Skin Game (The Dresden Files, #15)

by Jim Butcher

“Because Nicodemus is a murderous murdering murderer,”

“It’s not about that,” Nicodemus said. “Then what is it about?” I asked. “I dealt with the White Council my whole life, so I’m used to being treated like a mushroom—” “Eh?” Ascher asked. “Kept in the dark and fed bullshit,” Binder reported calmly. “Ah.”

Imagine Smaug’s treasure hoard. Now imagine Smaug with crippling levels of obsessive-compulsive disorder and fanatic good taste. It’s a pale description, and in no way a substitute for seeing it in person, but it’s the best I can do, except to say that looking upon Hades’ treasure vault made me feel like a dirty, grubby rat who had gnawed his way into the pantry. And my heart lurched into thunder. And I’m reasonably certain the pupils of my eyes vanished, to be replaced by dollar signs.