ŷ������

“So, Zed, isn’t this a killer outfit?��
“Certainly a killer, baby.��
“Good, because I’ve bought another five just like it.��
“You horrible, teasing fairy. If you really have more of those fashion disasters in your bags, I’m gonna hang you on top of the family Christmas tree in December.”
― Joss Stirling, Stealing Phoenix

“So you got Phoenix back,�� declared Karla, clapping her hands in delight. “That’s lovely.��
“I’m more on loan,�� I muttered.
“Yeah, my little library book.”
― Joss Stirling, Stealing Phoenix

“How am I going to help you?��
“You are going to jump.��
“H��.��
“You are.��
“Have you done this before?��
“Yeah, with fruit.�� That was Xav.
“And why am I not reassured?”
― Joss Stirling, Stealing Phoenix

“Yves. You are goint to love him all over again when you meet him, believe me. You're married.'
'I'm what? But I can't be more than eighteen!'
'My son is very persuasive,' said Saul proudly.”
― Joss Stirling, Seeking Crystal

“Just, in future, an ‘I’m-not-going-to-get-myself-killed�� note would be appreciated.”
― Joss Stirling, Stealing Phoenix

“But I’ve kept first of March as my birthday as I like to tease Zed about dating an older woman. And my parents wouldn’t understand if I told them about the soulfinder bond and tried to change it.��
“They don’t know?��
“Well, I think they’ve picked up that there’s something special between Zed and me but I’m not sure how I’d even start to explain to non-savants. I was exactly overjoyed when Zed filled me in about it all the first time.��
“What did you do?��
“Thumped him with a shopping bag and told him he was a jerk.��
“O�ܳ���.&�����ܴ�;
― Joss Stirling, Stealing Phoenix

“Glancing in through the open door to Xav’s room, I saw Zed stretched out on the queen mattress, his arm hugging a pillow as if he felt Sky’s absence at his side.”
― Joss Stirling, Stealing Phoenix

“I wasn’t sure, but I thought it kind of suited me. With the right shoes and everything.�� I displayed the new blue pumps. “I wanted to look, you know, pretty.��
Yves gaped. I felt a little bit sorry for him. “Um…Phee, I don’t know what to say.��
I let my bright expression dim. “You�� you think I look horrible in it?�� My voice rose in a convincing squeak of distress.
He put his hands on my soulders. “No, you look great. You always look great, no matter what you’re wearing.��
Zed laughed. “Ouch. Wrong thing to say.”
― Joss Stirling, Stealing Phoenix

“I’m so pleased you’re such a quick judge of character. You’ve got him tagged.��
“Yep, toe-tagged, in the freezer, then buried six feet under.”
― Joss Stirling, Stealing Phoenix

“You…you want me to argue with you? I thought you wanted me to understand you.”
― Joss Stirling, Stealing Phoenix

“Xav tugged Yves off me and handed me the call button. “You’ll be needing this, Phee, when my irritating little squirt of a brother bothers you again. Just press and the nurses will come running. One of them looks like a pro-wrestler, so she’ll make short work of him.”
― Joss Stirling, Stealing Phoenix

“Oh my gosh, don’t you both look pretty!�� We looked like rejects from the auditions for The Sound of Music.
“I will have to buy them �� they are meant to be yours!�� Karla waved her credit card around like a wand.
“What a shame they didn’t have one in green for me. But then, it is a young girl’s style. I would’ve looked foolish.”
― Joss Stirling, Stealing Phoenix

“Sky. Hope mixed with horror as I searched for Zed, quessing he would not have let his soulfinder walk into this situation alone. I finally identified him as the heavily bearded drummer in the flowery shirt and, yes, socks and sandals. I bit my tongue, repressing the absurd desire to laugh at his fashion sacrifice for our cause.”
― Joss Stirling, Stealing Phoenix

“Xav bounded out behind him. “Yeah, Phee equals You-She squared. I’ve been working on that one: like it?”
― Joss Stirling, Stealing Phoenix

“I revised my opinion that the girl was timid. She appeared to have her giant well under control and a disturbing ability to know what I was feeling.”
― Joss Stirling, Stealing Phoenix

“I unbuttoned my white shirt and reknotted it under by breasts. I felt like one of those circus 'quick change' acts �� ta-dah, no more Wimpy Wendy, now we have Slinky Phee rising from the ashes.”
― Joss Stirling, Stealing Phoenix

“Nice. Like the new look. He didn’t sound as if he liked it one tiny bit. He sounded fit to be tied down and given a dose of sedatives.”
― Joss Stirling, Stealing Phoenix