“Niall had been able to mask the odor of fairy from Eric in the restaurant, but I saw from the flare of Eric’s nostrils that the intoxicating scent clung to me. Eric’s eyes closed in ecstasy, and he actually licked his lips. I felt like a T-bone just out of reach of a hungry dog. “Snap out of it,” I said. I wasn’t in the mood.With a huge effort, Eric reigned himself in. “When you smell like that,” he said, “I just wanna fuck you and bite you and rub myself all over you.”

“You humans, always eating. I’ll make you soup. You can eat it while you keep working.” Myrnin set aside his book and walked into the back of the lab.”Don’t use the same beaker you used for poisons!” Claire yelled after him. He waved a pale hand. “I mean it!”

“He’s not doing anything he shouldn’t be doing, right?” “Like what?””Like hitting on you.””Ew. No, of course not. He doesn’t see me that way.” Michael shook his head and went back to his coffee.”What? You think he does?””Sometimes he looks at you a little… oddly, that’s all. Maybe you’re right. Maybe he just wants you for your blood.””Again, Ew! What’s with you this morning?””Not enough coffee.”

“Fortunately, among werewolf women, the word “bitch” is not offensive. I was having a lot of fun with that.”Hey there, bitches!” I called as I came through the door. “What are my favorite bitches up to today?”

“This college would probably have the same problem as the last one did.”I frowned, “What’s that?””Homework.”

“Eric moved the broom experimentally and made an attempt to sweep the glass into the pan while it lay in the middle of the floor. Of course, the pan slid away. Eric scowled.I’d finally found something Eric did poorly.”

“The reason people use a crucifix against vampires is because vampires are allergic to bullshit.”

“That’s brain tissue. How can you-?” Claire shut her mouth, fast. “Never mind. I don’t think I wanna know.””Truly, I think that’s best. Please take it.” He showed his teeth briefly in a very unsettling grin. “I’m giving you a piece of my mind.””I so wish you hadn’t said that.”

“There aren’t any syringes.” Red Sox came over and held a sterile pack out. When she tried to take it from him, he kept a grip on the thing. “I know you’ll use this wisely.””Wisely?” She snapped the syringe out of his hand. “No, I’m going to poke him in the eye with it. Because that’s what they trained me to do in medical school.”

“Crap, are you thinking what I’m thinking?””I’m thinking we have about fifteen vampires and no blood,” Claire said. “Is that it?””No, I was thinking we’re out of chips. Of course that’s what I was thinking.”

“I’m gonna kill him,” Eve said, or at least that was what it sounded like filtered through the pillow.Stake him right in the heart, shove garlic up his ass, and-and-“And what?” (Michael)When did you get home?” Claire demanded.Apparently just in time to hear my funeral plans. I especially like the garlic up the ass. It’s…different.”

“You so need to lighten up about that potato-launcher incident,” Butch said.Phury rolled his eyes and eased back in the banquette. “You broke my window.””Of course we did. V and I were aiming for it.””Twice.””Thus proving that he and I are outstanding marksmen.”

“Wow,” said Adrian. He sat down on the bed and tested its bounciness, giving it a nod of approval. “This is amazing. What do you think, buttercup?”“I have no words,” I said honestly.He patted the spot beside him. “Want to try it out?”

“Oh, don’t mind me,” came an extremely sarcastic voice near the wall. “You two go ahead and make out–I’ll just sit here and bleed quietly.”

“Jealous?””Maybe.””No reason. I like my ladies with a pulse.”