“Sophia Mercer," Elodie intoned, "we have come to induct you into our sisterhood. Say the five words to begin the ritual."I blinked at her. "Are you freaking kidding me?"Anna gave an exasperated sigh. "No, the five words are 'I accept you offer, sisters.”

“Never hurts to be prepared....""It just seems like overkill when you already have a sword and I have superpowerful magic at my disposal.""'Superpowerful'? .... Let me remind you of two words, Mercer: Bad. Dog.”

“Do you remember the section on controlling demons in Demonologies? I believe it's in chapter five.""Um...no."Irritation flashed over his face. "Honestly, Sophie, I gave you that book for a reason.""And I'm really sorry, but it's long and boring,and can we just skip to the part where you tell me what it says?”

“Why, Sophia Mercer! Is that disappointment I detect with my super=special vamp powers?”

“It just seems like overkill when you already have a dagger and I have superpowerful magic at my disposal.”“‘Superpowerful?’”He stood up, a gold chain dangling from his fingers. “Let me remind you of two words, Mercer: Bad. Dog.”

“Superpowerful?’”He stood up, a gold chain dangling from his fingers. “Let me remind you of two words, Mercer: Bad. Dog.”

“So when you left Hex Hall after Holly died, that wasn't because you were the grief-stricken fiance. You were going to The Eye.""Yeah. I told them that I thought Elodie and her coven had raised a demon, so we decided I should get close to her,see what was really going on.""And you decided to get really close to her."He laughed softly. "I can't see you, but I have a feeling you're cute when you're jealous,Mercer."Crossing my arms over my chest, I said, "It's not jealousy you're hearing, it's digust. You dated a girl you didn't even like just to get information out of her."His laughter died, and his voice sounded weary when he said, "Trust me, a lot of my brothers have done much worse."There was so much I wanted to ask him, but it's not like we could sit out here all night passing the sharing stick or whatever.Time to cut to the chase."So did The Eye tell you to get all Mata Hari on me too?”