“His shoulders sagged as he stepped back. Then a half smile made the edge of his lips crook. " You're mad at me.""And that's amusing because?"The half smile spread into a lopsideed grin, and he stood up straighter. "You wouldn't be mad if you didn't care. I'm onto you, Alexis."Oh, that insufferable, arrogant--”

“Hello to you too,” he said, amusement lacing his voice.”

“Death watched me, amusement once again lifting to his dark eyes. Unlike me with my bedraggled clothes and knotted hair, he looked good in the morning light streaming into my apartment. Okay, actually, he looked exactly the same as when I’d first seen him when I was five years old, but recently I’d come to appreciate the way his black T-shirt pulled tight over the expanse of his shoulders and his faded jeans hugged his ass. Not that I was looking, of course. I mean, he was Death.”

“Alexis, I love you.”

“He was secretive, bossy, and regularly insufferable. He had also saved my life a couple of times. And he looked really good in my kitchen.”

“No bit of tail ever comes between you and Prince Charming. He must have entranced you.""Prince Charming?" Falin asked, the question barely a whisper. "What did you think PC stood for? Politically Correct?”

“I blinked at the haul. "Are you planning to go to war? Sure you don't want to pack an assault riffle as well?"He looked up from the bag. "You have met yourself, right?""So should I get a gun too?""I'd fear the day.”