Ilona Andrews: What's that?" "That's my attack poodle.

First rule of bodyguard detail: know where your 'body' is at all times.

Ilona Andrews

details body firsts

If the sky could dream, it would dream of dragons.

Ilona Andrews

dream inspirational life

It was the kind of sword that would make a lifelong pacifist look for tall boots and a hat with feathers.

Ilona Andrews

hats boots looks

When I'm with him, I can feel myself getting better. It's like he's picking up broken pieces of me and putting me back together, and I don't even know he's doing it. We never talk about it. We don't go to therapy. He just loves me and that's enough.

Ilona Andrews

get-better broken together

Cats randomly refuse to follow orders to prove they can.

Ilona Andrews

prove cat order

"Did those nice church ladies come by again?" He nodded. "I asked them if a man died and then the woman remarried, and then the three of them met in heaven, would it be a sin for them to have a threesome, since they were all married in God's eye. And they decided they were late to be somewhere else."

Ilona Andrews

nice eye men

Men and swords. My father said that if you put any able-bodied man, no matter how peaceful, into a room with a sword and a practice dummy and leave him alone, eventually the man would pick up the sword and try to stab the dummy. It is human nature.

Ilona Andrews

practice men father

When a lion stalks a herd, he sneaks in close, lies down, and surveys them to choose his victim. He takes his time. The deer or buffalo have no idea he’s near. He finds his prey and then he explodes from his hiding place and grabs it. Even if another, perfectly serviceable animal ends up within his reach, he isn’t going to alter his course. He has chosen, and he would rather go hungry than change his mind.

Ilona Andrews

animal lying ideas

I looked at him. "You really need to work on your threats. I can't tell if you're threatening me or inviting me for tea.

Ilona Andrews

threatening tea needs

I gave him my best cryptic smile. He did not fall down to his feet, kiss my shoes, and promise me the world. I must be getting rusty.

Ilona Andrews

shoes kissing fall

Humans tend to segregate the world: enemies on one side, friends on the other. Friends are the people we know. Enemies are the Other. You can do just about anything to the Other. It doesn't matter if this Other is actually guilty of any crimes, because it is a matter of emotion, not logic. You see angry people aren't interested in justice, they just want an excuse to vent their rage.

Ilona Andrews

justice people enemy

When you walk a dog on a short leash, she's close enough to bite you.

Ilona Andrews

walks enough dog

True strength isn’t in killing—or ignoring—your opponent, it’s in having the will to shield those who need your protection.

Ilona Andrews

shields opponents needs

I'm sorry about the dinner." "Best date ever. Well, until people died and vampires showed up. But before that it was awesome.

Ilona Andrews

vampire sorry people

And did you have to hack his arms off?” “Yes, I did. He wouldn’t go through the door.” “You say it like you’re proud of it." I was proud of it. It was an example of quick thinking in a difficult situation.

Ilona Andrews

difficult-situations doors thinking

Superstitions add texture to life.

Ilona Andrews

texture superstitions add

He gave an impression of coiled power, a contained violence that if released, would explode with terrifying intensity.

Ilona Andrews

intensity impression violence

Let’s talk.” I pinned Red to his chair with my stare. I did deranged quite well, when the occasion required.

Ilona Andrews

staring chairs red

Now climb, young grasshopper, so your Kung Fu won't be weak.

Ilona Andrews

kung-fu grasshoppers weak

If you come back to me, I'll never leave you", I whispered into the furry ear. "I'll make you all the pies you could ever eat.

Ilona Andrews

come-back-to-me pie ears