“Have I ever done anything of my own, an act or state that arose from Elefsis, and not careful, exquisite mimicry?Have they?”

“So. Now you know the worst thing I have ever done. I fucked my own family's dinner.”

“God, what had we done? It didn't really matter. Piper had been the kind of friend with whom I didn't have to fill in the spaces with random conversation. It was okay to just be with her. She knew that sometimes I needed that - to not have to take care of anyone or anything, to simply exist in my own space, adjacent to hers.”

“Me?...Stupid?” I fluttered my eyes innocently. “When have I ever done anything stupid?”“Don’t get me wrong, you’re the smartest person I know…” She fought back a smile. “But you have done some of the dumbest things I ever thought possible.”“So you have a point…” I shrugged. “Still not stopping me.”

“Sean," I forced a smile, but it might have looked a little scary. "When have I ever done anything stupid?""Perfect," he muttered.”

“If I could have wished what I thought was my perfect mate on the wind and had her come back to me in a storm, I could never have come up with anything as exquisite as you.”