“Sophie Mercer, turning down food for homework?""Yeah,it's the new,lamer, more Britisher me.”

“Oh, God, if that's where this woman had gotten her Sophie Mercer gossip, I was surprised she'd greeted me with a handshake instead of an exorcism.”

“Archer turned back to me, and that familiar grin flashed over his face. “Come on, Mercer. Me, you, the cellar. What could go wrong?”

“I've heard so much about you, both from your father and from Anastasia.""Mrs. Casnoff?" Oh, God, if that's where this woman had gotten her Sophie Mercer gossip, I was surprised she'd greeted me with a handshake instead of an exorcism.”

“And I have faith that you'll make a wonderful head of the Council someday, Sophie."Yeah, except for that whole sleeping with the enemy part, I thought. Wait, not that I would actually be sleeping with...I mean, it's a metaphor. There would only be metaphorical sleeping.”

“See ya, Mercer."Happiness flooded through me as warm and bright as sunlight. "See ya, Cross.”

“Don't even think about it, Mercer.”