“Did you live here?" Leif asked. I nodded. "For two years"."Where did you stay?" "I had a room in Valek's suite." Leif shot me an incredulous look. "Boy, you worked fast.”

“Your mother sounds like a formidable woman," Valek said into the silence."You have no idea," Leif replied with a sigh."Well, if she's anything like Yelena, my deepest sympathies," Valek teased."Hey!"Leif laughed and the tense moment dissipated.Valek handed Leif his machete. "Do you know how to use it?""Of course. I chopped Yelena's bow into firewood," Leif joked.”

“Why did Mother ask you to help me rescue Gelsi?” I asked Leif.“She thought I could assist you in some way. Instead, I had tried to—”“Kill me? You can join the ‘I Want to Kill Yelena Guild.’ I hear they have six members in good standing. Valek is president since he had wanted to kill me twice.”

“In the end, only Leif believed that you were still alive. He thought you might be hiding somewhere, playing a game. As the rest of us grieved, Leif searched the jungle for you day after day.”“When did he finally stop?” I asked.“Yesterday.”

“Leif's frown eased and he slid his finger under my chin and gently caressed my jaw line with the pad of his thumb."Pagan,will you do me the honor of being my date for Homecoming Dance?The prospect of not being able to hold you in my arms all night is heartbreaking."Mirand sighed from across the table."Okay,that was beautiful.Why didn't you ask me like that?"she asked Wyatt.Wyatt shot Leif an annoyed frown."Thanks,buddy.Next time you decide to break out your romantic side,could you do it alone?”

“You think this necklace is a tailsman?""Yep, I'm not stupid Leif. I hang with Death, ya know.”