Chimes at Midnight (October Daye, #7)

by Seanan McGuire

Knowing her, I wouldn’t have been surprised to find a stretch of shoreline inside the pantry, waiting for beachcombers and human sacrifices.

It’s not paranoia if they are really out to get you.

“You need to get over your hydrophobia.” “Hey. I’m standing next to the ocean, talking to a mermaid, not freaking out. I think I’m on my way to recovery.”

Cagney and Lacey—my half-Siamese cats—were sitting in the kitchen window when we pulled into the driveway. They looked at us disapprovingly as we got out of the car. “You’d think dating a King of Cats would get them to cut me a little slack,” I said. Quentin snorted. “Are you kidding? The cats probably think you’re a social climber.”

librarianship is a form of heroism. It’s just not as flashy as swords and dragons.”

“Do I need to give that whole ‘sound of the waves running over your bones’ speech again? Because seriously, I can only do fucking terrifying once a day before I get bored and want to go do a crossword puzzle or something.”

In a way, I already knew what I’d see. But some things must be seen in their own time, and in their own way; some things can’t simply be said.

Half the things I’ve accomplished in my life have been because I was too pissed off to realize that they weren’t possible.

“It’s going to be dangerous,” I said. “That’s nothing new,” he said. “Besides, my knight is pretty stupid when it comes to danger, and she’s the best role model I have for dealing with the stuff.”

The thought was morbid enough that I clapped a hand over my mouth to stop myself from laughing.

“Made them out of what?” “My flash-frozen blood.”

You’re the hero. You’re never supposed to think about your own mental health.”

Where are your shoes?” “Alcatraz.” May looked at me blankly.

“A knight of the land Courts asking a Duchess of the Undersea to save a King of Cats,”

“You do get cranky when I insert myself into your life-threatening situations without consent.”