“He had a point, but I wasn't sure it was much better than Elora's. She worked more of a con job, and Oren proposed outright theft.”

“You married Elora?”“Yes, briefly.” Oren emphasized how fleeting it had been. “We were wed because we thought it would be a good way to combine our respective kingdoms. Vittra and Trylle have had their disagreements over the years, and we wanted to create peace. Unfortunately, your mother is the most impossible, irrational, horrible woman on the planet.” He smiled at me. “Well, you know. You’ve met her.”

“When the world started ending, everybody became a convert and wanted nothing more than to spout the virtues of whatever apocalyptic religion they had latched onto. I wasn't sure who, if any, of them were right, but my best bet for avoiding hell was avoiding death.”

“I can't marry Tove!""Why ever not?" She batted her dark lashes at me."Because I don't love him!""Love is a fairy tale that manks tell their children so they'll have grandchildren," Elora said, brushing me off.”

“That wasn't so bad," I said. It wasn't bad at all, really. The nerve-racking buildup had been the worse part.The Chancellor was sweating like a pig, but this was nothing new. I smiled gratefully at Tove. It had been nice having him at my side. Backup and support were never a bad thing."Those little hobgoblins freak me out." Duncan shuddered at the thought of Ludlow. "I don't know how they can live with them.""I'm sure they think the same thing about you," Finn muttered.”

“You overestimate my interest in you," Loki grinned broadly. "I prefer my Princesses in unsoiled pajamas."My clothes would've been relatively clean if it weren't for the blood on my sweater and some dirt on my knees. I was sure I was a mess, but it wasn't my fault."I'm sorry. I usually look much nicer after I take a beating," I said, and his smile faltered.”

“How did you even know I wasn't in my room?""I checked on you." Finn gave me a look like I was an idiot. "I check on you every morning.""You check on me when I'm sleeping?" I gaped at him. "Every morning?"He nodded."I didn't know that.""Why would you know that? You're sleeping," Finn pointed out.”