1
He’d spent the night in the boat. Next to the spaghetti queen. William glanced at the hobo girl. She sat across from him, huddled in a clump. Her stench had gotten worse overnight, probably from the dampness. Another night like the last one, and he might snap and dunk her into that river just to clear the air. She saw him looking. Dark eyes regarded him with slight scorn. William leaned forward and pointed at the river. “I don’t know why you rolled in spaghetti sauce, ” he said in a confidential voice. “I don’t really care. But that water over there won’t hurt you. Try washing it off.” She stuck her tongue out.“ Maybe after you’re clean, ” he said. Her eyes widened. She stared at him for a long moment. A little crazy spark lit up in her dark irises. She raised her finger, licked it, and rubbed some dirt off her forehead. Now what? The girl showed him her stained finger and reached toward him slowly, aiming for his face.“ No, ” William said. “Bad hobo.” The finger kept coming closer. .Ilona Andrews
2
She surveyed the carnage behind him. "Did you have fun?" He showed her his teeth. "Yes.Ilona Andrews
3
He had the prettiest hair she had ever seen on a man: dark brown, almost black, and soft like sable, it fell down to his shoulders. She wondered what he'd do if she threw some mud in it. Probably kill her.Ilona Andrews
4
A forest, " William said, his expression distant. "Where the ground is dry soil and stone. Where tall trees grow and centuries of autumn carpet their roots. Where the wind smells of game and wildflowers."" Why, that was lovely, Lord Bill. Do you ever write poetry? Something for your blueblood lady?"" No."" She doesn't like poetry?"" Leave it." Hehe. "Oh, so you have a lady. How interes--Ilona Andrews
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She put her hand on her hip. "Where are you going?"" To the boat. You called me Lord Bill again. That means we're cool." Cerise slapped her forehead with the heel of her hand and followed him.Ilona Andrews
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Failure happened. The trick was to accept the risk and try anyway.Ilona Andrews
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The judge's massive eyebrows crept up. "Kaldar. Are you the one speaking for the plaintiff today?" "Yes, Your Honor.""Well, shit, " Dobe said. "I guess you're familiar with the law. You hit it over the head, set its house on fire, and got its sister pregnant.Ilona Andrews
8
How did the hearing go?” she asked.“ We won, sort of, ” Kaldar said. “We die at dawn.”“ The court gave the Sheeriles twenty-four hours, ” William corrected.“ Yes, but ‘we die at dawn the day after tomorrow’ doesn’t sound nearlyas dramatic.”“ Does it have to be dramatic all the time?” Catherine murmured.“ Of course. Everyone has a talent. Yours is crocheting and mine ismaking melodramatic statements. .Ilona Andrews
9
He was going to take a dive into this lake. He just didn’t know it. Cerise rose, finding footing in the soft mud. The water came up to just below her breasts and her wet shirt stuck to her body. William’s gaze snagged on her chest. Yep, keep looking, Lord Bill. Keeeeeep looking.Ilona Andrews
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I realized that I'm a child." William looked point-blank at her chest. "No.Ilona Andrews
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Oh, Gods."His eyes shone with want and predatory satisfaction. "The name's William. It's a common mistake.Ilona Andrews