“¿Hola? ¿Quién está ahí? Que se vuelva a poner Zuzana.¿Zuzana? Hay una tía ñoña al teléfono haciéndose pasar por ti…”

“Nerves," Mik told Karou."Bad?""Terrible." Stepping up behind Zuzana, he bent down to enfold her in a spoon-hug. "Ferociously, dreadfully awful. She's unbearable. You take her. I've had enough."Zuzana batted at him, then squealed as he buried his face in the curve of her throat and made exaggerated kissing noises.”

“Rapture cults had packed their suitcases and were massing together in great vigils, waiting for the end."All bogus," she'd told Zuzana. "Just a bunch of crackpots waiting for the Apocalypse.""Because, fun, right?" Zuzana rubbed her hands together in mock glee. "Oh, boy. The Apocalypse!""Right? I know. How much does your life have to suck to want the Apocalypse?”

“Zuzana arched an eyebrow. She was a master of the eyebrow arch, and Karou envied her for it. Her own eyebrows did not function independently of each other, which handicapped her expressions of suspicion and disdain.”

“¿Ves lo que pasa cuando titubeas? Que otros toman las decisiones por ti.”

“—Quiero que sepas… —Akiva tragó saliva—. Necesito que sepas que me sentí atraído por ti (por ti, Karou) antes de descubrir el hueso. Antes de darme cuenta, y creo… creo que siempre te encontraría, sin importar lo escondida que estuvieras —la miró con extraordinaria intensidad—. Tu alma y la mía cantan la misma canción. Mi alma es tuya, y siempre lo será, en cualquier mundo. No importa lo que suceda… —su voz se quebró y tuvo que respirar hondo—. Necesito que recuerdes que te quiero.”

“So, you wouldn't marry me.""Ridiculous question. I'm eighteen!""Oh, it's an age thing?" He frowned. "You don't mean wild oats, do you? We're not going to have some stupid break so you can experience other---"Zuzana put a hand over his mouth. "Gross. Don't even say it.”