“Hey, Sunshine, your friend’s awake. What’s his name? (Starla)I don’t know, Starla. I didn’t ask. (Sunshine)You look like a Steve. Are you hungry, Steve? (Starla)”

“Really? So you brought home a vampire? Cool. (Starla)I’m not a vampire. (Talon)’Not exactly,’ he said earlier. What’s not exactly a vampire? (Sunshine)A werewolf. With his aura, it makes sense. Wow, Sunny, you found yourself a werewolf. (Starla)I’m not a werewolf. (Talon)What a pity. You know, when you live in New Orleans, you expect to meet the undead or damned at least once in a while. (She looked back to Sunshine.) You think we should move? Maybe if we lived over by Anne Rice we might catch sight of a vampire or werewolf. (Starla)I’d be happy to see a zombie. (Sunshine)Oh, yeah. You know, your dad said he saw one out on the bayou right before we got married. (Starla)That was probably the peyote, Mom. (Sunshine)Oh. Good point. (Starla)”

“Sunshine, I... Starla's voice broke off as she entered the room and caught sight of him standing naked in the corner. She eyed him in an odd, detached way, as if he were an interesting piece of furniture.Talon and modesty were strangers, but the way she stared at him made him damned uncomfortable. In spite of the sunlight, Talon grabbed the pink blanket off the bed and clutched it to his middle.You know, Sunshine, you need to find a man like that to marry. Someone so well hung that even after three or four kids, he'd still be wall to wall.Talon gaped.Sunshine laughed. "Starla, you're embarrassing him.”

“Hey there cutie," he said. "What's your name?"Lex rolled her eyes and turned toward the window. "Kill me.""Kimmy? I'm Steve," he went on undeterred."Cram it, Steve”

“Okay. That was nice. Clothes. You need clothes before I do something I might not regret. What was your size again, Steve? (Sunshine)Talon. (Talon)Talon. Size. Clothes. Cover him up. I’m going to go get Talon clothes. Keys. Need keys for car. Purse. Money for clothes. Shoes. Must have shoes to shop and keep feet warm. (Sunshine)What about a coat? It is wintertime. (Talon)Coats are good in the winter. (Sunshine)”

“You ever hear a dog cry, Steve? You know, howling so loud it's almost unbearable?' He nodded. 'I reckon they howl like that because they're so hungry it hurts, and that's what I feel in me every day of my life. I'm so hungry to be somethin' - to be somebody. You hear me?' He did. 'I'm not lyin' down ever. Not for you. Not for anyone.' I ended it. 'I'm hungry, Steve.'Sometimes I think they're the best words I've ever said.'I'm hungry.”