“- My little brother craps himself."I laughed. "- Well, maybe it's because he's, like, only one?""- Whatever, it's still gross.”

“How are you feeling?"I leaned away from him. "Gross."Aiden frowned. "Gross?""I haven't brushed my teeth or washed my face in days. Don't come near me."He laughed. "Alex, come on.""Seriously, I'm gross." I put my hand over my mouth.Ignoring my protests, he leaned over and brushed my string hair back. "You're as beautiful as always, Alex."I stared at him. He must not get out much.”

“"Something on a line, it's discord and rhyme - whatever, whatever, la la la - Mouth is alive, all running inside, and I'm hungry like the -" Warmth spread down my neck."It's actually,'I howl and I whine. I'm after you,' and not blah or whatever.”

“Dying isn't the only way into the Underworld, but it's the safest."Well, that sounded like an oxymoron if I'd ever heard one.”

“I was having one of those days where I wanted to start throwing things because only breaking crap would make me feel better. My limit for acceptable weirdness in my daily life had beenmaxed out.”

“... maybe I could get used to this new gift-giving Daemon..'Thank you.'He smiled in response. 'Where's ours?' Lesa quipped. Daemon laughed. 'I'm only at the service of one person in particular.”

“Look at the time." I tipped my chin toward the clock. "It's past midnight. It's January second. You lost."For several moments he stared at the clock like it was an Arum he was about to blast into the next county and then his eyes found mine. Daemon smiled. "No. I didn't lose. I still won.”