I don’t matter here, Shane. I feel like I just don’t matter. Stupid, right?””No,” he said. He sounded so gentle it broke her heart. “It’s how most people feel most of the time, Claire. You’ve...

As she turned to concentrate on the portal, Eve tugged on Claire’s shirt. “What?””Ask him where he got the boots.””You ask.” Personally, Claire wanted the vampire bunny slippers.

Here,” Myrnin said, his voice still gentle and low. “Amelie said you had to work. No one said you had to work alone.” He picked up the next part and slotted it in, took the...

Does it give you deja voodoo how alike the houses are?””That’s deja vu, and I hate you right now.””For narcing on you to your mom? Wait until you hear what I tell your dad.”From the...

Oh — who’s the Queen?””Her, of course. The White Queen. You’re just like Alice, you know. Down the rabbit hole with the Mad Hatter.

I think it’s interesting.

Don’t play his game. Play yours.

If she were any friendlier, she’d be giving you a lapdance right now.

Parents had some kind of sin radar, Claire thought. They always called when you were in the middle of something you just knew they’d consider wrong. Or at least risky.

So you’re saying I thrive on chaos.

Don’t diss me, Danvers. I’m warning you.”I’m not dissing you,’ Claire sighed. ‘I’m ignoring you. There’s a difference. Dissing you implies I think you’re actually important.

Epic fail, beautiful.

You can’t go around… licking things that come out of a water treatment plant. That’s just… unsanitary.

I just—we were talking, and we fell asleep. I swear, we didn’t, um—’’‘‘Yeah, you’d better not have ummed.

Okay, no, I’m not, but right now let’s pretend I am.

What are you going to do? Are you going to live in the dark, locked in here? Afraid to look out, answer the door, leave? Yes, he’s out there, and he’s clearly not going to...

Really?” Claire said, and couldn’t help but smile. “That’s what creeps you out. Waxing. You can take on vampires and draug and killers, but you’re afraid of a little chest-hair pulling?

Bishop was all done with the witty converstaion. ‘Will you swear?’And Myrnin said, shockingly, ‘I will.’ And he proceeded to, a string of swearwords that made Claire blink. He ended with, ‘—frothy fool-born apple-john! Cheater...

Welcome to Morganville.You’ll never want to leave.And even if you do…well, you can’t. Sorry about that.

I seriously am.

Oliver laughed – actually laughed.”I like this new Claire,” he said. “You should work her this hard all the time, Myrnin. She’s interesting when she’s forthright.”Claire, possessed by the spirit of Eve, shot him the...

I’m so glad you’re okay.””So, how do we celebrate my okayness? It’s my day off. Let’s go crazy. Glow-in-the-dark bowling?””No””I’ll let you use the kiddie ball.””Shut up. I do NOT need the kiddie ball.””The way...

She was staring at you.”What can I say? Irresistible.’ ‘Shane, it’s not funny. I just—you should be careful.’Always am.’ Which was an absolute lie. Shane’s eyes fixed on hers, and she felt a burst of...

Let’s say she’s a friend of the family.

And next time? Eat the stupid cupcake.

Please don’t go away. You–you matter. To me.

She came awake, stomach rumbling, and opened her eyes to see a plate being held right under her nose. When she reached for it, Shane snatched it back. ‘Nuh-uh. Mine.”Share!’ she demanded.’Man, you are one...

You know what we call pedestrians in Morganville? Mobile bloodbanks.

I love arguing with you, Claire. You always surprise me. And occasionally, you even make sense.

Myrnin turned away to pick up his Ben Franklin spectacles, balanced them on his nose, and looked over them to say, “Don’t do drugs. I feel I ought to say that.

He was a nice guy, middle-aged, a little tired, like most doctors usually seemed to be, but he just nodded and said, “Let me take a look at him. Shane?””I’m not dropping my pants,” Shane...

I always thought he was sweet.

Now defend what is ours, my partner.”He grinned … grinned! … and whirled to meet Myrnin in midleap as Myrnin attacked.

Claire stretched out against the wall and kissed it. “Glad to see you, too,” she whispered, and pressed her cheek against the smooth surface. It almost felt like it hugged her back.”Dude, it’s a house,”...

The Apocalypse must be near, because a guy is arguing against grilling.

[Myrnin to Claire about their costumes of Pierrot and Harlequin, respectively]”Don’t they teach you anything in your schools?””Not about this.””Pity. I suppose that’s what comes of your main education flowing from Google.

Oh, Claire,” he said. “You think me a far better man than I am. That’s kind, and flattering.” “Are you saying that you -“”Doughnuts!” Myrnin interrupted her and darted away, to zip back in seconds...

I’ll do it!””No, you won’t,” Shane and Michael said, at virtually the same time. Shane continued. “You’re barely on your feet, Claire. You don’t go anywhere, not without me.””And me,” Michael said.”Hell,” Eve sighed. “I...

She can go with us to the lab and keep Myrnin pinned down while we pull the plug, if he’s not… you know, better.””Define BETTER with that guy.””Not all fangs and raaaaar.

She was almost at the top of the steps, and Shane was right behind her, when she heard Myrnin say, in a quiet voice that was like the old Myrnin, the one she actually liked,...

I’m worried he’s going to … do something crazy.” “He lives in a hole in the ground, dresses funny, and occasionally eats his assistants,” Eve said. “Define crazy.

I never meant it,” he was saying. “Never meant it to happen. Can’t stand it,seeing her suffer. Must do something, do something… What do I do? What can I do…?

Better be,” Eve said. She mock-bit at his finger. “I could totally date somebody else, you know.””And I could rent out your room.””And I could put your game console on eBay.””Hey,” Shane protested. “Now you’re...

Don’t bait the cougars.