Elizabeth Hughes

“- Armas biológicas. - ajudei-a - Hugh James contou-me.- Sim. - Ela encolheu os pés debaixo do corpo. - Durante as invasões da Valáquia pelo sultão, Drácula gostava de enviar pessoas doentes de peste ou varíola para os campos otomanos disfarçadas de turcos. Infectavam o maior número possível de pessoas antes de morrerem ali mesmo.””

“The effort of trying to turn grief into regret, to live entirely on past nourishment, even to keep the sharper parts of nostalgia credible (he found himself beginning to doubt and struggle with the intricacies of the smaller memories), and, most of all, the fearful absence of anything that could begin to take their place, had worn him down.””

“Iris," came a low, smoky snarl from the doorway. "Come here."She felt Hugh's arms tighten around her as she glanced over her shoulder.Raphael stood on the threshold, Ubertino, Bardo, and Ivo behind him. Her husband's eyes were so icy a gray that from where she stood they nearly shone.'Oh.'His gaze flickered from her to the man holding her. "Unhand. My. Wife."Raphael's face was set and stern, entirely frozen over and it occurred to her- strange thought at the moment- that she'd never heard him really laugh. He'd made only that cawing sound- not joyous laughter at all. Had he ever laughed since he was a boy? Or had his father destroyed all laughter in Raphael that night?It was a terrible thought.Out of the corner of her eye, Iris saw Riley and Jenkins, Hugh's men, sidle closer to her and Hugh.Raphael tracked their movement.The potential for violence seemed suddenly very high.””