“For this lowlife to remain at the Academy while I was expelled is simply...oh dear, how shall we put it?""A crime," murmured Sara."That's kind, dear Sara, but crime can be fun and sophisticated." Katerina gave a thin-lipped smile as the other three girls chuckled. "There must be another word.""A disgrace," suggested the brunette at Sara's side.”

“What about Katerina? Is she Head Girl?""Boss Cat, more like." Isabella wrinkled her nose."Where's she from?""Sweden," said Isabella carelessly. Oh, right. So Cassie's movie-star casting had been spot-on. Not that she could imagine Katerina ever Vanting to Be Alone, though. Who else was Swedish? ABBA? Cassie wrinkled her nose. Not a good comparison. "I can see her in a silver catsuit, though," she muttered under her breath.”

“His focus was all on Katerina, something crackling between them. Lust? Fury? Hatred?Oh, who the hell cared.”

“Pretty?" mused Katerina. "I suppose so. She has unusual looks. True beauty, I think, requires a touch of cruelty. That seems to be missing.""Good," muttered Cassie under her breath.Richard shot her a warning look.”

“That boy will be horribly deformed by the time he leaves this school.""He will?" said Cassie."From being twisted round Katerina's little finger so often.”

“I'm freezing," moaned Isabella. "I shall freeze to death.""Cheer up, my southern flower." Jake hauled on the oars. "This was your brilliant idea. Anyway, you can die spectacularly of pneumonia, and someone will write a great tragic opera about you."Isabella gave him a teeth-chattering grimace, but her expression turned dreamy and distant as if she was already imagining her last heart-rending aria. Cassie cleared her throat in exasperation. "Can we not talk about spectacular deaths?”

“Oh, get down from your high horse before you fall off.”