“Kingsley smiled his Cheshire smile. And without a word, he called up the white darkness—the subvertio—a spell that unlocked what could not be unlocked, that destroyed what could not be destroyed. There was a rumbling, a shaking, like the strongest earthquake, and the iron gate crumbled, and the path began to melt. the demon shrieked, but Kingsley just looked at Mimi the entire time."Azrael...”

“And Kingsley being Kingsley, he smiled as he pretended to pull the trigger.”

“Kingsley did the same, except he also removed his T-shirt, showing off his broad chest, tan and smooth. When had Kingsley had time to work on his tan? Mimi wondered.”

“The rose fell into his lap, and he looked up, startled. Mimi grinned."Hey handsom" Mimi sent."What's up?" Jack replied, without speaking."Just thinking of you."Jack's smile deepened, and he threw the rose back at her so that it landed in her lap. Mimi tucked it behind her ear and fluttered her eyelashes appreciatively.”

“You've won," Jack said softly. He looked at Mimi with such fiery hatred that she almost cowered at his words. But she was no weakling. She was Azrael, and Azrael did not cower, not even to Abbadon."I've won nothing," Mimi replied coldly. "Please remember that almost all of the Elders are dead, that theDark Prince is ascendant, and what is left of the Conclave is being led by a broken man who used to be the strongest of us all. And yet all you seem to care about, my darling, is that you no longer get to play with your little love toy."Instead of answering her, Jack flew across the room and slapped her hard across the face, sending hercrashing to the floor. But before he could wield another blow, Mimi leaped up and slammed him against the window, knocking him completely out of breath."Is this what you want?" she hissed as she lifted him up by his shirt collar, his face turning a ghastly shade of red."Don't let me destroy you," he sneered."Just try, my sweet."Jack twisted out of her grasp and flipped her over, kicking her down the length of the room. She sprung up with her hands clenched, her nails sharp as claws, and fangs bared. They met halfway in the air, and Jack put a hand on her throat and began to squeeze. But she scratched at his eyes and wrenched her body so that she was rolling on top of him, her sword at his throat, with the upper hand.SUBMIT. Mimi sent.NEVER.”

“Azrael...In a flash, they disappeared. The path, the gate, the demon, and the Silver Blood.Kingsley was gone. Trapped in Hell for eternity.Mimi collapsed to the ground, as if her heart had imploded in her chest.”

“Kingsley, ever the joker, had his Venator mark tattooed near his unmentionables”