Iron and Magic (The Iron Covenant, #1)

by Ilona Andrews

“You two will get along. He’s like you.” “How’s that?” “A big, mean sonovabitch that nobody wants.” Ryan realized what he’d blurted out. His face went white.

“Aren’t you supposed to have some little kids running around throwing flowers? Or did you sacrifice them on the way?” Her face jerked. “Yes, I did. And I devoured their souls.” There she was. “Good to know. The photographer is snapping pictures. Say cheese, love.” Elara gave him a brilliant happy smile. “Cheese, dickhead.”

“I don’t believe you.” “Wait.” She held up her hand. “Let me check if I care.” Hugh glared at her. “No,” she said. “Apparently, I don’t. It’s good that we got that straightened out.”

What the hell did this Curran do to you? Killed your master, stole your girl, burned down your castle? What?” Hugh leaned back, his eyes blazing. Oooh, she touched a nerve. Direct hit. She turned to Stoyan. “Let me guess, it was the girl.” “And the castle,” Felix said quietly.

“Well, that went well.” “We should poison him,” Savannah said. “Why do you always want to poison people?” Dugas asked her. “I don’t want to poison people. I want to poison d’Ambray.”

“Where are you going, pumpkin?” To cast a death spell that will sear your eyes from their sockets

“Stainless steel comes in two types, austenitic and ferritic,” Gwendolyn said. “It has to do with atomic structure. They both form a cube on the molecular level, but austenitic steel is face-centered. It’s a cube with an atom in each corner and in the center of each cube’s faces. Ferritic steel is body-centered, with an atom in each corner and one atom in the center of the cube.” “Austenitic steel doesn’t respond to magnets,” Radion explained.

The Red Guardsmen rode down the path. The female Guard glanced back at them over her shoulder. Elara smiled and waved. Hugh slid his arm around her and squeezed her to him. Her smile sharpened. The moment the woman turned back, Elara tried to stomp on his foot. He was ready, and she missed.

“I see your concrete finally set,” she said. “Mhm.” “In that case, you should consider being very nice to me during the next few days.” “Why?” “You’ll be needing gasoline for your cement mixer and you’re over your limit. Again.” Bloody woman.

“Has your man even held a hoe before?” Bishop asked. Stoyan grimaced. “Not that kind.”

“Why are you reading him this boring shit?” Bale asked. “Unlike your half-blood prince, this is a classic.” “Half-Blood Prince is a great book.” “Of course it is. What could be better than stories of clueless teenagers sent off to… Bale, what is that?” “What, this?” Lamar’s voice took on a sharp edge. “Is that a wand?” “It’s a stick.” “Are you pointing a wand at me?” “Who, me?” “Bale, if any Latin comes out of your mouth, it better be a litany of the saints, because I will end you.”