“Tabitha checked her watch. It was almost ten.“I don’t know about you, but I’m famished. Want to go grab a bite?”Valerius gave her an amused stare. “You have to be the only woman alive who would ask a man with fangs that question.”

“Is there something I should know?” Valerius asked them.The instant Vane opened his mouth to speak, Tabitha kicked his shin. Hard.Vane yelped, then frowned at her.“What was that?” Valerius asked. “Why did you kick him?”“No reason,” Tabitha said, reaching over the bar to pluck an oyster from the pile. She looked angelic, which meant something truly evil was going on.”

“Jesus, Dean. I don’t know why you have me around with her watching your back”“You’re just jealous. But don’t worry. One day you too will have your very own little Amazon.”“I’ll just settle for a woman.”“If you’re lonely, you can have the inflatable sex doll Blue gave me for my birthday. I don’t want the twoof you to miss out on an opportunity for love.”“You didn’t like her?”“I wasn’t man enough to satisfy her cravings. I’m sure you’ll be different.”

“Just how many sisters do you have? (Valerius)Eight. (Tabitha)Eight? (Valerius)What? (Tabitha)I'm just pitying whatever poor males lived in that house with all of you. It must have been truly frightening at least one week out of every month. (Valerius)Was that a joke? (Tabitha)Merely a frightening statement of fact. (Valerius)”

“I wasn’t going to say anything about that, Tabitha," he said quietly. "I only wanted to tell you that your compassion for other people overwhelms me.""Oh." She offered him a tenuous smile. "I’m just used to people condemning everything I do."He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. "I don’t condemn you, my lady. I only admire you.”

“C'mon, Tabitha. You stabbed me the night we met without even blinking. (Valerius) Yeah, but you were a dirtbag then. (Tabitha) I think I'm offended. (Valerius)”