“But a slow, deeply satisfied smile came over him, and his breath quickened. 'So softly it starts,' he whispered. 'Foolishly clever and with an unsurvivable trust. It just saved your miserable life, that questionable show of thought, my itchy-witch.' Al’s smile shifted, becoming lighter. 'And now you will live to possibly regret it.” ShowsRegretBecomingBreathsSavedCleverSatisfiedMiserableAlsWitchLightersQuestionableMiserable LifeItchyAlgaliarept Author:Kim Harrison
“I smell pancakes," Al said as he jauntily smacked Pierce's hat back on the witch's head. "Did the runt make you breakfast?" Al said, leaning over the stove. "Quickest way to a woman's crotch is through her gullet, eh?" he said, leering at Pierce, who was now rinsing out the percolator. "Is it working? I'd be curious to know. I'd buy her a cake or something.” KnowsWaySaidSmellCuriousHatsAlsBreakfastWitchCakePiercePancakesStovesRuntsAlgaliarept Author:Kim Harrison
“Al was looking at me in disbelief. “Not your lover?” “No.” “But he is Rachel candy,” Al said, his confusion too honest to be faked.” SaidHonestLoversConfusionAlsCandyDisbeliefAlgaliarept Author:Kim Harrison
“Pierce jerked his hand from Trent and pushed himself straight. “Kalamack Industries,” he said, expression twisted as he wiped his hand on his pants. “I knew your father.” “I do not freaking believe this,” I said, shifting to stand where I could see both of them. Al beamed. “Amazing who you can meet in an elevator.” BelieveSaidHandsFatherExpressionIndustryAlsPantsTwistedShiftingPierceElevators Author:Kim Harrison
“No, you just keep crashing my life. Look—" I said, and Al grunted. "Here it comes," the demon muttered. "Listen. Listen to this, runt. She's going to have a list.” LooksSaidListsDemonAlsRunts Author:Kim Harrison
“He's going to hurt you," Al said, looking at Pierce. "I can take care of you, teach you to survive. Be there for you, even if you do hate me." I shivered. "I don't want him," I said, and Al turned away, seeming smaller somehow.” IfsWantSaidI CanCareHateHurtTeachTake CareAlsSeemingHate MeWant HimPierce Author:Kim Harrison
“The quickest way to a woman's crotch is through her gullet. Can I make you a cake?" Big Al to Pierce, then Rachel.” WayBigsAlsCakePierce Author:Kim Harrison
“That’s my girl,” she said, her eyes holding a shared pain as she saw my confusion. “Al, where are you going to put her? Not in your room. She’d pull a line through you and kill you when you hog the blankets. I’ll take the waif in. I promise I’ll bring this one up properly.” SaidEyePainGirlLinesRoomsSawsPromiseConfusionAlsHer EyesBlanketI PromiseMy GirlHogYour Room Author:Kim Harrison
“Numb, I took the perfectly browned puff. Okay. Let me see if I have this right. Al provokes me into defending myself. I nearly kill him. Then Newt tries to kill me, thinking I'm Ku'Sox. Al stops her, saving my life. And now we're all going to have s'mores together?” IfsThinkingTryingTogetherOkayLet MeSavingAlsProvokingKill MeNumbPuffNewts Author:Kim Harrison
“Al was standing a bare three feet away, his mood almost jovial as he took the paper and it vanished in a wash of black sparkles. “Thank you, Rachel,” he said, carefully reaching for my hand as Trent stiffened. “Welcome back, my itchy witch.” SaidHandsThreeBlackFeetPaperStandingMoodWelcomeReachingAlsWitchSparkleItchyJovialWelcome Back Author:Kim Harrison
“Why?" I said, taking the paper from him as Al smiled. "If it's not what I agreed to, I will burn Al's gonads off the first chance I get. Turn around. I need to use your back for a second." "Ah, hold on a tick," Al said, snapping his fingers again and catching the new paper drifting down. "How silly of me. This is the one. Here.” IfsNeedsFirstsSaidUseTurnsChancePaperFingersSillyAlsCatchingDriftingTickSnapping Author:Kim Harrison
“We all watched Al open the door. Turning, he waved to us, then passed the threshold. The door shut behind him. I waited for something to happen. Nothing did. “This isn’t good,” Quen said. I choked back my burst of laughter, knowing it would come out sounding hysterical.” SaidHappensBehindsKnowingDoorsLaughterAlsThresholdHysterical Author:Kim Harrison
“Behind the fury, he was tired. He was tired of being hauled around and shoved into a little room. He was tired of trying for me and failing. And to have Minias know it, to be carted off under his leash…It was almost insulting. Maybe, if I gave Al a night of peace to lick his wounds and his pride, he would grant that same courtesy to me?” IfsKnowsTryingLittlesNightRoomsBehindsFailingPrideTiredWoundsGrantsAlsCourtesyFuryInsultingLeashesTired Of Trying Author:Kim Harrison
“In a few hours, I’m going to be banished to the surface, my belongings raffled off as novelty items and my living space given to someone else—my reputation destroyed. I’d rather have your head than your soul at this point in my illustrious career.” - Al” SoulGivenHoursSpaceCareersSurfaceReputationDestroyedYour SoulBelongingAlsItemsNovelty Author:Kim Harrison
“Be reasonable. I know you can be. If you try very, very hard.” - Al to Rachel” IfsKnowsTryingHardReasonableAls Author:Kim Harrison
“God, it stinks,” I said, hand over my nose as he pulled me into a long step. Al strode forward, head high. “It’s the stench of bureaucracy, my itchy-witch, and why I chose to go into human resources when but a wee lad.” HumansLongSaidHandsStepsResourcesNosesAlsWitchBureaucracyHuman ResourcesStinkLadItchy Author:Kim Harrison
“Hey,” the other said, coming to life. “You’re supposed to be in jail.” Al grinned at him, his white-gloved grip tightening on the wooden handle, which was intricately carved in the shape of a naked, writhing woman. Nice. “And your momma wanted you to have a brain,” he said, yanking the door open and slamming it into the guy’s face.” SaidWantedFacesGuyWhiteBrainNiceDoorsShapesHandleNakedHeySupposed To BeJailAlsMomma Author:Kim Harrison
“You!” she said, stepping forward with a vehement expression and her finger pointed. Heart pounding, I pressed into Al. Funny how he seemed so much safer now. (Newt, Rachel and Al)” HeartSaidExpressionFingersAlsNewtsVehementHeart Pounding Author:Kim Harrison
“Newt spun, making her robe unfurl. “He’s my familiar, bought and paid for. I can claim anything of his. Even his life.” Al cleared his throat nervously. “That’s good to know,” he said lightly. “Important safety tip. Rachel, write that down somewhere as lesson number one.” KnowsWritingSaidI CanImportantNumbersLessonsClaimsPaidSafetyFamiliarAlsThroatRobesSpunNewts Author:Kim Harrison
“I can think of a lot of things to do," he said, "and none of them involve standing up. - Al” ThinkingSaidI CanStandingThings To DoAls Author:Kim Harrison
“Where did he go!” he bellowed, gloved hands clenching. “I had him in a snare that would take Alexander the Great a lifetime to untwist, and he did it in a week!” Al took a step, pinwheeling as his booted heel found an ice cube.” HandsFoundStepsWeekLifetimeIceAlsHeelsSnaresCubes Author:Kim Harrison
“It stinks of trains and that chili with the chocolate in it. Ooooh, books!" he exclaimed suddenly, making a beeline for the small library. (Al)” BookTrainLibraryChocolateAlsStinkChili Author:Kim Harrison
“Rachel, my itchy witch," Al said as he tugged the lace at his cuffs. "We've talked about this. You simply must stop collecting nasty little men. How many do you really need, love?” MenNeedsLittlesSaidAlsWitchNastyCollectingLaceLittle ManNeed LoveCuffsItchy Author:Kim Harrison
“I pushed him away, catching Lee's awe that I was not only standing with a demon outside a circle, but that Al was treating me like an equal. Or maybe a favorite pet, I amended as Al caught me when I started to tilt.” EqualStandingCaughtCirclesDemonAwePetAlsCatchingTilt Author:Kim Harrison
“Somehow I found him. Somehow I found Al's sarcastic thoughts, bitter and old. Tired, angry, bored. Alone.” FoundAngryTiredBitterBoredSarcasticAls Author:Kim Harrison
“Ku’Sox was indeed a demon. In. The. Sun. I needed answers, but I wanted them from Al, not…Cute Socks here.” WantedAnswersSunNeededCuteDemonAlsSock Author:Kim Harrison
“A devious spark lit through Al, making me smile. One way. It costs too much, he said. “There’s no inflation in the ever-after, Al.” Call it a recession then. One way.” WaySaidToo MuchCostOne WayAlsSparksLitInflationRecessionsEver AfterDeviousMake Me Smile Author:Kim Harrison
“No exclusive,” I said aloud, watching Al for his opinion and seeing him shake his head and hold his hands out in a “bigger” gesture. He didn’t even know how large the offer was, and he thought I could get one bigger.” KnowsSaidHandsOpinionKnow HowSeeingOffersBiggerShakesAlsGesturesExclusive Author:Kim Harrison
“A demon was asking me what I wanted. My eyes flicked to Al, and he shrugged. “What do you want?” he said softly.” WantSaidEyeWantedAskingDemonAls Author:Kim Harrison
“You tried to slide his original curse back onto him?” Al said in wonder. “At the restaurant? And I stopped you? Sweet mother pus bucket!” he exclaimed, and I swear, dust sifted from the ceiling. “Rachel, we have to work on this communication thing.” SaidMotherWonderSweetCommunicationOriginalsDustCurseRestaurantsAlsSwearSlidesCeilingsBuckets Author:Kim Harrison
“Al's red eyes slid past me to Pierce. "Play?" he said, his voice dripping with interest. "Gordian Nathaniel Pierce's quirks are legendary. Why do you think I want the runt so badly? Size truly doesn't matter if you can do what he can." ~ Algaliarept, Black Magic Sanction, Kim Harrison” IfsThinkingWantSaidMatterPlayEyePastBlackVoiceInterestCan DoMagicRedSizeAlsSanctionsPierceLegendaryKimDrippingQuirksBlack MagicRuntsRed EyeAlgaliarept Author:Kim Harrison
“What are you doing now?" Al questioned "Seeing if your circumcision is gone? It is. My expression went blank, and Trent hesitated. He looked at me, and I put a hand to my mouth, face flaming. "Oh. My. God. Trent. I'm sorry" "Um" Trent said, clearly at a loss. "Call me tomorrow," Al said seriously, "I've got a curse that will take care of that. Unless you like the snake in a turtleneck look” IfsLooksSaidHandsCareFacesLossGoneSeeingExpressionTomorrowMouthsSorryTake CareCurseCall MeAlsBlankI'm SorrySnakesCircumcisionTurtlenecks Author:Kim Harrison
“Al's voice was faint but resolute. "Stand up. Try to look sexy." "In a bedsheet?" I complained, running my hands down it. "How can I look sexy in a bedsheet?" He cleared his throat, and I grimaced. "Never mind.” TryingMindLooksHandsRunningVoiceSexyAlsThroatResolute Author:Kim Harrison
“I sighed. "And what am I to you, Al?" "My maid," he said brightly. "Shall we do this?” SaidAlsMaids Author:Kim Harrison
“What are you doing now?” Al questioned, listing heavily as he tucked another one of those bottles under his arm and staggered for the cot half hidden behind a curtain. “Seeing if your circumcision is gone? It is.” IfsBehindsHalfGoneSeeingArmsAlsBottlesCurtainsCircumcision Author:Kim Harrison
“Al was cruel, vindictive, angry, elegant, powerful. He gave me strength, he gave me wisdom, not only about magic, but about myself. He was a lot like Trent, only harsher around the edges.” PowerfulMagicAngryEdgesAlsElegantVindictive Author:Kim Harrison
