“There was I thinking being a shifter had its upsides. Looks like I was wrong.”

“I think it's the eyes. No one expects brilliance out of a man with eyelashes like that.”

“It was complicated. I understood it, mostly, but I had to think a little sideways to do it.”

“One of the oddest things about being grown-up was looking back at something you thought you knew and finding out the truth of it was completely different from what you had always believed.”

“I liked Lost in Space,” Stefan said.“The movie or the TV series?”“The movie? Right. I had forgotten about the movie,” he said soberly. “It was better that way.”

“Adam has always had . . . heroic tendencies.”I touched Adam’s arm. “He’s my hero.”There was another pause. . .“That is the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard you say,” Bran said. “Be careful, Adam, or you’ll turn her into a real girl.”Adam looked at me. “I like her just the way she is, Bran.” And he meant it, greasy overalls, broken fingernails, and all.”

“He didn't say anything more, just waited for me to tell him what I'd been thinking. It was pure speculation, and I was opening myself up to ridicule by saying anything at all. I sat on the stool and realized that I had my loyalties, too.”