herd, focus. You're here to help the fledglings. Dour One and Dour Two aren't important," said Aphrodite."Dr. Seuss reference. I like it," Stark said, giving me a check-me-out-I've-always-read-books hottie grin.Aphrodite frowned at him."I said focus, not flirt.”

“You know about Star Trek?" came out of Stark's mouth before his brain could stop it.Again, the warrior shrugged. "We do have satellite.”

“Stark looked strong and healthy and totally gorgeous. I was distracting myself by wondering what exactly Scottish guys did, or didn't, wear under those kilts when he turned to face me.His smile lit up his eyes. "I can practically hear you thinking.”

“His torn lips didn't stop Stark's cocky smile. "You're my queen, and anyone who says different can fuck off.”