“Do you ever get tired of being such a witch?" Vol asks, holding open the door."Oh, no. Never." She smiles. "You have to admit, it's so much more interesting than being nice.”

“All right," she snaps at the computer. "I get it. I'm slowing down! Gods!""Activating Generic Ocular Display Sequence. G.O.D.S."The front of her shuttle goes transparent and Vol experiences a nauseating wave of vertigo."No, that's not what I meant! It's an expression! What the hell?""Error. Request must be made in the form of a command.""Oh, f*** you.""Error. Command not recognised.""I'm not surprised," Vol mutters.”

“That's not cruel. This is. You come here in the middle of the night, expecting me to be awake, and ask—no, demand—me to give you things that belong to me as much as they belong to you. Never mind what it does to me. Never mind that each time I see you, I wonder if I'll ever hold you in my arms again, or be able to touch you without you cringing away like I'm a monster. I think it's fair to ask if there's an 'us,' my dear, because I suspect you're trying to use me just now. Tell me that's not cruel, and I'll let you go.”

“I'm not asking you to come-""Thanks." Vol studies herself in the cracked mirror and secures the braid with the tie."I'm telling you to come." Kira's mouth hardens. "This is not optional.”

“You're going to the ball?""Aren't you? I was led to believe we had no choice in the matter."Vol cracks a wry smile. "Ah. You've met Kira, then.""If that self-congratulatory guinea pig in my doorway this morning was Kira, then yes. We're acquainted.”

“Briar Rose awakens to grace us with her gentle presence once more.""Shut up," says Vol."Your thorns are showing.”

“Careful,” he said. “If you keep blushing like that I may do more than just draw you.”