“Do not get yourself arrested, you hear?” she urged. “I am not going to bail your butt out of jail, mister.”“Now who's goin' all old geezer, huh?” He snorted. “I'm gonna get drunk and pass out on my bed at home. Haven't done that for so long I can't remember.”“Probably a reason for that, Beck. You're killing brain cells, and you don't have that many to spare.”

“Peter pushed off from the roof and stalked a few feet away, his back to her. “Please tell me this is all some kind of a sick joke.”“It’s the truth. All of it. That’s why hunters are after me.”“How did they find out?” Peter asked, swiveling toward her now.“I think Beck ratted me out. I went to his house this morning and told him what had happened. He was furious, Peter. I’ve never seen anyone that angry.”“Duh! Now there’s a surprise,” her friend replied sarcastically. “I saw the way he looked at you at your dad’s funeral. Of course he’d be mad. You’re about the only one on the planet who doesn’t realize how he feels about you.”“He never said anything,” she retorted.“Hey, we guys don’t blurt out that kind of stuff,” he replied. “It’s against the man code. Beck may never have said how he felt, but everything he did for you should have been a big clue. I mean, come on, how slow are you?”She glowered at her friend. “I figured he was doing it because of my father.”“Maybe, but the guy is really into you, Riley.”“No way. If he’d liked me, he wouldn’t have blown me off and—”“Ancient history, girl!” he countered. “You were, what, fifteen? Your dad would have torn him apart if he’d touched you. Beck had no other choice.”“He didn’t have to be so mean.”“God, will you listen to yourself?” Peter retorted.“You have no idea how much he hurt me,” she shot back.“Give it up, will you? You’re my best friend, but you can be a real self-centered asshat sometimes.”

“That's Denver Beck, isn't it? Paul mentioned him. What's he like?" Ori asked."Oh, where do I start? Beck's mouthy and he lives to tell me what to do." In short, he's so not you. "Why do you want to know?"A glimmer appeared in Ori's dark eyes."Just scoping out the competition.”

“You could have let that thing flatten me, but you didn't. Why?”“I could ask you the same question.”She was too tired to edit her mouth. “You're my master. I couldn't let that thing kill another trapper, even if I think he's a total asshat.”Harper looked at her for a long time then cracked a toothy grin. “And you're one mouthy bitch, but you're my apprentice. I don't need the reputation that my people die because I don't protect them.”That was fair.”

“Ya hafta be there for Beck. He only has you."Riley sighed. "I'll get the car.”

“I promised Paul I'd keep ya safe, he said. If that means packin' yer ass out of town so it doesen't get humped by a smooth talkin' loser, that's the way it's gonna be.”

“I’m not going to faint at the sight of your butt,’ she said. ‘Ya might, and I don’t want that on my conscience,’ he said, tossing the jeans aside.”