“How did you-"Fool your guards? They're not very good, the forgot to check the ceiling for spiders."Valek grinned. His angular face softened.”

“How did you—”“Fool your guards? They’re not very good. They forgot to check the ceiling for spiders.” Valek grinned. His angular face softened. Startled, I realized he wasn’t in disguise. “This is dangerous.”“I knew falling for you was dangerous, love.”

“I'd face down a horde of spiders for you, baby." I grinned at the sound of his laugh again. "For real.""Thats true love there. Some serious stuff," he teased."It is.”

“Just like a spider with a line of silk! Did you ever see them throw themselves out into space to weave? They're taking a chance, every single time. They got to do it or else they'd never create anything. But I bet it don't feel good, even to a spider.”

“We had just paid the check when Dimitri's cell phone rang. "Hello?" he answered. And like that, his face transformed. That fierceness I so associated with him softened, and he practically glowed. "No, no. It's always a good time for you to call, Roza." Whatever the response on the other end was, it made him smile.”

“Move back,” the man on the left ordered Valek. “Or I’ll skewer your friend.”Valek considered the threat. “Do you plan to wound, maim or kill him?” he asked the guard.“Threats should be specific in order to have the maximum impact.”The man just stared at him.“Skewer is just too vague. I think if you say, ’Stand back or I’ll stab him in the stomach,’ then I have an idea about how serious you are. After all, Leif’s stomach is his favorite body part so that’s a decent threat.”