“I'd been around other weres and never tasted a single one before Lucas passed me on the street last night. It was more than a little disconcerning. Lucas had told me it was an indication of the soul-bond I shared with him, so why could I taste Desmond? Surely it wasn't possible to be soul-bonded to two people. And why did I suddenly want a margarita?”

“...Fate forced me to become a two-man woman. But there was no effing way I could be a four-man woman.Even metaphysics couldn't keep that from being whorey.”

“Eugenia’s mouth formed an O shape, her eyes wide and a little wet.Now I had not only told her Santa wasn’t real, I’d told her the Easter Bunny went on killing sprees to eat the children who didn’t find his eggs.”

“Detective Castilla, your Secret is safe with me." She blinked with surprise, and I groaned. "God, Holden. How long have you been waiting to use that line?""About three years.""And in three years you couldn't find any room for improvment?”

“She was speaking in tongues?""What da f**k else she gonna speak with?" Veda rolled her eyes. I saw no reason to explai, so I let her go on.”

“I am no good alone. I need bonds, vows real if unspoken, shared laughter, and people who depend on me as I depend on them.”

“I had never noticed Lucas before that night. It was as though hedidn’t exist, and then suddenly, he was everywhere.”