“I’m so pleased you’re such a quick judge of character. You’ve got him tagged.”“Yep, toe-tagged, in the freezer, then buried six feet under.”

“So you got Phoenix back,” declared Karla, clapping her hands in delight. “That’s lovely.”“I’m more on loan,” I muttered.“Yeah, my little library book.”

“I unbuttoned my white shirt and reknotted it under by breasts. I felt like one of those circus 'quick change' acts – ta-dah, no more Wimpy Wendy, now we have Slinky Phee rising from the ashes.”

“You’re a bright girl, aren’t you? No pun intended.”

“So, Zed, isn’t this a killer outfit?”“Certainly a killer, baby.”“Good, because I’ve bought another five just like it.”“You horrible, teasing fairy. If you really have more of those fashion disasters in your bags, I’m gonna hang you on top of the family Christmas tree in December.”

“Just, in future, an ‘I’m-not-going-to-get-myself-killed’ note would be appreciated.”

“But I’ve kept first of March as my birthday as I like to tease Zed about dating an older woman. And my parents wouldn’t understand if I told them about the soulfinder bond and tried to change it.”“They don’t know?”“Well, I think they’ve picked up that there’s something special between Zed and me but I’m not sure how I’d even start to explain to non-savants. I was exactly overjoyed when Zed filled me in about it all the first time.”“What did you do?”“Thumped him with a shopping bag and told him he was a jerk.”“Ouch.”