“In the war room, love? What if someone comes in?”I stood and removed his shirt. “Then they’ll have a good story to tell.”“Good?” He adopted the pretense of being offended.“Prove me wrong.”

“How did you—”“Fool your guards? They’re not very good. They forgot to check the ceiling for spiders.” Valek grinned. His angular face softened. Startled, I realized he wasn’t in disguise. “This is dangerous.”“I knew falling for you was dangerous, love.”

“Valek smiled. “Good. First, send Kade a reply, askinghim not to come.” He pointed at the unopened letter on the table. I had forgotten about it. Sealed with wax, the message appearedto be secured. Valek shrugged. “I was bored.”

“You look like hell,' he said to me in a low voice.'Gee, Dax, don’t coat it with honey. Tell me what you really think,' I said.”

“[Janco] paused. His eyes held a distant gleam as if seeing into his past. 'My first practice was a shock. I was a cocky smart aleck--'[Opal] 'Was?'[J] 'Be quiet. I'm telling a story here.”

“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.”

“[Riley] slapped his hands to his face and then dropped them as if in surrender. 'I always say the wrong thing around you. Look, can we start over?'Over?"Yes. Over. Wipe the board clean.'But I would have to go back to hating you and not trusting you' I saidOh, well don't do that.' He paused and chewed his lip. 'Does that mean you like and trust me now?' "- Riley and Trella”