“If you ever come home with fleas, I'm dumping you.”

“I told myself that was why, that I wasn’t bringing you back because it hurt too much to lose you. That a lifetime without free will wasn’t worth three moredays with you. That wasn’t good enough. I had to do it for the right reasons, you know. For them, not for us.”

“Girlfriend? Presume much?""Probably, yes." He turned his head, breath tickling my cheek. "I told you yesterday, Evy, you have healing to do, and I'll be here for you. Whatever it takes.”

“You're alive." Wyatt's voice had never sounded so...small. "You were dead, but Christ, Evy, you're alive.”

“Six flights up I smelled it. Faint at first and then gradually stronger - the eye-watering stench of fermented sugar. I felt like I was walking into a distillery, and that clued me in as to who we were visiting. [...] I'm still waiting for some brave soul to start marketing Gremlin Piss Schnapps.”

“Too bad you need both hands for crawling," I said. "We could use some sunshine in here.""Next time, I'll be sure to ask the sprites for a flashlight.""And a bottle of water. I think I've swallowed enough dust to shit a brick later.”

“If ever a girl was [worth waiting], Val, it'd be you, but I can't promise that. You have no idea what my life is like. There are always too many beautiful and willing women. There's too much temptation. Too much expectation. If I wasn't getting it from you I'd probably stray. I know how that sounds, but I'm just being honest. I'm only human, Val. A weak one who's been indulged way too long. I can't give you what you're asking for because I'm afraid of breaking your heart.”