“News flash, lady. There are no queens anymore,” Shane said. He loaded shells in a shotgun and snapped it shut, then searched for a place to strap it on that didn’t interfere with the flamethrower. “No queens, no kings, no emperors. Not in America. Only CEOs. Same thing, but not so many crowns.”
“The king of the jailhouse and the queen of the road think sharing the burden will lighten the load.”
“For now, Lady Queen," he said, "allow us to continue to obey you. But give us honorable instructions, Lady Queen," he said, turning a flushed face to hers. "Ask us to do honorable things, so that we may have the honor of obeying you.”
“Shane settled his flamethrower more comfortably on his shoulders. “Ladies? After you.”“Rude,” Claire said.“I was being polite!”“Not when you have a flamethrower.”
“Lady Queen," he said, "You've given me all I want. You're the queen a librarian dreams of.”
“No such thing, the queen said, as too many sequins.”